As Halloween night arrives, many will brave the cold in costume, but staying in with a truly terrifying TV show offers its own kind of thrill. For those seeking small-screen scares, a selection of horror series stands out, offering everything from gory prequels to dark comedies.
Grisly Prequels and Twisted Anthologies
For viewers who wished Stranger Things had a higher body count, IT: Welcome to Derry delivers a gory and gruesome prequel to the IT movies. The show follows a new group of children investigating sinister events in Derry, all seemingly linked to a clown with too many teeth. It is streaming now on HBO Max.
From the minds of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, Inside No. 9 offers an anthology of tales that range from funny to sad to truly bizarre, each with an uncanny quality. The series is available on BBC iPlayer.
Horror with a Comedic Twist
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is a parody of 80s soap operas with a horror twist. It follows author Garth Marenghi as he presents his 'radical' TV series about Dr Rick Dagless battling evil forces in a hospital built over the 'gates of Hell' in Romford. The show is streaming on Channel 4.
Widow's Bay is a black comedy set in a New England town under a dark curse. Mayor Tom Loftis must save the day in a series that blends laughter with fear. It is streaming now on Apple TV.
Iconic Slashers and Supernatural Thrillers
Chucky, a direct sequel to Cult of Chucky, balances the murderous charm of the first three films with a story about identity and sexuality. The series is available to buy on Prime Video.
The Haunting of Hill House, a twisted adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel, is considered the series that made Mike Flanagan an icon of the small screen. It is full of twists and hidden ghosts, and is streaming on Netflix.
Found Footage and Franchise Origins
Creep Tapes is an anthology series based on the found footage movies about a serial killer named Peach Fuzz. Each episode follows a different victim and is as darkly funny and tense as the original films. It is streaming on Shudder.
Crystal Lake is a prequel series that explores how the infamous Friday the 13th location gained its bloody reputation. It is available to watch on NOW.
