For over a decade now, horror TV has been a staple of Netflix’s streaming catalog. Whether it’s gothic tales of possession, demonic curses, or dystopian survival, the service has consistently delivered high-concept scares to genre fans worldwide. Many of the best horror shows of the past twenty years havepremiered as Netflix Originals- and many still remain exclusive to the platform.
However, not every series makes the cut. The mostunforgettable horror shows on Netflixblend dread with psychological depth and often come armed with unforgettable visuals. Some rival the scariest movies out there, while others use the longform format to slowly unravel into madness. The scariest original Netflix horror shows are the ones that stuck with us, and in one case, still haunt our dreams.
Based on a podcast of the same name,Archive 81follows archivistDan Turner (Mamoudou Athie), who’s hired to restore a collection of damaged videotapes from 1994. As he uncovers the mystery behind missing filmmaker Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi), reality itself begins to twist into something dark, ancient, and terrifying. What starts as simple restoration turns into a descent into the occult.
Archive 81was canceled too soon, but its one haunting season cements it as one of the most creative horror shows on Netflix.
The seriesmasterfully balances analog horror with cosmic dread, pulling viewers into a world where cults, curses, and alternate realities lurk behind flickering VHS footage. It’s got a slow-burn approach, but the atmosphere becomes increasingly claustrophobic and sinister as the story progresses. The use of dual timelines adds tension while always keeping the viewer one step behind - and off-balance.
Archive 81was canceled too soon, but its one haunting season cements it as one of the most creative horror shows on Netflix. It’s a deeply unnerving experience, especially for those who like their horror steeped in mystery and dread rather than jump scares.
The French horror seriesMariannecenters on Emma Larsimon (Victoire Du Bois), a horror novelist whose books about an evil witch begin to blur with her reality. When she returns to her hometown, she discovers that Marianne - the fictional entity she thought she created - might actually be horrifyingly real. What unfolds is a waking nightmare that never lets up.
It doesn’t ease viewers into its horror - it drags them down screaming.
This underrated horror gem didn’t get the recognition it deserved upon release, but it remainsone of the most visually frightening horror shows on Netflix.The titular witch, Marianne, is a grotesque and unforgettable antagonist, and the show’s twisted imagery - especially in dream and possession sequences - rivals even the most gruesome horror films.
What makesMarianneso effective is its commitment to relentless dread. It doesn’tease viewers into its shocking horror- it drags them down screaming. The blending of folklore, nightmares, and childhood trauma creates a truly unsettling tone that’s hard to shake even after the credits roll.
InBrand New Cherry Flavor, aspiring director Lisa Nova (Rosa Salazar) heads to early ’90s Los Angeles to make a movie - but things go south when she’s betrayed by a powerful producer. Seeking vengeance, she enters into a deal with a mysterious witch (Catherine Keener) and finds herself in a grotesque world of curses, hallucinations,and vomiting kittens.
Behind the style is a sharp story about exploitation and corruption in the film industry
This is not your typical horror series.Brand New Cherry Flavoris weird, twisted, and completely unpredictable. Itsblend of occult horror and Hollywood satire makes it one of the most unique horror showson Netflix. The practical effects are jaw-dropping (and often stomach-churning), and the show dives headfirst into Cronenberg-level body horror.
It’s also visually stunning, drenched in neon and dreamlike surrealism. However, behind the style is a sharp story about exploitation and corruption in the film industry - told through a lens of magical vengeance. There are fewshows likeBrand New Cherry Flavor,and the gross-out visuals aren’t for everyone, but for horror fans craving something truly off the rails, it’s an unforgettable experience.
From creator andfrequent Netflix collaborator Mike Flanagan,Midnight Masstakes place on the isolated Crockett Island, where a charismatic young priest (Hamish Linklater) arrives and brings with him a wave of apparent miracles. But as his influence grows, so too does an ancient evil - one that turns the island’s devout community into something monstrous.
The dread builds slowly and explodes in shocking ways.
Midnight Massisn’t just scary, it’s thematically rich. It’s a story aboutgrief, addiction, and the seductive power of belief.Hamish Linklater gives a career-defining performance as Father Paul, bringing eerie charm and creeping menace to a character that’s both tragic and terrifying.Midnight Massasks big questions and delivers bigger scares.
One of the most atmospheric horror shows on Netflix, thedread inMidnight Massbuilds slowlyand explodes in shocking ways. The final episodes are unforgettable, and the series' mix of theological themes with classic vampire horror feels both reverent and radical. It’s a meditative, soul-crushing tale that leaves a mark.
Set in theearly days of a zombie apocalypse,Black Summerthrows viewers into chaos from the very first scene. The story is minimal - a mother, Rose (Jaime King), is separated from her daughter during a military evacuation and fights her way through the collapsing world. But the focus here is pure survival horror, and it’s executed with razor-sharp intensity.
There are no big speeches or safe zones here
Each episode plays like a mini horror movie, using long takes, minimal dialogue, and claustrophobic action to keep you on edge. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of panic in a zombie outbreak, emphasizing terror over gore. You feel every heartbeat, every footstep, every breath - it’s that immersive.
As far as horror shows on Netflix go, few are asraw and merciless asBlack Summer. There are no big speeches or safe zones here - just the harsh, unrelenting pace of people trying to stay alive. It’s not about who you were before the fall, but how long you can last after it.
Anothergem on Netflix from Mike Flanagan,The Haunting of Bly Manorfollows Dani Clayton (Victoria Pedretti), an American au pair who arrives at an English country estate to care for two orphans. As she settles in, ghostly figures begin to appear - but the real horror lies in the tragic lives (and deaths) of everyone connected to the manor.
It’s the slow, creeping realization that love can become its own haunting that makesBly Manortruly unforgettable.
Loosely based on Henry James’The Turn of the Screw,Bly Manoris less overtly scary than its predecessor (The Haunting Of Hill House) but arguably more emotionally devastating. The showexplores grief, guilt, and memory in profound ways, using its ghostly setting to delve into what lingers after we die, and what we leave behind.
One of the more poetic horror shows on Netflix, it still has its fair share of frights, especially with the faceless “Lady in the Lake.” However, it’s the slow, creeping realization that love can become its own haunting thatmakesBly Manortruly unforgettable. It’s horror with a heartbreakingly human core, standing out just as much for its thematic depth as its spine-chilling scares.
Inspired bythe legendary video game series,Castlevaniabegins with Dracula (Graham McTavish) declaring war on humanity after the church burns his wife at the stake. In response, monster hunter Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage), magician Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso), and Dracula’s son Alucard (James Callis) form an uneasy alliance to stop him.
It builds a rich, bloody world filled with sorrow and savagery.
This series proves animated horror can be just as disturbing and gory as live-action. Visually stunning and packed with gothic atmosphere,Castlevaniamixes monster-slaying mayhem with complex themeslike religious extremism, vengeance, and loneliness. The fights are beautifully choreographed, but it’s the character arcs that leave the deepest scars.
Among animated horror shows on Netflix or otherwise,Castlevaniareigns supreme. It builds a rich, bloody world filled with sorrow and savagery. Every season ups the ante, and by the end, it becomes more than a vampire tale - it’s a sprawling tragedy about love, rage, and what it means to be human.
Cabinet of Curiositiesis a lovingly crafted anthology series fromhorror maestro Guillermo del Toro, who curated eight episodes from visionary directors like Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) and Panos Cosmatos (Mandy). Each installment stands alone but shares a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the genre, often blending the grotesque with the philosophical.
Proof that even short-form storytelling can deliver unfiltered nightmare fuel.
This isn’t just a collection of horror stories - it’sa showcase of what horror can be.From cursed artifacts to cosmic terrors, the episodes dive into different corners of the genre, always with high production values and twisted storytelling. “Pickman’s Model” and “The Murmuring” in particular offer unforgettable imagery and slow-building dread that lingers long after.
As far as anthology horror showson Netflix go,Cabinet of Curiositiesis the crown jewel. Del Toro’s own introductions give the series a vintageTwilight Zoneflavor, while each episode delivers its own flavor of terror. It’s horror as high art, and proof that even short-form storytelling can deliver unfiltered nightmare fuel.
Looselyadapted from Shirley Jackson’s novelby the master of streaming horror himself, Mike Flanagan,The Haunting of Hill Houseis more than a ghost story. It’s a generational drama about the Crain family, whose time living in the cursed Hill House forever scars them. As adults, they’re haunted not just by spirits but by trauma, addiction, and guilt, all beautifully woven into a nonlinear narrative.
It’s terrifying, yes, but also tender and deeply human.
The scares inHill Houseare expertly crafted, often hiding in plain sight - from the terrifying “Bent-Neck Lady” to ghosts lurking silently in the background. But the emotional horror is just as potent, especially in episodes like “Two Storms,” which is a technical and dramatic tour de force.
It redefined what horror shows on Netflix could be. It’s terrifying, yes, but also tender and deeply human. Mike Flanagan uses horror as a lens to examine family dysfunction, grief, and the wounds we carry through life. Few shows - horror or otherwise - are as resonantor as terrifying asHill House.
Mike Flanagan’sThe Fall of the House of Usheris a savage and unrelenting gothic horror saga. Loosely based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, the show follows the doomed Usher family, a wealthy, corrupt dynasty led by Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood),as each of his children meets a brutal, supernatural demise tied to their own sins.
A masterclass in horror storytelling and a vicious indictment of greed, legacy, and hubris.
With its blend of courtroom drama, supernatural reckoning, and grotesque body horror,The House of Ushermoves like a high-speed train to hell.Flanagan weaves in Poe’s classic tales with astonishing ingenuity - from “The Tell-Tale Heart” to “The Masque of the Red Death” - crafting each episode as a self-contained nightmare.
Of all the horror shows onNetflix,The Fall of the House of Usheris the most brutal, the most biting, and the most unforgettable. It’s a masterclass in horror storytelling and a vicious indictment of greed, legacy, and hubris. By the time the blood-soaked finale hits, you’ll be shaken (and possibly scarred) by the sheer audacity of it all.
