Spooky Season | 10 Horror Series to Binge-Watch Online and Be Terrified

Horror series often blend supernatural elements with our most human fears. Both TV and streaming bet on productions that use horror as their main feature. Some of them even exceed expectations, like "American Horror Story", with its 11 seasons and 16 Emmys. The subgenres are many, ranging from psychological horror, like "Hannibal" and "Bates Motel", to slasher, where a serial killer chases a group of people, as in "Chucky".

With that in mind, we've selected 10 horror series available on streaming platforms for binge-watching. Whether you're a big fan of the genre or a newbie, there's something on this list for everyone. Check out more details about the plot and the platforms they're available on below:

1. The Haunting of Hill House

The plot is based on the supernatural but also on something realistically human: family trauma. The 2018 Netflix production, with 10 episodes, was written by Mike Flanagan ("Midnight Mass") and is loosely based on the classic 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson. In the story, after the suicide of the youngest sister, the five siblings from the Crain family are forced to return to the place where they grew up, the most haunted house in the United States.

The actors portraying the Crain siblings include Michiel Huisman (Steven Crain), Carla Gugino (Olivia Crain), Elizabeth Reaser (Shirley Crain), Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Luke Crain), Kate Siegel (Theodora Crain), and Victoria Pedretti (Nell Crain).

2. Hannibal

Written by Bryan Fuller ("Star Trek: Discovery"), based on books by Thomas Harris and available on Amazon Prime Video, "Hannibal" focuses on the relationship between cannibal psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter and FBI agent Will Graham. In the 2013 plot, which spans three seasons, Graham has the ability to understand how the most heinous serial killers think, and, consequently, to solve their crimes. However, this takes a toll on his mental health, leading him to seek out a psychiatrist, specifically Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who hides a dark secret behind his charm and sophistication.

In this adaptation, the iconic literary villain is portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen ("Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore"), while actor Hugh Dancy ("Adam") plays FBI agent Will Graham. In 2016, the series was nominated for an Emmy, and despite not winning the award, it is still considered a critical success.

3. Bates Motel

"Bates Motel" was created as a contemporary prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's classic, "Psycho", shining a light on the complex relationship of psychopath Norman Bates with his mother. Created by Anthony Cipriano, Carlton Cuse, and Kerry Ehrin, the show has five seasons and is available on Globoplay. The series' premise tells us what led Norman Bates to dress as his mother, Norma, and stab the motel's guests they own.

Actor Freddie Highmore ("The Good Doctor") brings Hitchcock's villain to life, at the time only 17 years old. Actress Vera Farmiga ("The Orphan") plays his mother, Norma Bates. The show, which aired between 2013 and 2017, was nominated three times for an Emmy and is famous for having exceeded critics' expectations.

4. American Horror Story

"American Horror Story" is renowned for having changed how horror is done on TV. According to the Collider website, before the series written by Brad Falchuk ("Pose") and Ryan Murphy ("Glee"), horror productions were mainly designed for the movies. Still, its creators managed to show that the episodic format can also be spine-chilling. Exploring different plots in each of its 11 seasons, "American Horror Story" focuses on themes such as infidelity, sanity, oppression, discrimination, addiction, and exploitation. The series, which first aired in 2011, can be watched on Star+ and Globoplay.

Among a diverse cast are actors Evan Peters ("Dahmer: An American Cannibal"), Sarah Paulson ("Run"), Angela Bassett ("Black Panther"), and Lady Gaga ("A Star is Born"). "American Horror Story" has numerous Emmy nominations and has won the award in 16 categories, including Best Actress in 2014 for Jessica Lange ("King Kong") for her portrayal of Fiona Goode.

5. The Outsider

"The Outsider" is a 2020 production, based on a not-so-well-known novel by the successful author Stephen King. However, according to Mark Hale from The New York Times, the series' creator, Richard Price, managed to make it darker than the original material. In the story, what starts as the investigation of a murder case evolves with the discovery of a supernatural force, making the investigators question what's real or not. The ten-episode series is available on HBO Max.

The cast of "The Outsider" includes actor Ben Mendelsohn ("Rogue One: A Star Wars Story") and actress Cynthia Erivo ("Harriet"). In 2020, Jason Bateman ("The Switch") was nominated for an Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his role in the show. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has received great feedback from audiences, with 91% critic approval and 82% audience approval.

6. Midnight Mass

"Midnight Mass" is a Netflix production written and directed by Mike Flanagan ("The Haunting of Hill House"), with a plot blending horror and Catholicism. In the 2021 series, which has seven episodes, we follow young Riley Flynn, who returns to his hometown, a small community on an island, after killing a woman while drunk driving. His awkward return, however, is overshadowed by the arrival of a new priest, who soon begins to perform miracles.

Actors Zach Gilford ("Friday Night Lights") and Hamish Linklater ("The Big Short") bring Riley and Father Paul Hill to life, respectively. The series was nominated for an Emmy in 2022 and received a positive response from the audience upon its release.

7. The Haunting of Bly Manor

Described as the follow-up to "The Haunting of Hill House", "The Haunting of Bly Manor" is also a work by Mike Flanagan and features some familiar faces from its predecessor. Released in 2020 on Netflix, the nine-episode series tells the story of Dani Clayton, a young governess hired to look after a man's niece and nephew at their family's countryside home, shortly after the mysterious death of the former nanny.

Victoria Pedretti plays Dani, after an excellent performance as Nell Crain in "The Haunting of Hill House". Actor Henry Thomas also returns, this time as Henry Wingrave, the children's uncle. The series was nominated for an Emmy in 2021 and has a better response from critics than the audience.

8. Chucky

The most recent reinterpretation of Don Mancini's classic ("Child's Play") was released in 2021, in a series format with two seasons available on Star+. In the plot, an old Chucky doll appears at a garage sale and is bought by the unlucky teenager Jake Wheeler. The spirit of serial killer Charles Ray Lee is still trapped in the toy, and it doesn't take long for him to encourage the young man to commit vengeful acts. Themes like sexuality, family issues, and social pressure mix with horror in the series' narrative.

Among the cast are young actors Zackary Arthur ("The 5th Wave"), playing Jake, and Bjorgvin Arnarson ("The Seventh Day"), portraying Devon, his love interest.

9. Sweet Home

The South Korean Netflix production "Sweet Home" is based on a comic of the same name, developed by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan. Earlier this year, the platform confirmed a second season for the work that already has ten episodes. Directed by the trio Jang Young-woo, Lee Eung-bok, and Park So-hyun, the depressed young Cha Hyun-soo is moving to Green Houses, a dilapidated apartment complex. Everything goes smoothly until building residents start being attacked and killed by supernatural flesh-eating creatures.

Starring actor Song Kang ("Love Alarm"), the series also features Lee Jin-wook ("Nine: Nine Time Travels") and Go Min-si ("Youth of May") in the cast. On specialized websites, the series has a positive rating, with 83% critic approval and 85% audience approval on Rotten Tomatoes.

10. Salem

Written by Brannon Braga and Adam Simon, "Salem" is inspired by the witch trials in Massachusetts, USA, in the late 17th century. The series aired between 2014 and 2017, has three seasons, and can be watched on Star+. In the plot, we follow Mary Sibley, a young woman now married who gave up on her love for John Alden when he went to war. Upon his return, Alden finds a dark city, drenched in fear and blood.

The series stars Janet Montgomery ("Black Swan") and Shane West ("A Walk to Remember"), portraying Mary and John, respectively. On specialized websites, the series has a polarized response.