Horror Series You Are Sleeping On (But Shouldn’t)
There are plenty of horror shows that slipped past weekly watchlists while bigger titles took the spotlight. Some run as tight miniseries with a single story. Others keep building their worlds season after season with fresh mysteries. All of them bring strong ideas, distinctive settings, and careful craft that reward a closer look.
This roundup focuses on what each series actually does on screen. You will find the core premise, key creative names, episode counts, and where the show originally aired so you can track it down. No filler and no fluff. Just the details that help you decide what to watch next.
‘Channel Zero’ (2016–2018)
This anthology adapts internet creepypastas into four self contained seasons, each with its own cast and setting. Creator Nick Antosca leads the writing with directors like Arkasha Stevenson and E. L. Katz shaping the tone across six episode runs.
It premiered on Syfy with stories such as Candle Cove and Butcher’s Block. Filming took place in locations across Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, and the show uses practical sets and creature work to ground its scares.
‘The Terror’ (2018–2019)
Season one dramatizes the Franklin expedition’s search for the Northwest Passage and blends historical detail with a supernatural presence. The second season shifts to a new story set in Japanese American communities and explores a different haunting.
The series launched on AMC with Ridley Scott as an executive producer. Production used Budapest backlots and outdoor frozen sets for the first season and filmed in British Columbia and California for the second, each with ten episode arcs.
‘Marianne’ (2019)
This French series follows a novelist who is forced to confront the entity that inspired her books. It uses coastal towns, lighthouses, and night shoots to build a specific sense of place.
It was released globally by Netflix, which carried the show with eight episodes. Samuel Bodin created the series and worked with a French cast led by Victoire Du Bois and Lucie Boujenah.
‘Archive 81’ (2022)
A tape restoration expert takes a strange job and uncovers a lost documentary tied to a cult. The narrative alternates between found footage and present day investigation with carefully staged apartment and archive locations.
Netflix distributed the series with eight episodes. Rebecca Sonnenshine developed it from the podcast of the same name, with James Wan among the executive producers and Dan Powell handling production design to match the analog look.
‘From’ (2022– )
Residents of a small town cannot leave and must survive night creatures while decoding the rules that govern the place. The story tracks multiple families, a leadership council, and newcomers who arrive in unexplained cycles.
The show airs on MGM+, which financed production in Nova Scotia for its forest and small town layout. Jack Bender serves as an executive producer and frequent director, and episodes build a running mythology across continuing seasons.
‘Evil’ (2019–2024)
A psychologist, a priest in training, and a contractor investigate supposed miracles and possessions while cataloging patterns behind each case. The show blends case files with an expanding conspiracy and a recurring demonic figure.
It began on CBS before moving to Paramount+ for later seasons. Creators Robert and Michelle King wrote and produced the series with a regular ensemble led by Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, and Aasif Mandvi across hour long episodes.
‘The Outsider’ (2020)
A small town murder case leads a detective and a private investigator to evidence that points to an inhuman perpetrator. The adaptation follows the novel’s structure closely while adding procedural detail around forensics and timelines.
HBO aired the ten episode run with Jason Bateman directing early chapters and serving as an executive producer. Production shot in Georgia, using real schools, parks, and courthouse interiors to anchor the investigation.
‘Kingdom’ (2019–2020)
Set during the Joseon era, this series follows a crown prince facing a political coup as a plague reanimates the dead. The script uses royal court intrigue, military logistics, and village survival techniques to guide the action.
Netflix released the seasons worldwide and commissioned a feature length special titled ‘Kingdom: Ashin of the North’. The show filmed across South Korea with large scale sets, period costumes, and practical stunt work for crowd scenes.
‘Sweet Home’ (2020– )
Residents of a crumbling apartment complex confront people transforming into monsters driven by private desires. The series tracks survival strategies, rationing, and floor by floor defenses.
Netflix carries the show globally and renewed it for multiple parts. Production built large interior sets to allow long takes through corridors, and the effects team combines suit work with digital augmentation for creature designs.
‘Black Spot’ (2017–2019)
Set in a remote forest town, a police chief investigates disappearances while local myths intersect with ongoing cases. The script mixes environmental hazards, logging disputes, and search and rescue operations.
The series originally aired on France 2 and later streamed on Netflix internationally. Filming took place in the Vosges and Ardèche regions, and each season runs eight episodes with a French and Belgian cast.
‘The Fades’ (2011)
A teenager who sees spirits becomes involved in a conflict between the living and the dead, with specific rules for how entities cross over. School life, family dynamics, and folklore research all play roles in the plot.
BBC Three broadcast the six episode series in the UK. Jack Thorne created the show and shot in and around Hertfordshire, using abandoned buildings for the spectral set pieces.
‘Dead Set’ (2008)
A zombie outbreak traps contestants and crew inside a television studio complex during a reality show week. The narrative shows containment measures, security checkpoints, and production logistics under pressure.
E4 aired the five episode run in the UK with Charlie Brooker writing. Filming used Elstree Studios and exterior lots, and the production coordinated large extras casts for corridor and parking lot sequences.
‘The River’ (2012)
A documentary crew heads into the Amazon to find a missing TV explorer and documents every step of the search. Found footage structure drives the camera language with GPS tracking, river navigation, and camp setups.
ABC broadcast the series in the United States. The eight episodes filmed in Hawaii to double for the Amazon and used a mix of handheld rigs and helmet cams to keep the perspective consistent.
‘Harper’s Island’ (2009)
Family and friends gather for a wedding on a private island where a past string of murders sets the stage for a new spree. Each episode removes suspects through clear timelines and mapped locations.
CBS aired the thirteen episode event series during spring and summer scheduling. The production shot in British Columbia with ferry terminals, forests, and marina sets forming the core geography.
‘Masters of Horror’ (2005–2007)
This anthology brings feature directors to one hour stories with complete creative control. Episodes include work by John Carpenter, Takashi Miike, and Stuart Gordon with distinct visual approaches.
Showtime carried two seasons and presented the series as standalone films. Production scheduled each entry with its own crew and location package, and the episodes run about sixty minutes apiece.
‘The Exorcist’ (2016–2017)
Two priests investigate possession cases while a connected storyline revisits a famous family from the original novel’s world. The show lays out church procedures, psychiatric evaluations, and police coordination.
Fox aired two seasons with filmed locations in Chicago and Vancouver. The cast includes Alfonso Herrera, Ben Daniels, and Geena Davis, and episodes maintain a case file structure alongside a serialized arc.
‘Bates Motel’ (2013–2017)
A prequel to ‘Psycho’, this series follows Norman and Norma Bates as they run a coastal motel and navigate local crime and family secrets. The plot tracks therapy sessions, black market operations, and town politics.
A&E broadcast the show across five seasons. Production built the Bates house and motel sets in Aldergrove, British Columbia, and the writers adapted threads from contemporary crime dramas to shape the town’s ecosystem.
‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)
An FBI profiler works with a forensic psychiatrist who secretly operates as a serial killer, and the cases involve detailed crime scene reconstructions. Food preparation and art history references are integrated into episode visuals.
NBC aired three seasons with Bryan Fuller as showrunner. Filming primarily took place in Toronto, and the series used practical prosthetics for crime scenes with frequent collaboration between directors of photography and production design.
‘Slasher’ (2016– )
Each season presents a new mystery with a masked killer and a self contained ensemble. The format emphasizes group dynamics, motive charts, and clue placement across eight episode runs.
The first season premiered on Chiller in the United States and later seasons moved to Netflix and Shudder. Filming has rotated through Canadian locations, and the anthology approach keeps the production design fresh each year.
‘Servant’ (2019–2023)
A Philadelphia couple hires a nanny while coping with a traumatic loss and soon encounters unexplained events in their townhouse. The show uses tight interiors, controlled lighting, and culinary details to build its atmosphere.
Apple TV+ released four seasons with M. Night Shyamalan as an executive producer and frequent director. Production shot on soundstages and maintained a consistent floor plan for the home to track character movement across episodes.
’30 Coins’ (2020– )
A small town priest with a turbulent past confronts forces seeking relics tied to biblical silver. The plot connects local incidents with international factions, museum archives, and church records.
The series streams on Max after originating on HBO in Spain. Álex de la Iglesia created and directed much of the show, and filming took place in Spain, Italy, and New York with large creature and practical effects builds.
‘JU-ON: Origins’ (2020)
This limited series explores the events surrounding a cursed house and the people who cross its path. The structure follows investigators, TV producers, and victims as the curse spreads through separate timelines.
Netflix distributed the six episodes worldwide. Filming occurred in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures with compact sets designed to echo spaces from the original film series while telling new stories.
‘Chapelwaite’ (2021– )
Based on a Stephen King short story, a sea captain moves his family to a Maine estate and uncovers a family history tied to a forbidden book. The show maps out village industries, church leadership, and maritime supply routes.
Epix, later branded MGM+, carried the series for its initial season. The production shot in Nova Scotia with period sets and practical sailing elements, and the cast is led by Adrien Brody and Emily Hampshire.
‘The Enfield Haunting’ (2015)
This miniseries dramatizes a well known case of alleged poltergeist activity in a North London council house. It follows investigators, family members, and media coverage while recreating room layouts and documented events.
Sky Living aired the three part series in the UK. Filming used suburban locations around London, and the production consulted public records and contemporary photographs to align props and set dressing.
‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014–2016)
Classic literary figures such as Victor Frankenstein and Dorian Gray intersect in a shared Victorian London narrative. The show charts laboratory methods, stage magic, and museum collections as part of its worldbuilding.
Showtime aired three seasons with John Logan as creator. Production was based in Dublin with location work in Ireland and Spain, and the series relied on period costumes, practical makeup, and large interior sets.
Share the one you plan to start with in the comments so others can follow along.
