We all love a goodhorrormovie that makes us so scared that we want to sleep with the lights on. The best horror movies of our time, such asThe Exorcist, do this with peak perfection, and areforever immortalized in the hearts of horror fans worldwide.
That love, sadly, doesn’t always extend to theTVside of horror, which isn’t as fondly remembered as its movie counterpart. However,there are some horror miniseries that are definitely worth your time, and thanks toLetterboxd, we’re going to help you schedule your horror miniseries binge by ranking the best to check out.
10’Rose Red' (2002)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.1/5
Stephen Kingis the master of horror for a reason, ashis novels have invoked all sorts of fearful emotions in readers over the years. Having said that, not all of his iconic novels have translated well to the screen, especially on the TV front, butRose Redis an exception.
The miniseries, which was a hit forABC back in 2002, tells the story of Dr. Joyce Reardon (Nancy Travis), a psychology professor who, along with a team of other psychics and a gifted autistic girl, ventures to the haunted Red Rose mansion to learn about its history, which doesn’t sit well with the old house.The creepy, foreboding nature ofRose Redis what makes this series so enduringand, while it’s slow-paced, don’t let that fool you, as when the haunting takes form, it really gets going.
A college professor and a team of psychics investigate an old abandoned house. Hoping to explain some of the mysterious deaths on the property, the psychics stay in the mansion, but unleash a terrifying force that threatens to destroy all.
9’The Enfield Haunting' (2015)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.2/5
If you ever laid your eyes on the promotional poster forThe Enfield Haunting, your spine will tingle with terror at the horrifying image. Once you turn on the miniseries, which was adapted fromGuy Lyon Playfair’s novelThis House is Haunted, that disturbing poster image would be child’s play:this horror miniseries brings the scares hard-and-fast.
Told in three parts,The Enfield Hauntingis, remarkably,loosely based on a true story of the terrifying events that took place in a home in the Enfield neighborhood ofLondon in 1977, famously known as the “Enfield Poltergeist.” The notion that this was even real is enough to scare the you-know-what out of you, and watching this event dramatically unfold on the screen will certainly have you sleeping with the lights on for week.
The Enfield Haunting
Based on real events, this series follows the terrifying experiences of the Hodgson family in 1977 London. Paranormal investigators Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair attempt to help the family as they confront a malevolent spirit.
8’It' (1990)
Before the films revitalized this famous Steven King novel,Itwas best known outside the novel for the miniseries that ran on ABC in 1990. Re-watching the miniseries today, it definitely seems a lot more kitchy than its film counterpart, with Pennywise (Tim Curry) a lot less menacing and scary than he was in the movies.
Having said that, theItminiseries still holds its own, and is still considered one of the best horror miniseries ever produced.The performances were top-notch, with Curry doing a great job as the demented Pennywise, and it deserves its high rating onLetterboxd among fans.
In the small town of Derry, a group of children known as the Losers' Club confronts an ancient, shape-shifting entity that takes the form of a clown named Pennywise. As adults, they must return to Derry to face their worst fears and stop the evil once and for all.
7’The Stand' (1994)
About a month ago, I re-watched the 2020 version of the CBS miniseriesThe Stand, and while it was OK, it doesn’t really hold a candle to the 1994 adaptation that was a big hit for ABC in 1994. StarringGary Sinise and Molly Ringwald,The Standis a post-apocalyptic story of the eternal struggle between good-and-evil, using a viral outbreak known as “Captain Trips,” which kills nearly everyone on Earth infected by it, to move the story to a dark place.
While Stephen King adaptations are hit-or-miss,the 1994 adaptation ofThe Standwas a huge hit as it stayed true to the noveland didn’t stray far off of the path already laid out for it.The 1994 miniseriesshould be recognized as one of the best King adaptations, period.
6’Salem’s Lot' (1979)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.3/5
While the 2024 adaptation ofSalem’s Lotwas a certified banger, there is something about the 1979 version that makes it stand out from the rest of its contemporaries.Airing on CBS in late 1979, the miniseries was originally intended to be a movie, but producer Richard Kobritz thought that the adaptation of the famed Stephen King novel would work a lot better as a miniseries, and he was right.
Rewatching the miniseries 46 years later, it’s hard to fathom how this would be better as a feature-length film.Salem’s Lotis made to be a miniseries, and it gives the story, which tellsthe story of a writer who returns to his hometown, only to find out that the residentsare becoming vampires, more depth and weight that has more of an impact on the viewer. Yes, it starts out a bit slow, but once things kick-off, you’ll agree with me that the 1979 version ofSalem’s Lotisa certified classic.
Salem’s Lot
A novelist and a young horror fan attempt to save a small New England town which has been invaded by vampires.
5’Storm of the Century' (1999)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.4/5
Ever since I was a kid, I have been both fascinated and terrified of the weather;fascinated by its awesome power, and terrified of what it unleashes upon the world. 1999’sStorm of the Centuryplays on both, and it works like a terrifying charm.
Written by Stephen King(he has popped up a lot in this article, hasn’t he?) as a “novel for television,“Storm of the Centuryfocuses on an isolated town where, when a blizzard hits, strange things begin to happen, and bring terrorizing fear to the residents of the town.Storm of the Centuryhas become a forgotten relic, of sorts, but when you’re talking about the best horror miniseries of all time, you’re able to’t make the mistake of overlookingthis underrated masterpiececrafted by the master of horror.
Storm of the Century
4’The Haunting of Bly Manor' (2020)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.9/5
Movies and shows about haunted houses are as old as time, some falling flat on their faces due to the kitchy nature of the story, to masterpieces that will scare the daylights out of you.The Haunting of Bly Manor, which premiered on Netflix at the tail end of 2020, falls in the latter category.
The miniseries followsan au pair who is hired to look after the niece and nephew of a man who lives in a seemingly charming country house. However, the home is anything but charming, and, instead, brings haunting apparitions to the inhabitants.The Haunting of Bly Manoris quite creepy, anda great weekend binge-watchfor anyone who is a fan of “charming” haunted houses.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
3’The Fall of the House of Usher' (2023)
In 1839,Edgar Allan Poepublished a short story in Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine calledThe Fall of the House of Usher, which tells the story of the Usher family andhow each member is haunted and killed by a mysterious woman from their youth. It’s one of Edgar Allan Poe’s best works, and in 2023,Mike Flanagancreated the Netflix version of the short story, and it was simply masterful.
While it’s loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s story,the main tenants of the storyare there and just as scary and haunting.Flanagan and Michael Fimognari truly respected the original work in crafting a compelling gothic horrorthat has a touch of drama that will tug at the heartstrings while making you hide under the covers.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built a pharmaceutical company into an empire of wealth, privilege and power; however, secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying.
2’Midnight Mass' (2021)
Letterboxd Rating: 4.0/5
Oh, you thought Mike Flanagan’s work onThe Fall of the House of Usherwas fantastic? Wait until you feast your eyes onMidnight Mass, whichstays in the same gothic horror universe asHouse of Usher, but adds in the supernatural to bring in extra frights.
Centered on a devout, but impoverished island community, the residents of the island begin to experience supernatural horrorafter a mysterious priest (Hamish Linklater) arrives on the island. Much like his work onHouse of Usher, Flanagan worked his magic onMidnight Mass, bringing a terrifying new vision of horror that is pretty hard to replicate.Zach GilfordandKate Siegelwere also fantastic in leading this terrifying miniseries, and it’s no wonder it getshigh praise from Letterboxd users.
Midnight Mass
An isolated island community experiences miraculous events - and frightening omens - after the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest.
1’The Haunting of Hill House' (2018)
Letterboxd Rating: 4.3/5
Between 2018 and 2023,Mike Flanagan was having a ball creating some of television’s most horrifying miniseries, fromThe Fall of the House of UshertoMidnight Mass. While those series are absolute bangers and among the best horror miniseries ever, his work onThe Haunting of Hill Housedeserves special praise.
Premiering on Netflix in 2018,The Haunting of Hill Houseis, quite simply, a masterclass of supernatural horror. The effects were amazing, the performances were top-notch, and the story draws you in like a moth to a flame.The Haunting of Hill Houseis more than a straightforward supernatural horror miniseries; it will make you think while you’re sleeping with the lights on for the next month. Even if you choose to ignore the other nine shows on this list (which you really shouldn’t), thenyou definitely, without a doubt, need to streamThe Haunting of Hill Houseif you are a fan of horror miniseries. The fans atLetterboxd recommend it, and I highly recommend it as well.
