Netflix’s Haunting 8-Part Series Shows How Lovecraftian Horror Should Be Done

Published Apr 18, 2026, 11:31 PM EDT

Since he does not explicitly explain the visual aspects of the deities featured in his stories and the horrors characters end up facing, it is incredibly challenging to translate his works to the screen. However, one of Netflix's one-season wonders ranks among the rare Lovecraftian TV shows that successfully captures his signature sense of cosmic dread and "fear of the unknown."

Archive 81 Is One Of The Best Modern Lovecraftian Shows

Archive 81 is not directly based on any H.P. Lovecraft stories. Instead, it is adapted from a podcast of the same name. However, the more it progresses, the more it becomes hard not to notice how it borrows from several Lovecraftian tales. It initially seems reminiscent of movies like The Ring as it shows how a supernatural being's influence travels through old tapes and other pieces of technology.

However, like many Lovecraftian stories, it hints at the existence of a godly deity who seemingly lives in a parallel realm and looms over humans. Just like the Great Old Ones, this entity is not bound by human logic or morality and exists far beyond the comprehension of the human mind. The show also gives music a Lovecraftian spin by highlighting how it can bridge dimensions and even drive humans crazy.

The show's eerie portrayal of music seems reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft's The Music of Erich Zann, while the cult around its central supernatural being reminds one of The Call of Cthulhu. In one intriguing story arc, the show also focuses on an otherworldly mold that possesses those who come in contact with it and drives them insane. This seems similar to what happens in Lovecraft's Color Out of Space.

From perfectly capturing the haunting fragility of human sanity to walking through the dire consequences of seeking forbidden knowledge, Netflix's Archive 81 riffs on many Lovecraftian elements in its one-season runtime. Although the show experiences a noticeable decline in its storytelling towards the end, it establishes itself as one of the best takes on Lovecraftian storytelling on the small screen.

Archive 81 Reveals The True Potential Of A Returning Lovecraftian Movie Franchise

It is unfortunate that Archive 81 was canceled after one season even though it seemingly became a sleeper hit on the streaming service and ended with a major cliffhanger. Interestingly, though, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who directed two of its episodes, are set to extend their own existing Lovecraftian movie universe with new installments.

The director-duo is currently busy working on big-budget MCU projects like Daredevil: Born Again. However, before they helmed mainstream TV projects like Loki season 2 and Moon Knight, they were known for their indie horror movies that often had Lovecraftian undertones. Over the years, they have revealed on multiple occasions that they will soon expand the shared universe set by their indie horror movies.

They also previously hinted that they plan to follow up their highly-acclaimed cosmic horror film, The Endless, with a TV show (via the Script Apart podcast). Although it will be a while before their planned follow-up to The Endless comes out, the brilliance with which they capture Lovecraftian themes in their movies makes it hard not to anticipate what they have in store for horror fans.

Their direction in some of the best episodes of Netflix's Archive 81 also suggests that horror fans need to keep an eye on what they plan to bring to the table with their highly anticipated franchise extension of their Lovecraftian movies.