Monsters and cryptids have long been a fascination for humanity, and it’s hard to blame us. Who doesn’t want to know about the things that go bump in the night? Thanks to this, there’s a plethora of content available for fans, from novels to movies, video games, and television shows. Naturally, there are so many that, frequently, these monstrous tales can slip through the gaps. Some of the best fantasy or horror series out there feature monsters, be they friendly or villainous. The best part about a monster story is that it can come in any style, as these forgotten shows help to highlight.
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Freuqently, monsters and cryptid stories open the door to supernatural horror, but they can also play with more urban fantasy settings as well. In other words, one can find a tale to terrify, or a cozy story to binge-watch on a crisp Autumnal night. The sky is the limit, though perhaps one should consider staying indoors when the full moon is out.
3) Sanctuary
If you’re looking for a fantasy series that brings a whole bunch of monsters and cryptids to the forefront, Sanctuary is the show for you. Sanctuary revolves around Dr. Helen Magnus, a 157-year-old teratologist, which is a fancy way of saying she specializes in the study of abnormalities. She is responsible for running a place called Sanctuary, where Abnormals of all kinds can have a safe place to heal, learn, and hide from humanity.
Sanctuary covers a vast array of cryptids (Abnormals, in this universe), from the friendly creatures that prefer to stay out of sight to deadly beasts of massive scale. The show seamlessly infuses different themes and elements, such as historical fiction, steampunk aesthetics, and family drama.
Sanctuary ran for four seasons, totaling 59 episodes, plus 8 webisodes. The show starred Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, Emilie Ullerup, Christopher Heyerdahl, Ryan Robbins, and Agam Darshi.
Sanctuary is available to stream on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel.
2) Kindred: The Embraced
Fans of the role-playing game (RPG) known as Vampire: The Masquerade have a better chance of recalling this 1996 series, Kindred: The Embraced. The show aired on Fox for a total of seven episodes, which prevented it from creating a larger impression on the community.
Kindred: The Embraced begins with San Francisco Police Detective Frank Kohanek, who has been in heavy pursuit of an alleged mobster. Unfortunately, this investigation has forced him to realize that his city is full of vampires, or kindred. From there, viewers are introduced to the complex and surprisingly political nightlife of San Francisco.
Kindred: The Embraced is perfect for viewers looking for a slightly more nuanced vampire story. It has a clan-based vampire society (as seen in the RPG) and portrays vampires more like tragic figures; lonely, cursed, and burdened by the price of immortality.
The Show only ran for one season, ending before the final episode could air. Tragically, part of the reason why the show ended so abruptly was due to the death of Mark Frankel, one of the leading actors. The show was cancelled despite a solid critical response, largely due to limited viewer counts.
Kindred: The Embraced starred Mark Frankel, C. Thomas Howell, Stacy Haiduk, Channon Roe, Jeff Kober, Brigid Walsh, Kelly Rutherford, Patrick Bauchau, and Erik King.
Kindred: The Embraced is currently only available through purchase or rental.
1) Hemlock Grove
Those craving something with more bite will probably appreciate Hemlock Grove, a horror show all about werewolves. The story is set in Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania. Peter Rumancek is new to the town, which is probably why he became suspect number one for two brutal murders. Well, his newness combined with the rumors that he’s secretly a werewolf. Fun fact: the rumors are true. However, he didn’t kill these girls, so he’s going to have to solve this mystery if he wants to clear his name.
In addition to having a werewolf as a protagonist, Hemlock Grove opens the door to small-town politics and mysteries. The series isn’t afraid of gore, mutations, and body horror that often go hand-in-hand with monster tales, so it’s perfect for fans looking for that classic horror vibe. The show was nominated for several awards, which helped keep it running for so long.
Hemlock Grove ran for a total of three seasons, or 33 episodes. It starred Famke Janssen, Bill Skarsgård, Landon Liboiron, Penelope Mitchell, Kandyse McClure, Freya Tingley, Dougray Scott, Tiio Horn, Joel de la Fuente, and many others.
Hemlock Grove is currently only available through purchase or rental.
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