By: Rebecca Sikarev | October 17, 2022
As the countdown to Halloween begins, it’s the perfect time to indulge your love of anything spooky, scary, and supernatural. While horror movies are a Halloween staple, there are countless fantastic shows to watch to get you into the spooky season spirit.
1. American Horror Story
“American Horror Story” is an anthology series that centers around different horror themes, tropes, and legends. Each season has a different theme and location including a haunted house, asylum, a coven of witches, a freak show, a colonial farmhouse in the woods, a cult, an apocalypse, a murderous summer camp, a beach town, and a desert valley. Every season has a new set of characters, typically played by the same actors from previous seasons. Season 11 is expected to take place in New York City and premiere on Oct. 19 on Hulu.
2. The Haunting of Hill House
Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House” follows the Crain family and their paranormal experiences at Hill House. The plot takes place in two timelines, alternating between them. In the present day, the show follows the five adult Crain siblings who are still tormented by the horrors they experienced at Hill House. Their current struggles are explained through flashbacks that portray the events that led up to the fateful night the family was forced to flee the mansion.
3. The Haunting of Bly Manor
Netflix’s “The Haunting of Bly Manor” follows a young nanny hired to care for the wealthy children of the Wingrave family. Upon arriving at Bly Manor, she begins to experience strange paranormal events.
4. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix's darker and edgier remake of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” follows Sabrina Spellman with her family and friends. Upon turning sixteen, Sabrina must relinquish her mortal life and fully embrace her life as a witch. Placing a greater emphasis on horror and witchcraft, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina depicts Sabrina’s struggle to reconcile her attachment to her mortal friends with her desire to learn more about magic.
5. Supernatural
Spanning 15 seasons, “Supernatural” follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester as they travel across America investigating and fighting against paranormal events and otherwise unexplained occurrences. The show largely takes inspiration from various American urban legends and folk tales as well as classic horror figures such as vampires and werewolves. All 15 seasons can be found on Netflix.
6. Stranger Things
Set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, “Stranger Things” follows an ensemble of child and adult characters who investigate the strange events and unexplained mysteries in their town. The show combines various horror tropes, taking inspiration from Stephen King and H.P Lovecraft, with elements of science fiction and eighties pop culture. Centering around a government conspiracy, a supernatural entity, and a tight knit group of friends, the show currently spans four seasons and is one of Netflix’s most popular shows.
7. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Perfect for lovers of true crime, “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” follows the life of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. The series explores the motives and methods of the murders he committed between 1978 and 1991 as well as the lives of his victims. While the Netflix show was praised for its acting, it was criticized for being too exploitative and gruesome in its depiction of the murders.
8. Bates Motel
A prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” “Bates Motel” portrays the unraveling of Norman Bates’ fragile psyche throughout his teenage years and explores his complex relationship with his mother. The show is currently available to watch on Peacock.
9. Dexter
“Dexter” follows anti-hero Dexter Morgan, a Miami-based blood splatter expert who uses his occupation to cover up his crimes as a serial killer. Following a strict code, Dexter only kills criminals who escape the justice system. Spanning eight seasons, the show depicts Dexter’s attempts to carefully manage his psychopathic urges while maintaining his image as a perfectly upstanding citizen. “Dexter” is currently available on Amazon Prime.
10. Scream Queens
A horror comedy canceled before its time, “Scream Queens” follows the members of a college sorority, Kappa Kappa Tau, who are hunted and terrorized by a serial killer dressed as their school’s Red Devil mascot. The CW show can be found on Hulu.
Combining suspense, horror, and gore, any one of these shows will get you into the Halloween spirit. Whether you choose to watch a classic like American Horror Story or a Sci-Fi Horror like Stranger Things, you are sure to be enthralled by the dark and supernatural as the date gets closer to Oct. 31.
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