So movies aren’t your cup of tea? Or maybe you’re not entirely in the mood to cozy up on the couch and settle in for a few hours of slasher antics. That is totally fine! There is a multitude of shows that can help to get you in Halloween spirit that you can start now to curate those perfect mental vibes for a pleasant spooky season. The beauty of television today is that you can control how much content you consume in a single sitting. Often times people are willing to binge eight hours worth of a juicy, lore-dripping show, rather than meander through one long film. Believe it or not, the phenomenon is real, but we have the perfect list for you.
We have gathered 10 of the best TV shows to get you in the Halloween spirit. From vampires to zombies to monster hunters to witches, the realm of horror television has never been more diverse and accessible than it is today.
#1 Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
Buffy Summers, played by the original queen of slay herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar, is destined to slay vampires and demons. Buffy, accompanied by her “Scooby Gang,” fights the forces of evil with weapons and jokes to preserve the fate of humanity season after season. ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ is one of the most iconic vampire-related shows of all time, and although it was developed by he who shall not be named or credited, it remains one of the best shows to get you in the mood for Halloween. It’s campy and heartfelt but contains some extremely tear-jerking moments throughout its seven-season run. You can stream ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ on Hulu and Disney+ and watch the trailer here.
#2 Midnight Mass (2021, Mike Flanagan)
This TV miniseries is brought to you by the man who created films such as ‘Hush’ and the ‘Haunting of…’ anthology series. ‘Midnight Mass’ centers on a desperately isolated island community that is experiencing miraculous phenomenons and terrifying omens after the arrival of a mysterious and charming young priest. ‘Midnight Mass’ utilizes the slow burn horror technique in order to keep its audience just terrified enough at all times to keep watching. You can watch ”Midnight Mass’ on Netflix and watch the trailer here.
#3 American Horror Story: Murder House (2011, Ryan Murphy)
Created by the same man who graced the human race with the everlasting nuances of ‘Glee’, Ryan Murphy’s ‘American Horror Story: Murder House’ (aka the first season) centers on the Harmon family as they are in the midst of a transitional period. The dysfunctional family moves into a historic piece of property on the outskirts of Los Angeles. They are only in the neighborhood for a short while before coming to the realization that something is not quite right in the house. As they are terrorized by the ghouls of murders past, the Harmon family must overcome immeasurable odds or fall victim to the house’s bloodthirsty desires. You can watch the full season on Netflix US and Hulu and watch the trailer here.
#4 Stranger Things (2016, The Duffer Brothers)
Set in the mid-1980s, the town of Hawkins, Indiana is plagued by a number of supernatural occurrences, mysterious disappearances and shady government interferences. Hawkins can only be saved by an ensemble of high school and middle school students along with their supernatural friend, Eleven. You can watch ‘Stranger Things’ on Netflix and catch the trailer here.
#5 What We Do In the Shadows (2019, Jemaine Clement)
Based on the contents of the film by the same name, ‘What We Do In the Shadows’ is a comical, mockumentary-style look into the daily life of four vampires who have been housemates for over a century in the great borough of Staten Island. You can watch ‘What We Do In the Shadows’ on Hulu and catch the trailer here.
#6 Hannibal (2013, Bryan Fuller)
Led by the extremely sexy men Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy, ‘Hannibal’ centers on the early relationship between the renowned psychiatrist turned cannibal, Hannibal Lecter and a young FBI criminal profiler with a penitent for empathizing with serial killers. You can watch ‘Hannibal’ on Amazon Prime and Hulu and catch the trailer here.
#7 Supernatural (2005, Eric Kripke)
Centering on two brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, ‘Supernatural’ chronicles their journey as they follow in their father’s footsteps and fight several supernatural beings. From demons to gods the Winchesters attempt to fight it all and they are always willing to lay it all on the line in the process. You can watch the entire series on Netflix US and watch the trailer here.
#8 Lovecraft Country (2020, Misha Green)
Based on Matt Ruff’s iconic novel,’ Lovecraft Country’ follows a Korean War veteran, Atticus Freeman, his dear friend Letitia and his Uncle George on a journey through 1950s Jim Crow Era America. They struggle to survive against not only the terrors of white America but also the horrifying monsters ripped straight from the pages of H.P. Lovecraft’s novels. This genre-bending limited series is available to watch on HBO Max and you can view the trailer here.
#9 The Walking Dead (20010, Frank Darabont)
Based on the cult comic book series of the same name, ‘The Walking Dead’ tells the story of the months and years following the zombie apocalypse. Focused in the state of Georgia, ‘The Walking Dead’ tracks a group of survivors led by former police sheriff, Rick Grimes as they travel in search of a safe and secure home. What follows are seasons of Rick and the gang struggling against the forces of nature and this new way of life as they desperately try to stay alive by any means necessary. You can watch ‘The Walking Dead’ on Netflix US and AMC+ and watch the trailer here.
#10 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa)
In this darker reboot of the original ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ series, we follow a young witch as she battles the forces of good and evil while reconciling with her inherent nature as a half-witch, half-mortal being. You can stream this dark coming-of-age tale on Netflix and watch the trailer here.
I hope this list assisted all of my film anti’s out there in finding some other form of content to get you in the mood for the incoming holiday season!
