Everyone enjoys getting into the “spirit” of things on any holiday, but this is especially true on Halloween.
We used to go trick or treating as kids, and some still do, while others decorate their homes with all sorts of creepy and bone-chilling decor to give others a fright. But what about those who just want to stay in for the night?
Well, don’t worry, because there are plenty of scary series and spooky shows over on Netflix to satisfy that itch for horror.
Some will frighten you with various jump scares or the general ambiance and story while others will make you question reality; it’s all part of the fun on All Hallows Eve.
So, how about we take a look at Netflix’s offerings?
1. The Haunting of the Hill House
1 season | Netflix
Cast: Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Timothy Hutton
Language: English
What’s it about: A chilling tale about a group of five adults from the Crain family, returning back to the Hill House to face the ghosts of their past — both figuratively and literally — to relive the source of their traumas and face their fears.
What makes it good: The great Mike Flanagan helms this faithful book adaptation that doesn’t tone down on the spook factor. The creator/director doesn’t rely on the horror alone but also delves into the psychological aspect, expanding the plot of this chilling tale into a well-woven, full-on psychological drama.
2. Stranger Things
4 seasons | Netflix
Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown
Language: English
What’s it about: A group of friends stumbles upon a girl named Eleven and decides to band together to fight the aftereffects of the government’s experiments in Hawkins, which opened the way to the Upside Down.
What makes it good: The terrifying visuals, the campy 80’s feel that works as a great contrast to the underlying horror, and a surprisingly cohesive cast make this a must-watch if you haven’t already. Fans of D&D will be especially thrilled with the many references made to it.
3. Midnight Mass
1 season | Netflix
Cast: Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Hamish Linklater
Language: English
What’s it about: After serving time in prison, Riley Flynn returns to his old community to try and get his life back together. Simultaneously, a new priest arrives in town, and strange and inexplicable events begin to occur.
What makes it good: Another one of Flanagan’s masterpieces, clashing religious themes with the looming dread surrounding the island that seems almost mystical in nature. The intrigue and the twists are sure to keep you glued to your seats. The only downside is a bit too much exposition, but the other elements more than compensate for it.
4. Marianne
1 season | Netflix
Cast: Victoire Du Bois, Lucie Boujenah, Tiphaine Daviot
Language: French
What’s it about: Emma Larsimon, a famous horror fiction writer, returns to her hometown to retire, only for the event to trigger the arrival of the witch Marianne. Emma must now figure out how to stop the evil witch from terrorizing her beloved town.
What makes it good: Marianne is a return to a more straightforward form of horror, complete with terrifying visuals, jumpscares, and sounds that will make your entire body shudder. It’s a simple formula packed with classic tropes that effortlessly deliver the fright you came to see. Well worth the watch.
5. Dark
3 seasons | Netflix
Cast: Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, Jördis Triebel
Language: German
What’s it about: It is a series that follows four families from the small German town of Winden as they search for two missing children. As the characters try to reunite their families and stop the doomsday, they uncover a massive conspiracy spanning multiple time periods.
What makes it good: Dark is the first German horror/drama adaptation on Netflix, and what a fantastic entry it is. Rarely does a show use time travel as a storytelling device and pull it off in such a seamless manner while maintaining the suspense and thrill of it all. Perfect for those who prefer existential horror to monster-based horror.
6. Castlevania
4 seasons | Netflix
Voice cast: Ryotaro Okiayu, Shinichiro Miki, Naoya Uchida
Language: Japanese/English
What’s it about: The series follows Trevor Belmont, a monster hunter who teams up with Sypha Belnades and Alucard to stop the vampires from taking over Europe and slay Dracula and his consorts.
What makes it good: A faithful adaptation of a video game, Castlevania delivers a much-needed medieval fantasy element to the horror genre. While the horror anime doesn’t primarily rely on the ‘horror’ aspect, the terrifying monster designs still pack a punch, especially when combined with the bleak setting of the dark ages.
7. Kingdom
2 seasons | Netflix
Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Ryu Seung-ryong, Bae Doona
Language: Korean
What’s it about: This is a story about a plague that ravages medieval Korea, turning people into ghouls. The affliction appears to have started with the king and is spreading due to the kingdom’s decaying order and equality pillars.
What makes it good: Kingdom is based on a real-life plague that decimated Korea’s population, albeit with a more fantastical tone thanks to the addition of zombies. This horror drama focuses on how the ruling body’s poor decisions during the twilight years of an empire led to the ruin of an entire nation for the sake of short-term gain.
8. Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina
4 seasons | Netflix
Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis
Language: English
What’s it about: This is a tale of Sabrina Spellman, a half-witch, a half-human girl who wants to balance both sides. When the forces of darkness intervene, Sabrina is forced to choose between them, and it is up to her to defend the mortal realm against evil.
What makes it good: Sabrina’s new demonic origin is a deliberate departure from both the source material and the previous 1990s sitcom version, and it works surprisingly well. The story will keep you interested throughout all four parts of this slightly-less-scary-than-average show while retaining key horror elements.
9. Locke & Key
2 seasons | Netflix
Cast: Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones
Language: English
What’s it about: Following their father’s murder, three children and their mother relocate to Keyhouse. There, the siblings begin to discover mysterious keys that, when used, bend reality in various ways—keys that a demonic being is also on the lookout for.
What makes it good: Locke & Key, an adaptation of a beloved novel series, is a delight to watch. While it may seem like the formulaic Netflix release, it has more than enough variations to raise itself above the rest by instilling a proper sense of dread and uncertainty by mixing horror and drama elements.
10. Hemlock Grove
3 seasons | Netflix
Cast: Famke Janssen, Landon Liboiron, Dougray Scott
Language: English
What’s it about: After a series of brutal killings in their hometown in Pennsylvania, Peter Rumancek and Roman Godfrey get pinned as the prime suspects. The two team up to clear their names to find the real perpetrators of these horrific acts.
What makes it good: The special effects and action are Hemlock Grove’s strongest points combined with the gory and horror elements. While it isn’t a deep and reflective horror drama, it can be a great guilty pleasure when you need a good catharsis.
READ NEXT: Best Blumhouse Horror Movies To Stream Right Now
Like our selection of best Netflix original horror shows? Share or pin it for later! You can also stay in the loop and follow us on Facebook and Pinterest.
