By definition, all ghost stories are tragic. With a few exceptions, they all begin when someone dies and is forced to inhabit the place where they formerly resided, unable to transition to an another plane of existence. "The Haunting of Hill House" not only provides some shockingly effective jump scares that will haunt viewers, but it also captures the story's intense sadness. This is a bereaved, traumatized family who has found no other way to cope with their loss except to functionally separate from one another.

The Crains relocate to a foreboding old manor house, with the parents intending to renovate it for a profit. However, all five children begin to have strange, unexplained experiences almost immediately. Conversations with individuals no one else can see, shadows of movement from a place no one has a key to these are the traditional indicators that you should leave your house right now. But catastrophe occurs before they can do so. And it is the Crains' enormous loss that will define them for the rest of their lives. They are plagued not just by spirits, but also by the past.

Detailed information:
Creator: Mike Flanagan

Stars: Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas

Original release: October 12, 2018

Running time: 42–71 minutes
Link: https://www.netflix.com/Title/80189221

A teenage boy and girl steal into an abandoned high school late at night: the scene for a classic horror film. Viewers are expecting something bad to happen to the girl. But, to their surprise, she turns around and reveals a vampiric visage. She is the danger in this situation. With the opening scene, creator Joss Whedon emphasizes that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" would break horror genre standards, particularly along gender lines. Buffy is played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a cheerleader turned supernatural hunter who tries to balance the demands of her inheritance with the rigors of an ordinary high school experience.

Most of the time, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" walks the line between horror and comedy: yeah, Buffy goes off to battle monsters every night, but she's wisecracking the whole time, and some of the monsters are really kind of amusing. But every now and then, the program whips up a really horrible picture that reminds you of how dark the show can go when it wants to: der Kindestod from "Killed by Death," for example, or the Gentlemen's twisted grins in "Hush."

Detailed information:

Creator: Joss Whedon
Stars:Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan
Original release: March 10, 1997
Number of seasons: 4

Running time: 42–51 minutes

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276

"Are You Afraid of the Dark?" served as an introduction to horror for a certain segment of millennial youngsters. It was an anthology show that aired on Nickelodeon's Saturday Night programming (called "SNICK" and geared at a little older demographic than their daytime shows) with a simple premise: every week, a group of adolescents assemble in the woods to tell horror stories to one another. Kristin, for example, like to tell romantic, sad ghost stories, but Gary's frequently included magic and the renowned Sardo.

However, some of their experiences were really traumatic. "The Dollmaker's Tale" was very disturbing, with a girl slowly transforming into a porcelain doll, her complexion going pallid and her hands uselessly clenched together, unable to separate them. And let's not even get started on "The Tale of the Dead Man's Float," whose hideous body will haunt many a 90s youngster until the day they die.

"Supernatural," which began as a monster-of-the-week teen drama, has evolved into one of the purest kinds of horror on television in the last 20 years. In each episode, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester travel throughout the nation fighting ghosts, demons, monsters, and other supernatural creatures. Later seasons of the program grew more arc-driven and centered on the fight between angels, devils, and humans. But when it first started, it was simply two emotionally repressed males escaping therapy by salting and burning bodies.

That's when the show was at its most terrifying. They draw on conventional ghost stories and monster lore in a way that makes it impossible to watch with the lights turned out, with each episode functioning almost as a solo horror film. Gruesome visuals and jump scares combine to bring to life a whole supernatural world that is continuously at odds with humans, only to be brought to peace by the Winchester brothers' intervention.

The Victorians were captivated with the occult as a method of interpreting the universe from a scientific rather than religious standpoint. Strange occurrences are chronicled and held up as proof of life after death; because the Age of Enlightenment diminished people's faith in a Biblical paradise, something else had to take its place. So it's only natural that this age would serve as not just an appropriate location for a horror show, but also a helpful reservoir from which to pull legendary terrifying stories.

Eva Green plays Vanessa Ives, a talented psychic who finds herself at the center of ghostly activity in "Penny Dreadful". It includes both unique characters, such as her and American shooter Ethan Chandler (Josh Harnett), whose stories were produced just for the program, as well as historical Gothic figures: Dr. Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dorian Gray all reside in one single literary world.

Detailed information:

Creator: John Logan
Stars: Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton, Eva Green

Original release: May 11, 2014

Number of seasons: 3

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2628232

A ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf wind themselves living in the same apartment, attempting to reconcile their varied supernatural abilities with their wish for a regular existence. "Being Human" handles the inevitable turmoil with a wink to the camera, adding levity to the existential drama. It mostly acts as a horror comedy, with parts of the ludicrous to balance out the darker components, but it does contain at its core misery, loneliness, and guilt.

Aidan Turner's portrayal as vampire John Mitchell, tortured with remorse about his earlier violent antics as a typical bloodsucker, hits into this the most frequently; he tries every day to suppress his terrible, ferocious inclinations. To atone for his misdeeds in the past, he takes on the most unlikely of jobs for a vampire: working as a cleaner in a hospital, where he would be constantly surrounded by not just weakened people ripe for the plucking, but an infinite supply of blood.

Detailed information:
Creators: Jeremy Carver, Anna Fricke
Stars: Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington
Original release: January 17, 2011
Number of seasons: 4
Running time: 43 minutes
Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1595680

In terms of genre programming, "The Twilight Zone" is the granddaddy of them all. Beginning in 1959, the program soon gained a reputation for addressing Cold War America's worries in a way that more traditional drama could not. "The Twilight Zone," known for its twist endings, has had a huge influence on horror, science fiction, and mystery thrillers throughout the last several decades. (Not to mention how many times it's been riffed on or imitated in popular culture.)

Rod Serling, the show's creator, chief writer, and master of ceremonies, sought to use the show's metaphorical nature to present stories about current themes like civil rights and the Red Scare without causing controversy. As a consequence, the film is a great combination of terror and social consciousness, with aliens and monsters standing in for everyday human flaws.

Detailed information:

Creators: Simon Kinberg, Jordan Peele, Marco Ramirez
Stars: Jordan Peele, David Epstein, Kelly Ann Woods

Original release: October 2, 1959

Number of seasons: 4

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2583620

"Black Mirror," a genre anthology series initially published in the United Kingdom, treads the edge between science fiction and horror, expressing the apprehension around contemporary technology, which frequently creates nightmare circumstances for its protagonists. The tone fluctuates dramatically: some episodes are almost joyful or bittersweet, while others are loaded with the type of existential dread that stays with you long after the program has ended. And, while none of them are terrifying in the usual sense of ghosts, monsters, and serial killers, there are certain episodes that are so distressing that they can compete with any conventional horror show.

They make you rethink humanity in a hurtful way. "Black Mirror" is structured as a series of fictitious cautionary stories about the risks of being excessively reliant on technology; most versions of this would likely make people roll their eyes and dismiss their anxieties as unduly alarmist. It's done so brilliantly here that it makes us pause and think.

Let's get one thing straight: "The Walking Dead" has not been the most consistent program to ever grace the airways. When it was at its finest, though, it could compete with any other genre program on television. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is a deputy who wakes up in the hospital following a gunshot to find himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. He journeys across the countryside and abandoned cities in the south, trying to find his wife and little kid, and banding together with a gang of strangers to keep alive along the way.

The show's zombie brutality was merciless: it became evident early on that any character may be killed off at any time. And it was continuously developing over its first few seasons, boosting the stakes and putting its motley crew of misfits in unexpected situations. It lost its way a little bit as it progressed, but it doesn't take away from the tremendous dread and anguish it provided viewers early on.

Detailed information:

Creator: Frank Darabont
Stars: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride

Original release: October 31, 2010

Number of seasons: 11

Running time: 41–67 minutes

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1520211

Norman Bates is one of the most renowned villains in cinema history, owing in large part to Anthony Perkins' portrayal of the character as an insane bird of prey. And, while we see glimpses of his family background and his problematic connection with his mother in the original "Psycho," it's really just enough to pique our interest in his early years - before he degraded to the point of chatting with skeletons in his basement. "Bates Motel" delivers, providing a tantalizing glimpse of adolescent Norma and Norman Bates, an oddly co-dependent combination for the ages.

The smart casting choice is a big part of what makes "Bates Motel" succeed. Who better to play Norman than Freddie Highmore, who was previously recognized as a twee kid actor in films such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Finding Neverland"? His boyish appearance gave him the ability to appear innocent at times and creepily evil at others. And, of course, you've already won the game if you can convince Vera Farmiga to portray a crazily unstable mother.

Detailed information:

Creators: Anthony Cipriano, Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin
Stars: Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot

Original release: March 18, 2013

Number of seasons: 5

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2188671

To be honest, the Tooth Child scene alone elevates "Channel Zero" to the ranks of horror television's all-time greats. The grisly anthology program enjoyed a spectacular four-season run on Syfy, bringing the creepiest creepypasta stories to life (Internet-era urban legends, many of which have gone on to widespread fame.) Each six-episode season will focus on a new story, the first of which centred around a terrifying child killer whose skin was completely comprised of human teeth.

For all four seasons, it gained astonishingly constant critical acclaim, demonstrating a unique ability to capitalize on simple, universal childhood concerns and produce unforgettable pictures that would linger with the spectator. If nothing else, you have to appreciate their dedication to the terror factor: while they definitely prioritize producing a compelling narrative, they are brave in their efforts to provide the scariest material possible to a network not instantly renowned for its horror production.

Detailed information:

Creator: Nick Antosca
Stars: Brandon Scott, Marina Stephenson Kerr, Abigail Pniowsky

Original release: October 11, 2016

Number of seasons: 4

Running time: 41–44 minutes

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4820370

"Evil," one of the few network series on the list, accomplishes for possessions what "The X-Files" did for extraterrestrial encounters. It follows a similar concept to that seminal 1990s genre program, with a skeptic and a strong believer having to collaborate on challenging cases that push the boundaries of human comprehension. David Acosta (Mike Colter) is a priest-in-training who investigates the veracity of religious claims such as miracles and demonic afflictions. Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers) is a forensic psychologist entrusted with distinguishing between cases of supernatural occurrences and cases of mental illness. Together, the two notice certain phenomena that are difficult to describe.

"Evil," which was just shifted from CBS to Paramount+, continues to revel in the pain it purposefully creates. It provides no simple solutions to the terrible images it conveys, and it forces both its protagonists and the audience to confront what they believe they know about the cosmos.

Given the number of individuals who are intrigued with true crime and real-life mysteries, a program like "Haunted" seems only inevitable. It functions as a form of pseudo-documentary, with people claiming to have witnessed supernatural occurrences recounting their encounters for the camera. Some are more credible than others (indeed, despite the designation "true tale," there are a couple with very little corroborating evidence), however, as with all ghost stories, their success or failure is determined by how they're presented.

Rather than doing a standard one-on-one confessional style interview in which the individual describes their experiences, they are placed in a room with friends and relatives, reminding us that these are simply the most recent entries in an age-old oral storytelling tradition. "Haunted" also intersperses their story with truly terrifying, violent reenactments that highlight the suffering and trauma endured by people who believe they are haunted.

Detailed information:

Director: Lewis Gilbert
Stars: Aidan Quinn, Kate Beckinsale, Anthony Andrews

Original release : 1995
Running time: 108 minutes

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9077192

"Stranger Things," a tribute to 1980s adventure flicks with a horrifying 21st-century twist, became a Netflix smash in only its first season. It filled an average suburban community with mysteries, all of which would culminate with the mysterious abduction of a preteen child named Will Byers. Underneath the surface of Hawkins, Indiana, lies a strange and immensely hazardous world known as the "Upside Down," teeming with Lovecraftian creatures who endanger the lives of everyone who come into contact with them. As if that weren't enough, there's a weird female walking about with telekinetic abilities, a shaved head, and a strong preference for Eggos.

The camaraderie that develops amongst the primary group of friends that set out to locate Will, the fourth member of their Dungeons & Dragons team, is the most charming feature of "Stranger Things": the lads are warm, honest, and have a natural affinity with each other. However, there is a surprising amount of frightening stuff, enough to satisfy both lovers of 1980s "The Goonies" nostalgia and horror enthusiasts.

Detailed information:

Creators: Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
Stars: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder

Running time: 42–77 minutes

Original release: July 15, 2016

Number of seasons: 3

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334

"American Horror Story" is one of the most successful and longest-running horror anthology series, with a slew of imitators vying for a slice of the creepy and atmospheric pie. Each season has a new plot set in a new, usually disturbing place. We've had freak shows, cults, eerie hotels, psychiatric facilities, and the year 1984 in the past - who knows what Ryan Murphy will throw at us next?

Jessica Lange, in particular, had a long run on "American Horror Story," appearing in all four seasons and winning an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her work. Let's be honest: not every season of "American Horror Story" is made equal. However, there is enough eerie stuff in this collection to make at least one or two of them worth a Halloween binge.

Detailed information:

Creators: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy
Stars: Lady Gaga, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett

Original release: October 5, 2011

Running time: 37–71 minutes

Number of seasons: 10

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1844624