Looking for some fun horror series to binge as we head into Halloween? Check out these scary options on Netflix that you can add to your watch list.
The Haunting of Hill House
You can’t go wrong with this horror classic. The 10 episode season is loosely based on the 1959 horror novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. The plot switches back and forth between two timelines, following five adult siblings whose experiences growing up in Hill House continue to haunt them all to varying degrees even years later. The other timeline shows flashbacks of the events that lead up to the night in 1992 when the family fled the mansion in the middle of the night.
The series was created and directed by Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, Hush), who shows up on this list again with a newer series. Hill House merges the traditional gothic haunted house tale with psychological horror and family drama. It was well-received by viewers and critics alike when it came out in 2018. If you haven’t watched it, this should go to the top of your Halloween scary show playlist on Netflix.
Stranger Things
This amazing homage to all things 1980s was an immediate hit for Netflix when season 1 came out in 2016. Since then, we have seen 2 more seasons, with a 4th on the way. But, start things off with season 1. It is a fantastic play on so many 1980s sci-fi and horror movies and shows. It draws upon Stephen King novels, movies by Steven Spielberg, and so many more. The plot revolves around a group of kids who must battle monsters from another dimension.
The show easily translates between terror (It) and kid adventure (The Goonies). The actors are all great - the kids, teens, and adults. The 80s shout-outs are everywhere, including Winona Ryder as the mother of one of the kids. It also has fun playing with some of the familiar 80s teen movie stereotypes (the cool kids and the nerds) and ends up giving some characters who would normally become villains a chance to be heroes. If you like your horror tinged with some coming-of-age drama, start with Stranger Things Season 1.
American Horror Story
You can’t go wrong with what is now the granddaddy of modern horror series - American Horror Stories. With 9 seasons to choose from on Netflix, there is bound to be at least one and probably multiple seasons that will give you all the chills and thrills you need this Halloween season.
Like haunted house stories - try season 1 (Murder House). How about witches and black magic? Then season 3 (Coven) should be right up your alley. World ending apocalypse? Season 8 (Apocalypse) has you covered. Creep cults? Season 7 (Cult) is here for you. Basically, AHS can cover you with any type of horror story you are looking for.
Midnight Mass
We promised one more series from Mike Flanagan and Midnight Mass is it. This is essentially a brand new series that only came out a few weeks ago. But, audiences and critics are all saying good things about this one. It is a bit of a slow-boil style series, where the story builds up the pace throughout the 7 episode season.
The story revolved around a remote town on an island over an hour from the mainland. Its 127 inhabitants begin to experience strange occurrences when a new priest arrives as a fill-in for their long-standing pastor, who has gone on a pilgrimage to the middle east. A mix of miracles (the paralyzed can walk, the sick become healed, etc.) and mysteries (why are all the stray cats being killed?) eventually converge in a stunning climax. This one deserves to be on your watch list this Halloween!
