Horror used to be a luxury reserved only for the big screen, but the relationship between the genre and mainstream television has changed. In fact, there’s a lot of great horror on TV these days, as its presence on the small screen continues to ratchet up and rival the best horror movies to come out of Hollywood.
At this point in the rise of horror television, we’re lucky to be fairly spoiled for choice when it comes to scary, compelling series. Needless to say, there are quite a few solid shows we had to leave off this list, including some serious fan favorites like “The Walking Dead,” “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Channel Zero,” and the groundbreaking “American Horror Story.” The five best modern horror series manage to push the genre to new and compelling heights, while building on all the genre greats that came before them.
5. The Curse
Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie’s satirical nightmare series “The Curse” proves that the scariest horror can happen in broad daylight, in the wake of what you think are your most selfless, generous moments. The show — which follows an uptight couple (Fielder and Emma Stone) shooting a new HGTV reality series set in a low-income New Mexico town they’re actively gentrifying — posits that those who think they are a cure for communities are, in fact, a curse.
“The Curse” is an excruciating and excellent achievement in the kind of tragic cringe that comes with a lack of self-awareness, certainly a horror unto itself in the context of the race and class relations the show highlights. That would be enough to consider it one of the most terrifying entries in modern horror television, but then there’s the absolutely unforgettable finale. Without spoiling the incredible conclusion, the ending’s overwhelming dread paired with the absurd real-life consequence that comes for Fielder’s character makes for some intense horror — both physically and existentially.
4. Scream: The TV Series
<img src="https://www.tvline.com/img/gallery/5-best-modern-horror-tv-shows-ranked/scream-the-tv-series-1791473436.jpg" alt="Ghostface from MTV's Scream looking at a victim with his knife raised”>
In an age of constant remakes, reboots, sequels, and prequels, one might assume “Scream: The TV Series” wouldn’t be worth watching. Any other popular franchise rehash and you’d probably be right, but the “Scream” show was different. It was not only scary, it was pretty darn good. The 2015 show rehashed the original film’s premise, but cleverly changed things up to make the story distinct from Wes Craven’s movies.
At first glance, MTV’s “Scream” may have seemed like a lazy cash-in, but with a fun, playful script and a bunch of excellent, committed young actors at the helm, it was anything but. Bella Thorne delivers a cold open worthy of Drew Barrymore herself, and the show’s main cast are all engaging, fun, and genuine. Willa Fitzgerald’s Emma is the series’ Sidney Prescott-esque final girl, John Karna plays Noah Foster — a hilarious and witty nerd serving as the Randy Meeks of the series – and Bex Taylor-Klaus is Audrey, Emma’s bisexual former friend who has flashes of Stu Macher and Billy Loomis in her. The show does a good job at making you actually care about them, which is crucial for the ruthless and seemingly mindless killing to feel effective.
Admittedly, the show did go downhill once it was rebooted as an anthology series that followed new characters in Season 3, but for those first two seasons, we had one of the most underrated slashers at our fingertips, one that didn’t feel like all the soulless reboots we have today.
3. The Purge
“The Purge” is one of those modern franchises with far more lore than most horror fans realize. Taking the story to the small screen benefited the series more than the films ever could, as evidenced by USA Network’s 2018 show “The Purge.” The anthology only lasted for two seasons, each focused on the events of two different Purge Nights years apart.
The series explores the political and social implications of a fractured United States, one that looks like a distorted version of what may be the country’s future. “The Purge” is all about how horrifying human impulse can be when pushed to its natural limits — which ultimately feels so much more terrifying and emotionally resonant by spending more time with the characters on television.
The TV series boasted engaging writing, worldbuilding, and a compelling “24”-style gimmick where a full season covers the entire 12-hour period of the Purge. The series is also actually scary throughout, depicting the grim realities of a world where we have no choice but to fight for survival. Good social horror that reflects the true nature of the modern world is vital, and “The Purge” was exactly that. If only it had lasted longer.
2. The Creep Tapes
There’s a high bar for villains to become horror icons today. Many of the genre’s best antagonists were established at the start of franchises birthed years ago, and because of their own staying power, audiences naturally question that power in new characters who come along. But every now and then, an undeniable horror legend comes along. Mark Duplass’ Josef/Peachfuzz from the “Creep” franchise is one of them — and he’s made an exciting move from the big to the small screen.
“The Creep Tapes” takes the basic set-up of the “Creep” franchise — Josef propositioning a videographer for a $1,000-day-shoot, only for things to go awry — and excitingly builds upon it tenfold. Using the first film’s reveal of a closet of victim tapes, the series uncovers each unholy recording. Along the way, we simultaneously get closer to and further from understanding why Josef is the way he is.
Best of all, the series isn’t afraid to experiment with the found footage medium, boldly pushing the horror subgenre to places that have never been explored stylistically or conceptually. Let’s check the notes: We’ve got a horror villain (and, thus, a performance) for the ages, a creative and expansive premise that pushes the boundaries of the format, and a puzzle of intriguing lore to piece together as the super wild and weird show progresses — and it has yet to grow old, three seasons in. To call “The Creep Tapes” a generational modern horror achievement would be an understatement.
1. Black Mirror
Maybe it’s because the show has been around for nearly 15 years now, but it feels like we’ve started to take “Black Mirror” for granted. So, let us remind you why the top-notch anthology series remains one of the most harrowing horror television programs out there — and is, quite frankly, the best modern horror show we’ve got.
The dystopian sci-fi series is unmatched when it comes to depicting the perverse way technology infiltrates our lives — even down to its title, which references the black mirror that is your dark phone screen. That distills what’s so excellent and horrifying about this show: It shows us who we really are behind the glare of technology’s blinding lights, and the answer isn’t always pretty.
Honestly, this element of the series can’t be understated. The way technology both helps and hurts us is such a major part of modern life, so to see a series unashamedly analyze and interrogate that juxtaposition is not only refreshing, it’s necessary. The show is full of wall-to-wall incredible performances from a wide variety of lesser-known performers and big-name stars (like Jon Hamm and Cristin Milioti), especially as the series moved from Channel 4 to Netflix a few years into its run. “Black Mirror” is introspective, bold, and brave, and it proves that the greatest horrors are always close to home.
