You know what time of year it is—it's spooky season, which means it is my job to recommend the scariest shows to check out this season.
If Halloween is right around the corner, these shows will lock you in from the moment you start. You will either jump out of your seat or be impressed by the amazing storytelling. But either way, you will be entertained.
The Haunting of Hill House
The first series that I have to recommend on this list is The Haunting of Hill House. Of all the horror series on Netflix, The Haunting of Hill House truly knocks it out of the park from the very beginning and will live in your hearts forever.
Based on the novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House follows an estranged family who reunite when their youngest suddenly passes away. Meanwhile, we see flashbacks to their time living in their childhood home, the haunts that frightened them in their youth, and how they might have played a role in their youngest sister’s death years later.
Mike Flanagan adapted the book into a series, and it's phenomenal. It is the one horror series that, years later, still sits with me because of how well the story was written and, honestly, how impressive the cinematography is. There are little Easter eggs and background details you sometimes don’t even notice until your second watch-through. It’s that good.
Below
Below is a new series on the platform that you should check out because it… is pretty creepy.
Starring Josh Hartnett, this new Canadian horror show will probably make you never want to set foot in the water again. The story is set in a Newfoundland town called Snooks Arm, where sea creatures terrorize civilians. A fisherman (Hartnett) is the key to protecting not only his whole town but also his family.
From the trailer alone, it’s already scary to imagine sea creatures like this terrorizing those we love. But put that in a short miniseries, with a tight story and great acting, and you have an awesome show on your hands.
All Of Us Are Dead
If you love zombies on Netflix, then All of Us Are Dead is for you.
This South Korean show takes the cake in horror and will make you want to revisit the slow walkers from The Walking Dead. A sudden apocalypse breaks out, and high school students must survive as it spreads inside, creating mass panic.
When I say All of Us Are Dead is one of the most bingeable shows on Netflix, I mean it. I still remember sitting in my bedroom, binge-watching the entire first season because I couldn’t stop. I was that into it, and it hooked me. The zombies are terrifying, and the science behind it is even more so, but what really makes it fantastic is the ensemble cast that knocks it out of the park.
While we’ve waited years for season 2 and most likely will continue to wait, you can at least binge the first season now.
Midnight Mass
Another one from Mike Flanagan: many argue that Midnight Mass is his best contribution to the platform. I still think The Haunting of Hill House is better, but this is a close second.
Midnight Mass is set on a remote, isolated island, where a priest arrives to revive the town's faith after the last priest goes missing. However, his arrival coincides with strange events that begin to happen—supernatural occurrences that change everything forever.
That is the most I can give you for this series without spoiling it. And trust me—this is a show you do not want to be spoiled too. It’s well acted, has an incredible story, and has some wild effects. What’s great about many of these shows is that they're all one season, so they are quick watches, and this one is scary enough to get your blood pumping.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities
Guillermo del Toro has been on a run with Netflix with his films Frankenstein and Pinocchio, both of which were critically acclaimed and even won Academy Awards. However, one show that we don’t talk about nearly as much is Cabinet of Curiosities, an anthology miniseries from the famous director that tells eight individual horror stories.
Each episode is directed by a new director (including one from Del Toro himself) and features wild stories, impressive acting, and more. If you want variety, then this is truly the series for you. My personal favorite is “The Murmuring,” directed by Jennifer Kent, the director of The Babadook.
You can watch all of these shows on Netflix.
