The 10 Top Scariest Shows to Watch This Spooky Season
By 
Mishal Zafar
Looking for something terrifying to binge this spooky season? From haunted houses and creepy cults to supernatural nightmares, these 10 shows will have you jumping at every shadow and sleeping with the lights on.
Spooky season is here. So there’s no better time to dive into some seriously creepy TV. Whether you’re into haunted houses, bloodthirsty vampires, or mind-bending psychological horrors, these 10 shows are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. From spine-chilling ghost stories to unsettling thrillers, this lineup will have you clutching your blanket and maybe even calling a friend for backup.
The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)
Talk about a haunted house with baggage. The Haunting of Hill House follows the Crain family, and shifts between past and present as they grapple with the trauma of living in a very haunted mansion. While the ghostly moments are terrifying, it’s the emotional depth that really hits hard. It’s undoubtedly one of the best horror shows in TV history.
The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
Mike Flannagan puts a deliciously dark twist on Edgar Allan Poe’s tales. Imagine if Succession was scary, and you’ll get a taste of the Usher family’s corporate horror story. Each episode serves up new Poe-inspired nightmares, delivering spine-chilling moments wrapped in gothic elegance. With more Easter eggs than an Edgar Allan Poe fan club meeting, it’s a thrilling ride for both horror buffs and literary fans alike.
The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix)
Think Jane Austen meets gothic horror, with a side of ghostly suspense. Set in a gloomy manor with unsettling children and an au pair, The Haunting of Bly Manor unravels a tragic tale of love, loss, and hauntings that will keep you guessing. The story moves at a haunting pace, filled with emotional depth and enough twists to keep you glued to the screen.
Midnight Mass (Netflix)
A remote island, a charismatic priest, and a religious community on the brink of unraveling — this show takes a slow-burn approach to horror, but once it grabs you, it doesn’t let go. Midnight Mass explores faith, mortality, and the nature of good and evil in a way that creeps up on you, while monologues will have you questioning everything you believe.
The Outsider (Max)
Stephen King adaptations can be hit or miss, but The Outsider is a solid home run. A chilling murder investigation turns into a surreal, supernatural nightmare, where reality starts to bend, and nothing is as it seems. Ben Mendelsohn’s detective is gritty and unforgettable, and the show’s eerie atmosphere keeps you hooked. Prepare to question every shadow you see after this one.
The Stand (Paramount+)
Like The Walking Dead meets The Chosen, The Stand follows warring factions of survivors trying to rebuild society after a super-flu wipes out most of humanity. The Stephen King story is a post-apocalyptic battle featuring Whoopi Goldberg’s Mother Abagail as the leader of the forces of good, and Alexander Skarsgård’s Randall Flagg as the ultimate evil. It’s a terrifying ride that feels all too real in today’s climate.
Penny Dreadful (Showtime)
Victorian London has never felt more dark. Penny Dreadful brings together iconic horror figures like Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dorian Gray into one beautiful gothic tale. With gorgeous visuals and stellar performances (Eva Green is especially mesmerizing), the show is the perfect blend of classic horror and fresh storytelling. It’s dramatic, bloody, and absolutely riveting.
Hemlock Grove (Netflix)
A small town full of secrets, werewolves, and mad science experiments gone wrong — Hemlock Grove is pure horror chaos. It’s a wild, unpredictable ride where the transformations are gruesome, the mysteries are twisted, and the plot will keep you guessing. If you can stomach the gory twists, this is one show that’ll leave you utterly spellbound by its bizarre yet captivating world.
American Horror Story (Hulu)
No list of scary shows is complete without American Horror Story. Each season offers a different, terrifying tale — whether it’s haunted houses, freak shows, or witch covens, the scares are plentiful and relentless. With the anthology format, you never know what twisted new world you’ll be plunged into, but you can always count on top-notch performances and a level of horror that will leave you equal parts disturbed and hooked.
Castle Rock (Hulu)
A love letter to Stephen King fans, Castle Rock weaves together characters and stories from King’s universe into one creepy, interconnected tale. The small-town atmosphere is perfectly eerie, and even if you’re not a King superfan, the show’s unnerving tone and top-tier acting will draw you in. Expect to spend a lot of time dissecting all the references and unraveling the mysteries as they unfold.
