As the weather turns colder and the nights grow longer, the fall season is the perfect time to watch incredible darkhorrorTV shows. There’s nothing better than curling up on the couch, swaddled in blankets, watching a spooky show that can send shivers down the spine. The horror genre is filled with a variety of terrifying content, such as psychological thrillers, gruesome slashers, supernatural monsters and gothic horror.
The diversity of types ofhorror TV showsensures that every type of horror fan has ample options for perfect entertainment during the fall. A horror TV show’s atmosphere can increase the show’s scare factor and give it a chilly and dreary fall feel. The atmosphere of aterrifying horror TV showcan make a scene truly haunting and fit the fall. From creepy desolate places obscured by fog to decrepit mansions with a dark history,the settings of certain horror TV shows make them perfect for binge-watching in the fall.
American Horror Story
Cast
American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The franchise has seen stars like Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Denis O’Hare, Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters, and Dylan McDermott. Each season follows a new premise and spans an array of horror genres like witches, ghosts, serial killers, and more.
One of modern TV’s most consistent horror TV shows, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s horror anthology TV showAmerican Horror Storytells a complete story following different characters every season. Despite all the seasons being set in the same fictional universe, the various seasons are wildly different genres, making it agreat anthology series filled with diverse bone-chilling horror stories. Fans of slasher horror can enjoyAmerican Horror Story: 1984while lovers of all things witchcraft can watchAmerican Horror Story: Coven.
EachterrifyingAmerican Horror Storyseasonreinvents the horror genre and focuses on a particular horror trope.American Horror Story’sGothic architecture and set designs, psychological horror, and terrifying villains make for animpeccable horror TV show with a visually pleasing fall aesthetic. In particular, theAmerican Horror Storyseasons focused on themes like witchcraft, a haunted house, and a haunted hotel all fit the Halloween feeling that pervades the fall.
Midnight Mass
Created and directed by Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass follows the residents of an isolated fishing community whose lives are changed by the sudden appearance of a charismatic new priest, Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater). The residents of Crockett Island struggle to eke out a meager living, just barely surviving off the mainland, but the appearance of Hill changes everything. Attendance at the local church is at an all-time high, but cynical ex-con Riley Flynn doesn’t trust the priest, and sets out to uncover his dark secret.
Mike Flanagan’s gothic horror showMidnight Massis a complex horror story and an unexpected vampire show with shocking plot twists that captivates and intrigues the audience. The showMidnight Masshas hidden depths and examines themesof faith, religion, grief, and forgiveness. WhileMidnight Massstarted off with a slow pace, the show utilized the slow pace to build up the impeccable storyline, take a deep dive into characterizations and character growth, andexpertly heighten the sense of dread and uneasiness throughout the episodes.
The setting ofMidnight Mass,the isolated and impoverished island of Crockett Island serves asthe perfect backdrop for the gothic horror show.Midnight Massis a horror TV show that encapsulates the fall season with its spooky vampire-infested island setting, and does so with a three-dimensional exploration of the show’s characters. It’s a somber and heartbreaking show that also knows how to be frightening when it needs to be.
Bates Motel
Bates Motel is an A&E original series that acts as a contemporary prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic, Psycho. The TV show centers on Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore), who, with his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga), move across the country and buy a motel. However, Norman’s psyche quickly begins to unravel as he struggles with his abnormal relationship with his mother.
Bates Motelis a psychological horror TV show based on the novelPsychoby Robert Bloch. The show serves as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 filmPsychoand follows the lives of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga) after the death of Norma’s husband. The psychological thrillerBates Motelis a bone-chilling horror filled with plot twists and drama.Bates Motelhad key differences fromPsycho,which helped keep fans of the movie on their toes while remaining a faithful and brilliant addition to the franchise.
1960
1983
1986
1987
1990
1998
2013-2017
Bates Motelfocuses onNorman’s abnormally close relationship with his mother, his deteriorating psyche, Norman and Norma’s dark pasts, and how Norman became a killer. The eerilyperfect setting ofBates Moteland the set design for the motel, with its weathered exterior and grand antique interior set in a fictional coastal town, created an incredible atmosphere for the psychological thriller. It’s a slow-burn in the best way, and one of the better TV prequels to ever be released.
Castle Rock
Castle Rock is a supernatural/horror television series based on the works of Stephen King. Set in the titular town in Maine, the show covers an anthology of supernatural stories surrounding various characters that work, live, and visit Castle Rock, all of which sharply turn the mundane lives of northeasterners into compelling tales of the extraordinary - both good and bad.
Castle Rockis based on popular horror author Stephen King’s titular fictional town set in Maine. The supernatural and psychological horror show adapts from King’s well-known works and tells the stories of characters that visit the town of Castle Rock. The anthology seriesCastle Rockis filled with Stephen King charactersand creates an intricate web of King’s stories.Castle Rock’sfascinating characters and compelling supernatural stories make the anthology series a must-watch.
10 TV Shows To Watch If You Love Castle Rock
Castle Rock is an anthology series inspired by Stephen King’s works. There are many horror shows out there, and here are a few it’s fans will enjoy.
The slow-burn psychological horrordoesn’t have to rely on cheap tricks like jump scares to instill fear in the hearts of audiences. Deep in the woodlands of Maine, the town of Castle Rock sets the scene as a bizarre and haunting location forCastle Rock.Maine’s cold and cloudy winter atmosphere gives the town a mysterious, macabre, and enigmatic tone. In addition, the fallen leaves and tall trees give the town of Castle Rock a fall aesthetic elevating the sense of dread.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Loosely based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher is a horror drama mini-series created by Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House) for Netflix. This modern retelling follows a corrupt pharmaceutical CEO, Roderick Usher, as he is forced to reckon with his past as a curse begins to claim the lives of each of his children.
The Fall of the House of Usheris a gothic horror miniseries created by Mike Flanagan loosely based on the eponymous short story by Edgar Allan Poe and his other works.The Fall of the House of Usherutilizes two storylines to followthe rise of the Usher family and the events that led to the death of the dynasty decades later.The Fall of the House of Usher’simpressive cast adds depth to the characters and makes it easy to sympathize with despicable characters.
The beautiful cinematography and atmosphere [ofThe Fall of the House of Usher] capture the fall feel with thedark stormy skies and rainy nights creating an ominous backdropfor the psychological horror series.
The Fall of the House of Usheris a critique of wealth and greed through the cursed Usher family. The beautiful cinematography and atmosphere capture the fall feel with thedark stormy skies and rainy nights creating an ominous backdropfor the psychological horror series.The Fall of the House of Usheris a mini-series with only eight episodes, making it an excellent short-watch for fall.
Chucky
A blend of horror and thriller, this series follows the aftermath of a vintage Chucky doll surfacing at a suburban yard sale. As a series of gruesome events unravel, secrets from the community and Chucky’s past emerge, intertwining to reveal sinister realities and chaotic consequences.
The slasher horror comedy seriesChuckyis part of the iconic horror franchiseChild’s Play.Set in Hackensack, New Jersey,Chuckyfollows teenager Jake Wheeler (Zackary Arthur) whose life is changed for the worse after he buys a doll.The doll is possessed by the serial killer Charles Lee Ray, also known as Chucky, bringing the iconic film villain to television. The formerly pleasant town is turned upside down after Chucky begins to commit a series of gruesome and bloody murders.
Along the way, Chucky’s rampage reveals the town residents' darkest secrets, giving the show a larger overarching storyline. As a campy horror series,Chuckyis the ideal watch for Halloween and the fall. Theexploration of Chucky’s backstoryand how he became a serial killer is a bone-chilling experience.Chuckyskillfully balances between horror and comedy, despite the heart-wrenching and grisly murders of beloved characters.
Evil
Evil is a psychological mystery series that follows a skeptical forensic psychologist, Kristen Bouchard, who teams up with a Catholic priest-in-training and a tech expert to investigate purportedly supernatural incidents. The series delves into complex themes of religion, science, and the nature of evil through its deeply layered narrative and character development. The show stars Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, and Aasif Mandvi.
The aptly named supernatural thrillerEvilfollows three individuals who are entrusted by the Catholic Church to investigate unexplained paranormal incidents, and is an entertaining procerudal. Two skeptics, the forensic psychologist Dr Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers) and technology contractor Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi) are joined by believer and Catholic seminarian David Acosta (Mike Colter) in the inspection of possibly supernatural events.Evilis a procedural show that explores a new supernatural incident every episode and has an overarching conflict caused by the main antagonist andformidable villain Dr Leland Townsend, played by Michael Emerson.
Leland’s obsession with Kristen, his vendetta against her and her family, and his uncanny ability to manipulate people make him a terrifyingly real villain. WhileEvilis filled with monsters and demons, the true horror in the show is the lengths to which humans will go to rationalize their depraved acts and use the excuse of “demons” and otherworldly forces to justify their immoral acts.Evilblends a variety of horror elements,such as supernatural events, psychological thrills, and religious demons.Evil’smix of supernatural horrors and the horrors of humanity makes the show a compelling and chilling fall watch.
From
From is a series revolving around a mysterious American town that ensnares newcomers, forcing its inhabitants to maintain order and find an escape amidst nighttime perils from the surrounding forest. The residents face threats from terrifying creatures emerging after sunset, complicating their struggle for survival.
The critically acclaimed science-fiction horror TV showFromis set in a terrifying town that traps everyone who enters and residents struggle to survive the terrifying creatures living in the forests and escape to safety.Fromfocuses on the Matthews family, new arrivals in the town, and the de-facto mayor and sheriff Boyd Stevens (Harold Perrineau) as they attempt to escape the town.
The terrifying atmosphere ofFromis more gripping than ever before. The events that unfold are some of the wildest and most unpredictable so far. -Screen Rant
Fromhas one of the most bone-chilling settings in a horror showdue to the terrifying atmosphere of the show. The mystery regarding the town serves as the central overarching plot ofFromand influences each storyline.Fromis filled with brutal deathsof beloved characters, heightening the tension and confirming that nobody in this creepy horror is safe. The clever shapeshifting monstersand the town’s inescapable nature helps solidifyFromas one of the best recent horror shows, perfect for the dark and dreary weather in fall.
The Terror
The Terror is an AMC original horror anthology series based on the novel by Dan Simmons. The show follows the Royal Navy as they explore the ocean to locate the Northwest Passage to improve travel and trade. However, the perilous journey proves to be more than any of the crew expected, leaving them at the mercy of harsh elements and the slowly slipping sanity of the crew.
The Terroris a supernatural horror series that creates fictionalized supernatural versions of historical tragedies. Each season of the anthology series is based on a different historical.The Terrorseason oneis based on the British Navy officer, Captain Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition in 1845. The chilling journey takes a turn for the worse after the expedition’s ships are trapped and frozen in ice and thecrew is forced to survive harsh conditions while being stalked and hunted by a creature.
The second season,The Terror: Infamyis set in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II.The Terror,the first season in particular, is amasterpiece in atmospheric horror due to the isolated and dark setting. The expedition crew has to deal with the darkness and freezing cold of the Arctic winter as the stress of survival turns the crew into monsters. As the nights grow longer and the chill creeps in,The Terroris a fitting horror show with atmospheric dread to watch in fall.
The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House is a 2018 horror drama series that interweaves the past and present narrative of a family grappling with traumatic occurrences from their former residence. The story explores the psychological and supernatural elements of their experiences as they contend with haunting memories and events.
The Haunting of Hill Houseis a supernatural horror TV show created by Mike Flanagan is loosely based on the 1959 eponymous novel by Shirley Jackson.The Haunting of Hill House,one of thebest horror shows, is a haunting and tragic tale. The show followsfive siblings haunted by the supernatural terror and loss they experienced at Hill Housein flashbacks, while the present-day timeline examines the dysfunctional families' reunion following the tragic death of Nell Crane (Victoria Pedretti).
The Haunting of Hill House’sgorgeous cinematography, terrifying visuals, unique concept, and well-developed characters make it a masterpiece in storytelling and horror. The Hill House was a foreboding mansion that could send shivers down spines, and was filled withscary hidden ghostsand terrors.The Haunting of Hill House’sfoggy, dark, and gloomy atmospheregives the show a sinister and ominous feel that elevates the horror elements. The haunting and tragic world of Hill House is the besthorrorshow to watch during fall.
