Some of the most exciting TV shows of all time are horror series, using spooks and scares to churn out some dangerously cutting-edge entertainment. Many TV shows take advantage of the longer-form storytelling of the medium to dish out some delightful slow-burn horror stories that wouldn't be possible to squeeze into a 120-minute feature film. However, many scary series take a more noticeable charge of their narratives, getting to the point quickly with some exciting tales that don't overstay their welcome.
There are several methods by which TV shows find good, fast paces to deliver their horror at. Anthology horror series have to wrap up each of their narratives within the space of a single episode, typically leading to more brisk scares that get to the action quickly. Monster-of-the-week shows have similar mechanisms in place, with neat bottled stories delivered alongside an overarching plot that spans multiple episodes. Whatever the case, not every great horror show drags its feet when it comes to pacing.
10
Penny Dreadful
3 seasons
A mishmash of famous public domain characters from the late 19th century on the level of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,Penny Dreadful is a who's who of famous horror stories. Featuring the likes of Dracula, Frankenstien's Monster, and the Wolf Man, the series begins with an eccentric explorer who commissions a mysterious psychic woman to help locate his missing daughter. From there, the ensemble cast and tangled web of various supernatural forces take over, making for a fantastic period piece that never misses a beat.
Just like the pulp serials it was named after, Penny Dreadful doesn't waste too much time getting to the action, unleashing the latest horror from beyond the veil with righteous impunity. Despite the dizzying number of side-plots and character arcs to keep track of, Penny Dreadful never feels overwhelming as it navigates its winding narrative, touching on corners of supernatural folklore from all around the world. With a slick visual identity and airtight scripts that make the most out of every moment, Penny Dreadful is a thrilling ride with nary a dull moment.
9
Stranger Things
4 seasons (ongoing)
Few TV shows from the era of streaming have left as grand a cultural impact as Stranger Things, the appeal of which seems to transcend generations despite its nostalgia-bait 80s setting. The series begins with a group of four young nerdy friends, one of whom goes missing in a dangerous parallel reality inhabited by a bloodthirsty monster. At the same time, a girl with psychic powers escapes from a shadowy government facility, meeting up with the remaining three boys and helping them rescue their missing comrade.
From humble beginnings, Stranger Things has evolved into an increasingly popular show that blends cosmic horror with young adult coming-of-age storytelling, impressive worldbuilding, and poignant drama. Though some seasons of Stranger Things are better than others, each manages to quickly introduce new horrifying threats at a good clip, never leaving a dull moment to linger in the air. Combined with the stellar 80s soundtrack and ground-breaking child performances, it's little wonder how the series became such a potent pop culture phenomenon.
8
The X-Files
11 seasons
One of the most iconic TV series in general, let alone in the horror subgenre, The X-Files needs little introduction. The science fiction masterpiece chronicles the cases of FBI special agents Mulder and Scully, working in the mysterious "X-Files" division dedicated to supposedly paranormal occurrences, usually revolving around aliens. Mulder and Scully have a fantastically tense will-they-won't-they relationship layered on top of their fascinating dynamic and a skeptic and a believer.
Many might not consider The X-Files a true horror series, but the scariest episodes speak for themselves, with all manner of unspeakable monsters, the most grotesque of which are very often regular people. The monster-of-the-week format keeps the series lean with its pacing, not wasting a single moment of screen time as so many modern TV shows are wont to do. Despite being very much a product of the 90s, The X-Files is still one of the most exciting horror journeys in TV anyone can embark on.
7
Black Mirror
6 seasons (ongoing)
While shows like The Twilight Zone may have dominated the horror anthology TV space, the very modern trappings of Black Mirror have updated the format with contemporary storytelling speed. Originally coming out of the U.K., this Netflix franchise success presents a new tale of technology gone wrong every episode, with settings ranging from essentially the current day and age to far-flung dystopian futures that will hopefully never manifest. While its nature as a collection of disconnected vignettes means there are some real dips in quality, Black Mirror's best episodes make the long wait in between seasons more than worthwhile.
Considering each episode is responsible for tying off a self-contained story, it's no wonder that Black Mirror usually moves at such a brisk pace. Though the length of each piece has begun to swell in size to miniature movies in the more recent seasons, the frightening implications of each horrific technological application introduced makes even the bad episodes worth watching for the discussion of their themes alone. It's hard to go wrong picking out a random episode of Black Mirror.
6
Kingdom
2 seasons
Ryô Yoshizawa in Kingdom
A good deal more obscure than other entries on this list, Kingdom deserves far more recognition as an exciting and well-executed horror-fantasy series. Based on the webtoon The Kingdom of the Gods, the South Korean series takes place in the Kingdom of Joseon towards the end of the Middle Ages. The show examines a long-standing feud between two royal families which turns the land sour when one of them accidentally unleashes a plague of zombies while trying to resurrect a deceased clan member.
The idea of zombies in a Middle Age fantasy setting is quite a novel one, and the events of the story unfold at a pace just as terrifyingly fast as the undead creatures that inhabit it. Unlike the shambling cadavers from The Walking Dead, Kingdom's zombies are fast, ravenous, and absolutely bloodthirsty, making for a constant background threat that drives the action like a pressure cooker. Also boasting a fascinating and varied cast of memorable characters, it's a shame that Kingdom has remained in development limbo since its second season.
5
The Haunting Of Hill House
1 season
The visionary horror miniseries that put genius showrunner and director Mike Flanagan on the map, The Haunting of Hill House is a finely-honed horror experience unlike any other. Based on the Shirley Jackson novel of the same name, the limited series explores two parallel stories that hop back and forth in time, showing how a group of siblings grew up with their parents in a haunted house and how the events of their childhood went on to terrorize them in their adult lives. Of all of Mike Flanagan's work, The Haunting of Hill House might just be the strongest.
Though the series admittedly takes its time establishing the history of the titular house and its former inhabitants, Flanagan has a knack for allowing viewers to get comfortable for just long enough not to suspect the next abrupt jumpscare. But make no mistake, The Haunting of Hill House is far from a collection of cheap shots, with a very real sense of dread that builds over the interpersonal drama complimenting the manor's many ghouls and ghosts. With only a single season, each episode of the series is meticulously crafted to move the story forwards at a welcome pace.
4
Marianne
1 season
For every great horror show Netflix produces, there's another series brimming with potential that is sadly canceled by the streaming giant. Marianne was one such casualty of the platform, disappointing fans of its fast-paced horror sensibilities. The French-language series follows a famous horror writer whose inspiration becomes all too real when a malicious presence from her nightmares starts haunting her waking life, not to mention her own characters, previously thought to be fictional.
Just because Marianne was prematurely canceled doesn't mean the series isn't worth watching. Packed to the brim with deliberate scares right from the jump, Marianne pays homage to many famed horror films and even more obscure anime series with striking proficiency, still maintaining its own twisted brand of French folk horror. Fueled with adrenaline and spine-chilling realizations, Marianne's cancelation is one of Netflix's biggest missed opportunities in the horror space.
3
The Exorcist
2 seasons
Not to be confused with the groundbreaking Exorcist film series, the 2016 show is a brilliant expansion on the supernatural possession story that started it all. Taking place decades after the first movie, The Exorcist series centers on a pair of priests made to do battle with the demonic forces threatening a family and foster home. While the two main characters take on a variety of new cases, they eventually come to brush up against the chilling possession of Regan MacNiel all those years ago.
Demonic possession provides some of the most bone-chilling imagery of any horror subgenre, and The Exorcist certainly fulfills this promise. The incredible performances sell the terror of infernal invasion, doing enough to pay homage to the original film while still breaking out with their own unique storytelling. Though it sadly only lasted 2 seasons, The Exorcist is able to provide plenty of excitement in such a short time frame, specifically for those that enjoy the movie series.
2
Channel Zero
4 seasons
The internet has had a profound effect on folklore, with popular creepypastas, or copy-paste scary stories, serving as the new form of chilling tale to be shared around the digital campfire. An underappreciated horror anthology series from the SyFy channel, Channel Zero channels this new form of scary story into a veritable art form. Technically not a true anthology, each of Channel Zero's four seasons tells an all-new horror story with its own unique setting and characters.
The ideas captured in each season are wonderfully unique, from children's programming that causes unnerving disappearances to cross-dimensional cannibals. As such, the show is brisk with its storytelling, knowing it doesn't have the benefit of waiting around for the next season to finish paying off its various seeds of mystery. Pepper in some incredible creature designs and special effects for a mid-budget horror show, and Channel Zero isn't an experience to miss.
1
Ash Vs Evil Dead
3 seasons
Continuing the legacy of the Evil Dead movies, Ash vs Evil Dead brought back Bruce Campbell's beloved Ash Williams after decades of radio silence beyond the occasional cameo. Picking up years later with an older, rougher-around-the-edges Ash, the Deadites are once again unleashed upon the world when the hardware sales agent makes a stoned mistake. Picking up new undead hunters Pablo and Kelly, Ash is tasked with stopping the mysterious Ruby from enacting her profane plans with the Necronomicon.
Filled to the brim with action, comedy, and daring practical effects, dull moments never linger in Ash vs Evil Dead. The story progresses quite meaningfully in each episode, with nothing truly feeling like filler beyond the odd extended sequence of slapstick gore. No other TV show truly captures the madcap campy fun of Ash vs Evil Dead, making it a breakneck-paced horror series that stands in a league of its own even a few years out from its cancelation.
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Ryô Yoshizawa in Kingdom
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