Thehorrorgenre, particularly in a miniseries format, continues to rise in popularity year after year. The best of these produce jaw-dropping and heart-pounding moments that are hard to match with other genres. Rather than a traditional film, where the build-up, middle, and climax have to play out in a brisk feature-length time, in a series, there are no such constraints. This allowscreators and directors time to let their storyline develop fully. This freedom allows the intense payoffs of intricate, layered stories, character development, and horrifying elements that make thebest of these horror showsso unforgettable.
Though many talented hands go into each and every production, two stand above the rest, with horror stalwarts authorStephen King and filmmaker Mike Flanagan helping create many of the best horror shows of all time. Shows likeItand the first part ofone of the best horror anthologies,The Haunting of Hill House, are so ingrained in popular culture and deliver some of the most spine-tingling and emotional sequences in all of media. A brilliant horror miniseries can make a minute feel like an hour, and an hour feel like a minute, in a format that is perfectly married with its subject matter.
The Stand
Cast
The Stand is a 1994 miniseries directed by Mick Garris, based on Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic novel. Following a global pandemic caused by a deadly strain of influenza, the survivors split into two factions led by 108-year-old Mother Abagail and the sinister Randall Flagg. The narrative explores the ensuing struggle between these opposing groups in their quest for dominance and survival in a decimated world.
The Standis a miniseries adaption of horror legend Stephen King’s 1978 novel, and a great miniseries in its own right. The series is split into four episodes, each with its own title and theme: The Plague (Part 1), The Dreams (Part 2), The Betrayal (Part 3), and The Stand (Part 4), recounting the story of a world decimated by a deadly virus. It features an exceptional cast, including stars like Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, and Rob Lowe. The narrative sees survivors side with the ‘good’ Mother Abagail or the ‘evil’ Randall Flagg in a contest as old as time .
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Director Mick Garris' previously crafted another King adaption,Sleepwalkers, in 1992, so his added experience helped produce an improved and comprehensive work this time. ThoughThe Standhas some visual special effects that may look a little out of place in the modern day, the expansive storyline, unfolding narrative, and authentic performances — from a cast with over 125 credited speaking roles — come together to produce a series that succeeds much more than it falters.The Standis an impressive attempt at adapting one of King’s modern epics.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Loosely based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher is a horror drama mini-series created by Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House) for Netflix. This modern retelling follows a corrupt pharmaceutical CEO, Roderick Usher, as he is forced to reckon with his past as a curse begins to claim the lives of each of his children.
Mike Flanagan has established himself as an icon in modern horror productions, producing several critically acclaimed films before creatingThe Hauntinganthology series that became a runaway smash-hit for Netflix.The Fall of the House of Usheris one of his more recent works, a modern reimagining that’s fantastic.This adaption of Edgar Allan Poe’s eponymous short story has all of Flanagan’s award-winning trademarks. The show follows the titular Usher family, their success in business, and the circumstances leading to the horrific deaths of all six of their children in an unflinching eight-part series.
The Fall of the House of Usheris a series that has all the best elements of a horror series, wrapped up in a deep character study of a family broken by external horrors and their own internal issues. It makes more than adequate use of simmering tension, haunting visuals, andheart-pumping jump scares to illicit a visceral reaction in the audience. It’s a series that goes further than just surface-level horror, creating intriguing characters and dynamics within a family that make the deaths, mysteries, and terrifying sequences that much more effective.
Salem’s Lot
Salem’s Lot is a horror film based on Stephen King’s 1975 novel. Directed by Tobe Hooper, it follows a writer named Ben Mears who returns to the town of Jerusalem’s Lot, only to discover that its residents are falling prey to a vampire. As the sinister presence spreads, Mears teams up with locals to fight the evil threatening to consume the town.
Acclaimed filmmaker Tobe Hooper’s Salem’s Lot is a two-part vampire-based miniseries adapted from King’s 1975 horror novel of the same name. It’s one of the horror author’s most respected works, with a plot that sees a writer return back to his hometown only to find out that the locals have all fallen victim to the deadly and haunting vampire Kurt Barlow. The series hasa perfectly unsettling feel, capturing that small-town, isolated atmosphere that makes for one of the best bases for a horror film or series.
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The British Film Institute (BFI) listed Hooper (who previously directedThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre) as one of the most influential horror filmmakers of all time. With a series likeSalem’s Lot, it’s not hard to see why. It’s a great vampire story that continues to influence many other entries in the genre, withhaunting visuals, an incredibly memorable antagonist, and a perfectly paced narrative. In the novel, Kurt is a more human figure, so Hooper and screenwriter Paul Monash’s decision to turn him into a staggeringly terrifying demon-like creature was a master stroke of genius that created an iconic character.
The Outsider
Based on Stephen King’s novel, this crime drama series follows a detective and an unconventional investigator as they confront a malevolent supernatural entity infiltrating a child murder investigation, leading them to challenge their perceptions of reality and justice.
Another King adaption, based on his 2018 novel of the same name,The Outsider, is an intricate and gruesome drama that stars Ben Mendelsohn and Jason Bateman. It follows the story of Detective Ralph Anderson (Mendelsohn), who isinvestigating the brutal assault and murder of a young boy in a small communitywhile he is also dealing with the loss of his son from cancer. Bateman delivers an electrically charged performance as Terry Maitland, the local youth baseball coach who is linked to the murder, with multiple witnesses spotting him covered in blood. However, it isn’t what it seems.
The adaption is unique in its coverage of the novel, with the first two episodes covering the entire first half of the novel, then the remaining eight episodes covering the second half.
Though the pacing of the series has been criticized for being a little uneven, with some episodes flying by while others linger on more minor plot points, the quieter moments allow the action to fully capture the viewer’s attention.It has a methodical timing, which helps the series build charactersand the narrative into a work that is truly fascinating to watch. As the case against Terry is built and starts to falter, the supernatural elements creep in, creating stunning visuals and a truly disturbing and terrifying atmosphere in a series that has many incredible performances and bone-chilling scares.
Brand New Cherry Flavor
Brand New Cherry Flavor is a Drama and Horror series created for the Netflix streaming platform by Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion. The premise follows Lisa Nova (played by Rosa Salazar), an aspiring director that ends up falling down a supernatural rabbit hole filled with all sorts of strange things.
Brand New Cherry Flavoris a horror drama miniseries created for Netflix by Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion, which is an adaption from Todd Grimson’s novel of the same name.It stars Rosa Salazar as aspiring actress Lisa Nova, who goes on a supernatural revenge mission throughout 1990s Los Angeles. On the surface, the premise sounds more like a thrilling drama than a horror. However, what floats beneath the sunny Californian landscape is a work full of shocking sequences and brutal action that cements its status in the horror genre.
The 10 Best Horror Miniseries Of All Time On This List:
7.1/10
The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
7.9/10
6.7/10
7.6/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
7.7/10
The Haunting Of Hill House (2018)
8.5/10
The series is split into eight parts with a narrative that is, at times, disjointed and absurd. It’s also also bold, innovative, and forever evolving.Brand New Cherry Flavoris watching one young woman’s descent into hell,with sequences of vomiting kittens, occult rituals, and vile body horrorthat all connect and interplay with the narrative as to feel like an important part of the overall tapestry of both the character and the series as a whole. Salazar is completely enthralling as the nightmarish lead, creating many memorable scenes that make the series impossible to turn off.
Dead Set
In this horror series, set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse, the remaining contestants of a reality television show are unaware of the chaos unfolding outside the studio. As the undead crisis worsens, the housemates must confront the terrifying new reality beyond their confined environment.
Black Mirrorcreator Charlie Brooker is no stranger to unique horror series with themes of a dystopian world, with his zombie horror seriesDead Setbeing a perfect precursor to the acclaimed anthology series.Composed of only five episodes, it chronicles a zombie outbreakas told from inside theBig Brotherreality show. People stay in a house in order to be watched by the public 24/7, unaware of the catastrophe happening right outside. The contestants are unaware of the horrors and chaos beyond their walls, with a horrific climax that the audience has been anticipating from the start.
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Though the award-winningBlack Mirroris better known, shows likeDead Setdefinitely deserve their praise for helping shape and elevate concepts while paving the way for Brooker’s future works.Using theBig Brotherframework and production was an incredibly innovative movethat added a dose of realism to the premise. Fantastic performances, an intriguing story, and Brooker’s trademark satirical take on society’s absurdities create a masterful horror series.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
When Dani Clayton is hired as an au pair for the Wingrave children, members of the wealthy family living at Bly Manor, she gets more than she bargained for when she witnesses apparitions, ghostly forms, and other paranormal phenomena that haunt the premises.
The Haunting Of Bly Manoris Mike Flanagan’s second installment in his wildly popularThe Hauntinganthology series. The show is a loose adaption of Henry James' 1898 novelThe Turn of the Screw.The series follows a young American au pair who travels to the UKin order to care for two mysterious children in the titular mansion. However, she doesn’t realize knowing the true extent of the horrors the haunted manor contains. The show features many of the same cast as its predecessor, with the likes of Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Amelia Eve, and T’Nia Mille returning in different roles.
Though predominantly a horror, a large part of the series focuses on a romantic plot that provides the backdrop for all the ghostly terrors, and its nonlinear structure creates a deep sense of unease and anxiety.The atmosphere throughout the series is positively chilling, withmany haunting sequences like the ghost of the lady in the lakeproviding one of the scariest and most haunting scenes in recent memory. Though ultimately not as scary or as polished asThe Haunting of Hill House, it still stands alone as an incredibly well-produced and effective horror miniseries.
It
It is a 1990 miniseries based on Stephen King’s novel, featuring a group of childhood friends known as the Losers' Club. Set in 1960 and revisiting them 30 years later, the story follows their battle against an evil entity posing as a demonic clown in their hometown.
In yet another adaptation of one of Stephen King’s most famous works,Itis a two-part psychological drama based on his 1986 novel of the same name. The series takes place over two time periods. The first follows a group of outcast childhood friends when they confront the iconic shape-shifting menace known as Pennywise the Clown. In the second, they must return to Derry when Pennywise resurfaces to terrorize the town once again.Tim Curry gives a once-in-a-lifetime performance as Pennywise, blending childlike wonder and charm with a sadistic and evil side that creates the perfect horror villain.
It is alleged that Tim Curry was so scary and convincing as Pennywise that on set he was avoided by the rest of the cast.
In 1990,Itwas given a budget of $12 million by the network ABC (double the usual amount for a television production) as they saw the potential in the series. It definitely paid off in a big way.The show is one of the most memorable and popular horror series of all time, with exceptional performances, an expansive storyline, and iconic sequences that have cemented their place in pop culture. The character development and chilling visuals are some of the best in all horror, resulting in a show that truly captures the imagination and genius of the original novel.
Midnight Mass
Created and directed by Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass follows the residents of an isolated fishing community whose lives are changed by the sudden appearance of a charismatic new priest, Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater). The residents of Crockett Island struggle to eke out a meager living, just barely surviving off the mainland, but the appearance of Hill changes everything. Attendance at the local church is at an all-time high, but cynical ex-con Riley Flynn doesn’t trust the priest, and sets out to uncover his dark secret.
Midnight Massisanother one of Flanagan’s best Netflix horror shows, one that truly encapsulates all the best aspects of the genre in a perfectly paced supernatural gothic story. It follows the story of former venture capitalist Riley Flynn, who returns home to the remote and mysterious Crockett Island after accidentally killing a woman in a drunk-driving accident.The show weaves together an incredibly intricate narrative about religion, faith, loyalty, and guilt, all while strange and disturbing events start to happen after a seemingly kind but quietly unnerving priest arrives on the island.
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Midnight Masshits all the right notes needed in a horror series, from exceptional performances to the chilling cinematography. At its heart is a compelling story that is easy to switch on and impossible to turn off.The deep psychological examination of all the characterscombined with the emotionally raw depictions creates a truly stunning piece of television that, at times, feels more fact than fiction. Its pacing is methodical and deliberate, but the the palpable tension created by the bizarre events and the chemistry between characters means that there’s never a second to relax.
The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House is a 2018 horror drama series that interweaves the past and present narrative of a family grappling with traumatic occurrences from their former residence. The story explores the psychological and supernatural elements of their experiences as they contend with haunting memories and events.
The Magnum Opus of his career so far,The Haunting of Hill Housesees Mike Flanagan deliver not just the best horror mini-series, but one of the best ever horror shows period. Loosely based on Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel of the same name, it explores two alternating plotlines, withfive adult siblings reliving their childhood paranormal experiences at Hill Housethat continue to haunt their lives and then flashbacks of the events that showcase some of the worst horrors imaginable. The show is about family, guilt, grief, and trauma and unravels some of the darkest elements of the human psyche.
The first installment ofThe Hauntinganthology sees Flannigan at his horrifying best, with asuperb story, weaving subplots, and truly exceptional performancesfrom all the lead actors. The visuals and editing of the series are truly groundbreaking, creating a new standard and redefining how dramatic works can be shot and presented to the audience. Every aspect of the series, from the writing and directing to the acting, music, and special effects are all spectacular. It all comes together to form a masterpiece ofhorrortelevision that stands up against the best works of all time.
