Finally, we’re in spooky season and frankly, we deserve this. It’s been a hell of a year, and I found myself excited to revisit some of my favorite horror or horror-adjacent shows. Scary isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I’d like to think this list includes a good mix of Halloween vibes for all tastes. Please share your favorites in the comments below! I’m always looking for new shows to watch.
Hulu: Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Arguably one of the best animated shows of all time, Over the Garden Wall has everything. It’s got spooks, cozy fall vibes and moments of genuine sweetness and humor. The story follows two brothers who get lost in the woods, but in trying to find their way home, they find that nothing is as it seems. I’ve seen this one a few times but honestly it gets better every watch. Featuring a great voice cast including Elijah Wood, Christopher Lloyd, Melanie Lynskey and others, it’s a fun time and you can watch it safely with your kids without fear of anything too wild. If you haven’t seen this one, absolutely watch it right now. With eight episodes all spanning around 10 minutes in length, it’s easy to bang out in a single fall evening.
FOR FANS OF: Steven Universe; Gravity Falls; Goosebumps
Netflix: Marianne (2019)
If you’re looking for something truly messed up and grotesque, Marianne should definitely be your next watch. By far one of the scariest shows I’ve ever seen, Marianne follows a French horror author named Emma, who is famous for writing stories about a witch named Marianne. Except, of course, Marianne is real and she isn’t very happy that Emma doesn’t want to keep telling her story. This is one I’ve recommended to folks only to get the WTF text the next day hearing they peaced out and couldn’t finish it. At only eight episodes, it’s not a long commitment but it really does atmosphere and grotesque gore very well. Check this one out, if you dare.
FOR FANS OF: Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities; Channel Zero
Prime Video: Lore (2017 – 2018)
For the history buffs and those looking for something documentary-adjacent, Lore is a great pick for spooky season. Based on the podcast of the same name, Lore follows real life incidents or traditions that venture into the unexplained and strange. While many of the incidents have real science for the how and why, others do not and they are by far the most disturbing. It’s a solid watch if you’re looking for real-life spooks that aren’t true crime.
FOR FANS OF: Urban Legend; Unsolved Mysteries
Netflix: The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Look, you knew there was no way this wasn’t going to be on the list. It is, for many (myself included), the greatest horror TV show of all time. While Mike Flanagan’s mini series is a very different story from the Shirley Jackson novel of the same name, it’s very good on its own merits. The acting is incredible, the setting and scares are very well-done, and it’s a Flanagan work so you know the character writing and story are exceptional. You’ll laugh, cry and jump out of your skin depending on the moment. It’s by far Flanagan’s strongest work and the one that put him on the map as a horror director to watch. If you haven’t watched this yet, you’re in for a great time. If you have, you know it’s worth the October rewatch.
FOR FANS OF: Castle Rock; Bates Motel
HBO Max: The Outsider (2020)
One of the better King adaptations for TV, The Outsider just sort of dropped on HBO Max with little to no fanfare at the beginning of 2020. Following a gruesome murder, local police arrest the baseball coach Terry Maitland who is caught on camera shortly before the crime was committed. Mysteriously though, he’s also on camera two states away, where he was attending a teaching conference at the time. Confronted with the impossible from the start, investigator Ralph Anderson (played by the incredible Ben Mendelsohn) slowly unravels a much darker story, with all clues pointing to things that should not exist. This is a slow burn horror mystery and with a stacked cast also featuring Cynthia Erivo, Jason Bateman and others, it’s just a great mini series. Give it a watch if you’re looking for something a bit slower but still rewarding.
FOR FANS OF: Mare of Easttown, True Detective