Netflix’s ability to maintain a massive subscriber base isn’t just thanks to quantity – it’s about prestige original content, too. The platform continues to invest heavily in cinematic original content, and among its top-tier offerings is a treasure trove of chilling, bone-deep horror TV. Some of the most terrifying and creative horror shows on Netflix are ones you won’t find anywhere else.
For over a decade now, horror TV has been a staple of Netflix’s streaming catalog. Whether it’s gothic tales of possession, demonic curses, or dystopian survival, the service has consistently delivered high-concept scares to genre fans worldwide. Many of the best horror shows of the past twenty years have premiered as Netflix Originals – and many still remain exclusive to the platform.
However, not every series makes the cut. The most unforgettable horror shows on Netflix blend dread with psychological depth and often come armed with unforgettable visuals. Some rival the scariest movies out there, while others use the longform format to slowly unravel into madness. The scariest original Netflix horror shows are the ones that stuck with us, and in one case, still haunt our dreams.
10
Archive 81 (2022)
Tapes, Timelines, And Trauma Collide In This Supernatural Slow-Burn Mystery
Based on a podcast of the same name, Archive 81 follows archivist Dan Turner (Mamoudou Athie), who’s hired to restore a collection of damaged videotapes from 1994. As he uncovers the mystery behind missing filmmaker Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi), reality itself begins to twist into something dark, ancient, and terrifying. What starts as simple restoration turns into a descent into the occult.
Archive 81 was canceled too soon, but its one haunting season cements it as one of the most creative horror shows on Netflix.
The series masterfully balances analog horror with cosmic dread, pulling viewers into a world where cults, curses, and alternate realities lurk behind flickering VHS footage. It’s got a slow-burn approach, but the atmosphere becomes increasingly claustrophobic and sinister as the story progresses. The use of dual timelines adds tension while always keeping the viewer one step behind – and off-balance.
Archive 81 was canceled too soon, but its one haunting season cements it as one of the most creative horror shows on Netflix. It’s a deeply unnerving experience, especially for those who like their horror steeped in mystery and dread rather than jump scares.
9
Marianne (2019)
A Malevolent Witch Makes This French Horror Series Deeply Disturbing
The French horror series Marianne centers on Emma Larsimon (Victoire Du Bois), a horror novelist whose books about an evil witch begin to blur with her reality. When she returns to her hometown, she discovers that Marianne – the fictional entity she thought she created – might actually be horrifyingly real. What unfolds is a waking nightmare that never lets up.
It doesn’t ease viewers into its horror – it drags them down screaming.
This underrated horror gem didn’t get the recognition it deserved upon release, but it remains one of the most visually frightening horror shows on Netflix. The titular witch, Marianne, is a grotesque and unforgettable antagonist, and the show’s twisted imagery – especially in dream and possession sequences – rivals even the most gruesome horror films.
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What makes Marianne so effective is its commitment to relentless dread. It doesn’t ease viewers into its shocking horror – it drags them down screaming. The blending of folklore, nightmares, and childhood trauma creates a truly unsettling tone that’s hard to shake even after the credits roll.
8
Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021)
Body Horror, Hollywood Nightmares, And Black Magic Collide In This Surreal Revenge Tale
In Brand New Cherry Flavor, aspiring director Lisa Nova (Rosa Salazar) heads to early ’90s Los Angeles to make a movie – but things go south when she’s betrayed by a powerful producer. Seeking vengeance, she enters into a deal with a mysterious witch (Catherine Keener) and finds herself in a grotesque world of curses, hallucinations, and vomiting kittens.
Behind the style is a sharp story about exploitation and corruption in the film industry
This is not your typical horror series. Brand New Cherry Flavor is weird, twisted, and completely unpredictable. Its blend of occult horror and Hollywood satire makes it one of the most unique horror shows on Netflix. The practical effects are jaw-dropping (and often stomach-churning), and the show dives headfirst into Cronenberg-level body horror.
It’s also visually stunning, drenched in neon and dreamlike surrealism. However, behind the style is a sharp story about exploitation and corruption in the film industry – told through a lens of magical vengeance. There are few shows like Brand New Cherry Flavor, and the gross-out visuals aren’t for everyone, but for horror fans craving something truly off the rails, it’s an unforgettable experience.
7
Midnight Mass (2021)
Faith Turns Into Fear In This Devastating Slow-Burn About Miracles And Monsters
From creator and frequent Netflix collaborator Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass takes place on the isolated Crockett Island, where a charismatic young priest (Hamish Linklater) arrives and brings with him a wave of apparent miracles. But as his influence grows, so too does an ancient evil – one that turns the island’s devout community into something monstrous.
The dread builds slowly and explodes in shocking ways.
Midnight Mass isn’t just scary, it’s thematically rich. It’s a story about grief, addiction, and the seductive power of belief. Hamish Linklater gives a career-defining performance as Father Paul, bringing eerie charm and creeping menace to a character that’s both tragic and terrifying. Midnight Mass asks big questions and delivers bigger scares.
One of the most atmospheric horror shows on Netflix, the dread in Midnight Mass builds slowly and explodes in shocking ways. The final episodes are unforgettable, and the series’ mix of theological themes with classic vampire horror feels both reverent and radical. It’s a meditative, soul-crushing tale that leaves a mark.
6
Black Summer (2019-2021)
This Relentless Zombie Thriller Dials The Tension Up To 11
Set in the early days of a zombie apocalypse, Black Summer throws viewers into chaos from the very first scene. The story is minimal – a mother, Rose (Jaime King), is separated from her daughter during a military evacuation and fights her way through the collapsing world. But the focus here is pure survival horror, and it’s executed with razor-sharp intensity.
There are no big speeches or safe zones here
Each episode plays like a mini horror movie, using long takes, minimal dialogue, and claustrophobic action to keep you on edge. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of panic in a zombie outbreak, emphasizing terror over gore. You feel every heartbeat, every footstep, every breath – it’s that immersive.
As far as horror shows on Netflix go, few are as raw and merciless as Black Summer. There are no big speeches or safe zones here – just the harsh, unrelenting pace of people trying to stay alive. It’s not about who you were before the fall, but how long you can last after it.
5
The Haunting Of Bly Manor (2020)
Love And Loss Haunt Every Corner Of This Beautifully Tragic Ghost Story
Another gem on Netflix from Mike Flanagan, The Haunting of Bly Manor follows Dani Clayton (Victoria Pedretti), an American au pair who arrives at an English country estate to care for two orphans. As she settles in, ghostly figures begin to appear – but the real horror lies in the tragic lives (and deaths) of everyone connected to the manor.
It’s the slow, creeping realization that love can become its own haunting that makes Bly Manor truly unforgettable.
Loosely based on Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, Bly Manor is less overtly scary than its predecessor (The Haunting Of Hill House) but arguably more emotionally devastating. The show explores grief, guilt, and memory in profound ways, using its ghostly setting to delve into what lingers after we die, and what we leave behind.
One of the more poetic horror shows on Netflix, it still has its fair share of frights, especially with the faceless “Lady in the Lake.” However, it’s the slow, creeping realization that love can become its own haunting that makes Bly Manor truly unforgettable. It’s horror with a heartbreakingly human core, standing out just as much for its thematic depth as its spine-chilling scares.
4
Castlevania (2017-2021)
Blood, Demons, And Dark Hearts Fuel This Brutal Animated Horror Epic
Inspired by the legendary video game series, Castlevania begins with Dracula (Graham McTavish) declaring war on humanity after the church burns his wife at the stake. In response, monster hunter Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage), magician Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso), and Dracula’s son Alucard (James Callis) form an uneasy alliance to stop him.
It builds a rich, bloody world filled with sorrow and savagery.
This series proves animated horror can be just as disturbing and gory as live-action. Visually stunning and packed with gothic atmosphere, Castlevania mixes monster-slaying mayhem with complex themes like religious extremism, vengeance, and loneliness. The fights are beautifully choreographed, but it’s the character arcs that leave the deepest scars.
Among animated horror shows on Netflix or otherwise, Castlevania reigns supreme. It builds a rich, bloody world filled with sorrow and savagery. Every season ups the ante, and by the end, it becomes more than a vampire tale – it’s a sprawling tragedy about love, rage, and what it means to be human.
3
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet Of Curiosities (2022)
Each Standalone Nightmare Showcases The Monstrous Beauty Of Horror
Cabinet of Curiosities is a lovingly crafted anthology series from horror maestro Guillermo del Toro, who curated eight episodes from visionary directors like Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) and Panos Cosmatos (Mandy). Each installment stands alone but shares a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the genre, often blending the grotesque with the philosophical.
Proof that even short-form storytelling can deliver unfiltered nightmare fuel.
This isn’t just a collection of horror stories – it’s a showcase of what horror can be. From cursed artifacts to cosmic terrors, the episodes dive into different corners of the genre, always with high production values and twisted storytelling. “Pickman’s Model” and “The Murmuring” in particular offer unforgettable imagery and slow-building dread that lingers long after.
As far as anthology horror shows on Netflix go, Cabinet of Curiosities is the crown jewel. Del Toro’s own introductions give the series a vintage Twilight Zone flavor, while each episode delivers its own flavor of terror. It’s horror as high art, and proof that even short-form storytelling can deliver unfiltered nightmare fuel.
2
The Haunting Of Hill House (2018)
Grief And Trauma Manifest As Ghosts In This Deeply Emotional Masterpiece
The Haunting of Hill House
10/10
- Release Date
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2018 – 2018-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
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Elizabeth Reaser
Shirley Crain
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Michiel Huisman
Steven Crain
Loosely adapted from Shirley Jackson’s novel by the master of streaming horror himself, Mike Flanagan, The Haunting of Hill House is more than a ghost story. It’s a generational drama about the Crain family, whose time living in the cursed Hill House forever scars them. As adults, they’re haunted not just by spirits but by trauma, addiction, and guilt, all beautifully woven into a nonlinear narrative.
It’s terrifying, yes, but also tender and deeply human.
The scares in Hill House are expertly crafted, often hiding in plain sight – from the terrifying “Bent-Neck Lady” to ghosts lurking silently in the background. But the emotional horror is just as potent, especially in episodes like “Two Storms,” which is a technical and dramatic tour de force.
It redefined what horror shows on Netflix could be. It’s terrifying, yes, but also tender and deeply human. Mike Flanagan uses horror as a lens to examine family dysfunction, grief, and the wounds we carry through life. Few shows – horror or otherwise – are as resonant or as terrifying as Hill House.
1
The Fall Of The House Of Usher (2023)
We Still Have Nightmares About The Final Fates Of The Usher Family
Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher is a savage and unrelenting gothic horror saga. Loosely based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, the show follows the doomed Usher family, a wealthy, corrupt dynasty led by Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood),as each of his children meets a brutal, supernatural demise tied to their own sins.
A masterclass in horror storytelling and a vicious indictment of greed, legacy, and hubris.
With its blend of courtroom drama, supernatural reckoning, and grotesque body horror, The House of Usher moves like a high-speed train to hell. Flanagan weaves in Poe’s classic tales with astonishing ingenuity – from “The Tell-Tale Heart” to “The Masque of the Red Death” – crafting each episode as a self-contained nightmare.
Of all the horror shows on Netflix, The Fall of the House of Usher is the most brutal, the most biting, and the most unforgettable. It’s a masterclass in horror storytelling and a vicious indictment of greed, legacy, and hubris. By the time the blood-soaked finale hits, you’ll be shaken (and possibly scarred) by the sheer audacity of it all.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
