By Vivian Kwang
We’ve all heard about binging horror movies during Halloween when you’re either way too old to trick-or-treat, or you just don’t feel like going to a party. Horror movie marathons are the best way to keep your Halloween spirits alive while staying in the comfort of your own home with some friends. There are so many options to choose from like Halloweentown (1998), if you want to feel like a nostalgic Disney Channel kid, or It (2017) if you’re more into horror classics. But what about TV shows? Horror TV shows also deserve some love, and in this article, I will go over three that will surely (maybe) give you the spooks!
1. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)/The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
From Netflix’s horror anthology series, The Haunting, comes two distinct shows both based on novels. The Haunting of Hill House is based on a novel of the same name by author Shirley Jackson. The show revolves around the Craine siblings and their account of living in what is soon to be America’s most haunted house: Hill House. The siblings, now adults, must recount their past memories during their time in Hill House as children and confront everything they’ve kept buried in the back of their minds for so long.
The Haunting of Bly Manor is the second installment in the series (a second season if you will, but created as an entirely new show) and is loosely based on Henry James’ novella The Turn of the Screw (1898). In this show, a nanny is hired to care for a man’s orphaned niece and nephew. While residing on the Bly estate, characters encounter the grim history behind Bly Manor. The Haunting of Bly Manor was released in early October, just in time for Halloween!
2. American Horror Story (2011)
In the world of horror TV shows, American Horror Story (AHS) (2011) is one of the classics (and not just because the word horror is in the title!). While this show isn’t structured like the classic horror show/film, riddled with jumpscares and hair-raising monsters, AHS is terrifying enough to send shivers down your spine. Without these certain horror show/film aspects, AHS becomes a unique show in that the fear factors are often grotesque and unbelievable, evoking a feeling of disgust and incredulity yet you still continue watching out of curiosity.
AHS is also an anthology series with each season centering around a certain theme or location with different plots and characters. Among the current nine seasons, there are some connections between them, but it is not necessary to watch the show in chronological order. Some of the more popular, fan-favorite seasons include AHS: Asylum, AHS: Coven, and AHS: Cult. There are so many seasons of AHS to choose from that whichever you choose, you are guaranteed to be spooked!
While not exactly a TV show, Buzzfeed Unsolved is certainly a binge that will have you laughing until your stomach hurts while simultaneously being terrified of supernatural legends or unsolved true crimes. The show’s hosts, Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej, cover true-crime events that are yet to be solved and the theories surrounding the mystery. They often go ghost-hunting or demon-searching during supernatural episodes as well.
What truly ties together this show, however, is the dynamic duo that is Bergara and Madej. Bergara whole-heartedly believes in ghosts, extraterrestrials, and other things of the sorts. On the other hand, Madej is a stout disbeliever and rarely gets scared on the show. Together, the two make the perfect combination, adding hilarity to subjects that will leave your arms covered in goosebumps. With over 100 episodes, it is easy to fall into the Buzzfeed Unsolved rabbit hole. And just in time for Halloween, the newest season of Buzzfeed Unsolved just dropped earlier this month!
Whichever show you choose to binge on Halloween, prepare for an unforgettable night of frights!