Vanessa Maki with a selection of horror TV shows you need to watch…
We talk a lot about horror movies and how much we adore them, but what about horror television? The commitment one must have for a TV show, especially if they are watching multiple shows, is often daunting. However, when you find a show as a horror fan that you love, there’s an excitement there. Especially when you discover a show that people didn’t blow up or aren’t blowing up.
While no, you shouldn’t be ashamed of liking popular shows or even ones with relatively passionate fandoms, branching out and exploring something new and potentially exciting, is also a good thing. Therefore that’s what this list is and today you’ll be taking a ride that’ll entail horror TV shows that you might not know about or haven’t gotten the chance to watch yet. Fasten your seatbelts because we’re swerving into various horror subgenre lanes and the ride is a little bumpy…
The Strain (2014-2017)
Vampires, but make them different from what we’ve come to know about vampires. The Strain follows a group of people who are fighting against an ancient viral strain of vampirism that rampages New York. The show is based on a trilogy that was written by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, and it’s not your typical vampire horror series because these vampires aren’t what we’ve come to know throughout horror media.
The Strain gives horror fans a lot to chew on with its range of characters, Nazi vampires who get what’s coming to them, unique vampires, and a lot of violence. It’s not the most perfect horror series and some of the characters might frustrate you here and there, but that’s relatively normal for most series. But it’s well worth the time, especially if you like shows with a lot of surprising turns.
Ash vs Evil Dead (2015-2018)
It’s time to get groovy with the Deadites, everyone. Ash vs Evil Dead follows Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) as he tries to save the world from the Deadites, once again. It’s set canonically in the Evil Dead universe, and there are more than enough callbacks to satisfy fans. And there is a lot of charm, blood and guts, crudeness, as well as plenty of scenes you won’t soon forget.
Ash vs Evil Dead is such a charming comedy horror series and of course there are problematic moments, but Ash is far from perfect as a character. Therefore him being problematic at times shouldn’t come as a surprise. The show also introduces memorable characters into the universe and they’ll make you wish there had been more than 3 seasons. Overall, it’s the perfect horror series to binge watch.
Wolf Creek (2016-2017)
If you thought Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) was scary in Wolf Creek (2005) and Wolf Creek 2 (2013), he continues being so in the series. Wolf Creek season 1 follows a young woman who seeks to avenge the death of her family by way of Mick. Wolf Creek season 2 follows a group of tourists, who have to fight for their lives when Mick begins hunting them.
Both seasons are very different in terms of the plots and one season might be more interesting than the other for some. Regardless, Wolf Creek doesn’t skimp out on the gore or the violence. And if you enjoy Australian horror, you’ll likely enjoy the atmosphere of the series as well. It’s worth checking out if you happen to be a fan of one or both of the films. Otherwise it might not be your thing!
Slasher (2016 – )
Step aside American Horror Story, your Canadian cousin has entered the party. Slasher is a horror anthology series, all set in the same universe, and it follows different groups of people in whodunit murder sprees with various motivations. It’s quite a bit like AHS, but some people prefer it over Ryan Murphy’s hit anthology horror series.
Each season of Slasher has something different to offer and some are more preferred over others. Though what each season has to offer are diverse casts, queer characters, lots of practical effects for the gore and violence, and fun kills across the seasons. There’s no need to start from the beginning with the show either. And that’s the fun of anthology series, isn’t it?
Dead of Summer (2016)
Summer camp set horror with supernatural aspects? Sounds unique enough, right? Dead of Summer follows a Midwestern summer camp in the late ‘80s that endures horror they’re not prepared for. While the series was canceled after one season and is a bit challenging in some spots, it does embrace its sillier components.
The series is one that would serve well as a gateway horror series, especially for younger audiences that are seeking out teen horror. Dead of Summer isn’t going to blow your mind, but the twists and turns throughout will keep you interested in what’s going to play out. If you like supernatural horror and summer camp settings, you’ll potentially enjoy what the series has to offer. Not to mention, there are more than a few characters to appreciate as far as diversity goes. And that’s always a bonus!
Van Helsing (2016-2021)
A badass bisexual woman as the lead character in a gritty vampire horror series? Yes, that’s exactly what this show provides. Van Helsing follows Vanessa Van Helsing (Kelly Overton), who wakes up from a three year coma and is in the middle of a post apocalyptic world in which is overrun by vampires. The series expands the lore about Abraham Van Helsing by making Vanessa into his descendant, who also happens to be very unique in terms of her blood profile.
Van Helsing is a relatively underrated series, especially since it gives many horror fans what they might be hoping for in other horror shows. There’s plenty of gore, solid acting from a lot of the cast, characters that you care about, diversity, and the vampires are ruthless in their violence. It’s a show that people generally dismiss because of its budget, but don’t let that deter you from watching it.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2021)
It’s not well-loved, but it’s not nearly as bad of a series as people made it out to be. I Know What You Did Last Summer follows a group of friends who accidentally kill someone they know and a year later they’re hunted by a ruthless killer. While the show is frustrating for some folks because of its writing, it’s got a lot of campy qualities that might be appealing. As well as a young diverse cast.
I Know What You Did Last Summer is a bit of a mess, but it’s an entertaining mess that has redeeming qualities. There’s violence, sex, surprising moments, it’s very queer, and a twisted love story that you may or may not expect. It embraces the ridiculous aspects in a way that will either work or won’t work for viewers.
Archive 81 (2022)
Found-footage horror series aren’t as common, but they should be. Archive 81 follows Dan (Mamoudou Athie) who is hired to restore tapes recorded in 1994, but he comes to figure out secrets regarding a cult who disappeared one fateful night. The series sparked from a podcast of the same name and loosely followed said podcast.
Considering the series was cancelled after one season, the ending might not be all that satisfying, and you’re left with more questions than answers. Though aside from that, Archive 81 is a partially found footage series that manages to be relatively creepy. Despite the strange creative choices that left a bad taste in people’s mouths, it’s still a series with a Black man as the lead, and that’s still not common.
FROM (2022-)
It’s one thing dealing with weird creatures that you know nothing about, but it’s another when you can’t leave the area. FROM follows a group of individuals who find themselves trapped in a town, in which murderous creatures hunt them at night. A lead performance from the incredibly talented Harold Perrineau will grip you, and the mystery of the town will make you want to know more.
FROM is a series that leaves you with a lot of questions and that might be frustrating for some. The series still hasn’t answered all of them and if you don’t get invested enough, you might not stick with it. But there’s quite a bit to enjoy in terms of the performances, a wide selection of characters, the scares, and more.
What are your favourite horror TV shows? Any recommendations to add to our list? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Vanessa Maki
Originally published August 30, 2025. Updated August 31, 2025.
