Top 10 Horror TV Shows You Need to Have on Your DVR
Debi Moore
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When a recent “Creepy’s Take” bemoaned “Hannibal’s” cancellation, a few readers took us to task, along with our peers on the other horror sites, for not doing enough to push people in the show’s direction. Perhaps, but I put the blame on NBC for not doing more to promote it and for not working with sites like ours to a greater extent so that we’d have info to “push” out in the first place.
But pointing fingers is… well, pointless. After Saturday night’s episode, it will all be Chianti under the bridge anyway.
So, what should replace “Hannibal” in your DVR’s rotation? We’ve compiled a Top 10 list of our current favorites – some new, some that will require a bit of catch-up – plus our best guesses of what’s coming down the pike that you should keep your eyes on.
Honorable mentions that just missed the cut include “Penny Dreadful” and “Sleepy Hollow,” two shows that have had rough patches but are primed for a comeback; “Westworld” and “American Horror Story: Hotel,” a pair that we just can’t predict with any real confidence; and no-brainer cross-genre phenoms “The X-Files” and “The Walking Dead” that surely need no help from us.
Of course this list isn’t one size fits all; some things will appeal more to women than men, the younger crowd versus those of a more advanced age like myself. But they all share a similar level of quality, and you should find at least a handful that are worth carving out two or three hours each week to keep up with.
We’ll kick things off with two oldies but goodies that both get a bit of a bum rap among people who haven’t watched them…
“Supernatural” (Season 11 begins October 7, 2015, on The CW)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “Supernatural” described as “that dumb CW show with the pretty-boy brothers.” It certainly wouldn’t have lasted as long as it has if there wasn’t a lot more depth to it than that! It’s comparable to “Buffy” in that it treats its audience with respect and knows how to retain a loyal fanbase. While I would have been perfectly content to see the series end after Season 5 as originally conceived by its creator and first showrunner, Eric Kripke, I’m not averse to spending a few more years with the Winchesters as long as current head honcho Jeremy Carver can continue tweaking the formula enough to keep it feeling fresh. (Pro tip: If you do decide to give this one a shot from the beginning, watch the DVDs/Blu-rays rather than on Netflix so you can enjoy the soundtrack as it was meant to be.)
“Grimm” (Season 5 begins October 30, 2015, on NBC)
I’m not sure why the horror crowd hasn’t been more supportive of “Grimm” – it has an extremely likable cast (comprised of actual adults no less!), a trendy Portland locale, and some kickin’ monsters (aka Wesen). Granted, the transformation scenes are loaded with CGI and the gore factor is light (it is a network show, after all), but the characters and storylines are interesting and relate to those classic fairy tales and legends we all grew up on. Season 1 was a bit rocky, but over the past few years “Grimm” has more than hit its stride, and after the way Season 4 ended, our enthusiasm for it has been ramped up even higher.
With TV being the new vehicle for remakes of popular horror films, our next group fall in the category of shows that have made the transition from the big to small screen…
“From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” (Season 2 is under way now on El Rey Network)
When word first came that Robert Rodriguez would be re-imagining his universally beloved From Dusk Till Dawn as a series, fans weren’t sure what to expect. What we got was a helluva lot of fun so as we embark on Season 2, which promises more of the same and then some, we can’t help but wonder why we’ve heard so little from our readers about the show. Maybe El Rey Network isn’t available where you live? In any event, this is one that’s worth seeking out.
“Bates Motel” (Season 4 will air in 2016 on A&E)
“Bates Motel” has been met with a mixed response from the horror community (our own MattFini recently took a swipe at it while boohooing the recently announced “Friday the 13th” series on The CW), but for this writer, it’s been a winner from the start. A dream cast with incredible chemistry paired with imaginative, offbeat writing that’s both spooky and icky (the Norman/Norma relationship has certainly made us squirm more than once) has resulted in my second favorite show on this list. I can only echo Jinx, who wrote at the end of Season 3: “I, for one, cannot wait [for next season]. Hats off to A&E and the creative forces behind “Bates Motel” for making one of the best damned shows on television!”
“Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Season 1 begins October 31, 2015, on Starz)
We’re going to make our first prediction now and say you better mark your calendars to remind you to call your cable TV provider on October 30th to turn on Starz so you can watch the premiere of “Ash vs. Evil Dead” on Halloween night. The Comic-Con trailer blew our minds, and everything revealed since then has just gotten us even more excited.
The intimacy and immediacy of the television medium are a perfect match for depicting disasters, especially when they lead to the post-apocalyptic setting found in so many of our contemporary hits…
“The Strain” (Season 2 is under way now on FX)
If you’ve been part of the crowd who feel vampires have lost their bite lately, you should already be well aware of how great “The Strain” is at portraying them as the monsters we’ve always known they can be. The acting is all over the place, but despite that, the characters are developed just well enough to get you rooting for them as the story progresses. Flashbacks are used minimally but effectively. If you can soldier through Season 1 and get caught up to where they are now, the payoff is well worth it.
“iZombie” (Season 2 begins October 6, 2015, on The CW)
Another show people seem to have preconceived notions about is “iZombie.” I found it to be a true bright spot among the latest influx of genre-themed programming to hit the airwaves (and have happily heard from more than a few of our readers who agree with me). Rose McIver isn’t quite up to Tatiana Maslany’s level (if you don’t get the reference, stop reading right now, watch a few episodes of “Orphan Black,” and then come back); but her ability to “become” different people each week is pretty awesome. And David Anders is a blast as her nemesis, Blaine. Actually, everyone on the show shines; and the writing is sharp, snappy (in a good way), and smart. Wow – that’s a lot of alliteration so let me add one more “s”: See it!
“Fear the Walking Dead” (Season 1 is under way now on AMC)
Sticking to the zombie theme, “Fear the Walking Dead,” gives us the other end of the spectrum in terms of gritty realism. It just kicked off this past weekend, and with only six episodes in its freshman season, how can you not at least give it a shot? It’s rare we get the chance to watch society break down from Day 1 of the apocalypse. Plus, if you do like it, you’re already guaranteed more since Season 2 has already been confirmed.
Putting our wizard’s cap back on for a moment, we bring you our final prediction…
“Damien” (Season 1 will air in 2016 on A&E)
Glen Mazzara… Bradley James… Barbara Hershey… A&E. We really didn’t need to know much more about “Damien” than those four things to be excited about this direct sequel to The Omen, but after seeing the show’s marketing campaign at this summer’s San Diego Comic-Con, we really fell in love with it. It could turn out to be a disappointment, but for the time being we’re staying cautiously optimistic and urge you to do the same. “It’s all for you, Damien!”
And now we end with our favorite currently airing horror TV show…
“Salem” (Season 3 will air in 2016 on WGN America)
What more can we do to convince you to watch “Salem”? Week in and week out when it’s on the air, we sing its praises. Talk about a show that pushes boundaries! It’s dark, it’s daring, and its production values are through the roof. The cast and guest star roster are second to none (both Lucy Lawless and Stephen Lang have given Emmy-worthy performances), and now that they’ve given Shane West’s character a haircut, even he blends into the times a lot better. You may not be a fan of period pieces, but if you’re a fan of horror, “Salem” should be in the same #1 spot on your DVR as it is on ours.
Agree with our picks? Think we’re off our rockers? Chime in with your favorite current horror TV shows in the comments section below!
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