Horror TV has experienced a resurgence in recent years, with streaming platforms pouring substantial resources into the genre. While there have been tons of attempts to conjure the perfect scary show, only a select few contemporary series have come close to hitting the mark. The following shows transcend shock value to bring us meticulously crafted experiences that rival even our favorite horror films.
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If you obsessed over Midnight Mass but have exhausted Mike Flannigan’s catalog, it might be time to dive into the genre’s deeper waters. According to horror aficionados, the series on this list are the pinnacle of modern horror television, each offering something unique while maintaining the highest standards of writing and production quality. These shows all deliver brilliant scares, themes, and characters. Binge the latest and greatest supernatural mystery box, then movie into a Twin Peaks-inspired surrealist hospital hellscape without ever having to get off your couch.
3) Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities
Netflix’s Cabinet of Curiosities harkens back to the horror television of the 1980s, when the anthology format reigned supreme, with legendary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro curating eight standalone episodes that span the genre’s range. Each installment is directed by a different horror virtuoso, including Jennifer Kent (The Babadook), Panos Cosmatos (Mandy), and Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night), resulting in a collection that feels cohesive in quality but diverse in its approach to the scares themselves.
This format also allows each episode to explore a different subgenre. “The Viewing” revels in some Lovecraftian cosmic horror. “The Autopsy” brings the beloved grotesque body gore. Each episode also features stunning cinematography, practical SFX, and performances from acclaimed actors, including F. Murray Abraham, Tim Blake Nelson, and Peter Weller. Each vignette in Cabinet of Curiosities feels like a microcosm of horror, and fortunately, all episodes are available to stream on Netflix.
2) Riget (The Kingdom)
Lars von Trier’s Riget, or The Kingdom in the U.S., is a genuinely upsetting horror series, and that’s a major compliment. The first season predates the current golden age of TV by several decades, premiering in the 90s, but the third and final season, Exodus, was released in 2022. Somehow, it managed to remain excellent across its run by worming its way into the psyche of each viewer. Set in the Rigshospitalet (Kingdom Hospital) in Copenhagen, this Danish supernatural horror follows the strange occurrences plaguing patients and staff of the hospital, where the veil between life and death becomes increasingly thin. Von Trier’s signature style brings an extra layer of authorship and artistry that’s absent from many other shows of this ilk. It’s a disturbing medical drama with elements of surreal horror and black comedy that takes cues from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.
The series builds dread through a labyrinthine plot structure, and its eccentric characters include the spiritualist Mrs. Drusse, who investigates the hospital’s paranormal activities, and the arrogant Swedish neurosurgeon Helmer, who becomes more and more unhinged as paranormal forces close in around him. Each episode layers new mysteries upon existing ones, creating a narrative that feels both carefully designed and unpredictable. You can watch all three seasons of The Kingdom on MUBI.
1) From
From recently established itself as one of the best horror series on television, trapping its characters and viewers in a nightmare where nothing is as it seems, and escape appears to be impossible. From the first episode, we are with a group of unwilling residents who find themselves stranded in an “idyllic” small town that transforms into a hellscape when night falls, populated by creatures that wear human faces but harbor inhuman intentions. Just as you settle into the survival setup, the series unravels into a disturbing Stephen King-esque concoction that stands alone in its complexity, as the town’s supernatural rules reveal themselves.
Harold Perrineau (Lost) leads the ensemble with a great performance as Boyd Stevens, the town’s reluctant sheriff figure, who attempts to maintain order. Meanwhile, the supporting cast creates a believable community pushed to their breaking point by relentless psychological pressure. The series builds tension through its “rules”, i.e., the creatures can’t enter buildings, but they can manipulate residents into letting them in, creating a constant state of paranoia where behind each innocuous interaction might be something insidious. From is a mystery box that offers a bit of everything. It’s one of those shows that will have you tacking up red yard, desperately theorizing about the town’s secrets between episodes. To catch up on From before Season 4 begins, head to MGM+ or Prime Video via MGM+ subscription.
What horror show are you binging tonight? Leave us a comment below!
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Image courtesy of Prokino Filmverleih
