The 10 Scariest TV Shows That Will Keep You Up All Night

Making a horror TV show is no easy task. You need to have a strong plot line that will keep the viewers on the edge of their seats while trying not to kill all the main characters by the end of the first season (GoT, in this regard, might be the greatest ‘horror show’ ever created). While TV shows focus on characters’ longevity, horror shows put the same characters in grave danger on a daily basis. Maintaining balance is the key to creating the ultimate horror TV show that can satisfy both – horror fans and devout TV show watchers who like to get into a storyline and stay there as long as possible. Here we have a list of 10 shows that include both spooky classics and new additions to the genre of horror TV show.

Penny Dreadful
Aren’t Victorian Era horror stories the best thing in the world? They are dark, gory, and never seem to go out of date as it sometimes happens with other monstrous beings. The plot of Penny Dreadful revolves around the dark secrets (and even darker past!) of its main characters: the charismatic explorer Malcolm Murray who is desperately trying to find all that’s left of his family; Josh Hartnett, a Wild West performer who knows more about beasts than any human ever should; Vanessa Ives, a mysterious medium that knows a thing or two about demon possessions and witchcraft; and an arrogant anatomist who’s trying to create life from scratch. Sounds promising? Because it really is! Each episode of the show is like Christmas for horror fans.

Stranger Things
Stranger Things is not just a tribute to the ‘80s classics – the show has a voice and style of its own when it comes to horrifying monsters and that’s what makes it truly peculiar. The characters of the show live in a Steven King-esque setting of a small town infested with some really creepy events and people going missing on a daily basis. When little Will suddenly disappears, his friends Dustin, Mike, and Lucas, embark on a journey that will leave them with more questions than answers. There are dark forces involved and you’ll see a fair share of violent government agents and experiments on people. It’s a real treat!

The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is still among all-time favorites when it comes to horror shows. If you look past outdated special effects that may look more charming than scary to a sophisticated viewer, the show’s allegorical storytelling still has a lot to offer. It may not be as shocking when it comes to monsters, ghosts, and ghouls of all sorts, but Rod Serling, the show’s creator and director, surely knows how to get under your skin when portraying people and their malicious behavior. Humans might still be the spookiest monsters of the bunch!

Bates Motel
Who could have thought that making a prequel to Psycho was actually a great idea? As nothing can beat Hitchcock’s classic, the creators of the series didn’t even consider doing homage to the movie, but rather focused on reinventing the characters while putting a modern psychological twist on the whole thing. And you know what? They did a great job! While the killings themselves are more than gruesome, you will find the relationships between Norman Bates and his mother far more disturbing than anything else on the show. Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore managed to build a bond that is both stomach-turning and engrossing in the worst ways possible. That’s why this horror show is so thrilling to watch!