Halloween weekend is finally upon us! We true horror fans know that horror movies and series are always appropriate, but we do usually step it up a bit during spooky season, right? With Halloween falling on a Friday this year, it is acceptable to celebrate during that weekend, so I am here to recommend some horror series you can binge.
The Haunting of Hill House – Mike Flanagan’s absolutely superb adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s equally superb novel is a must-watch (particularly if you haven’t seen it yet).
It’s 1992, and the Crain family has purchased a very large mansion known as Hill House, with the intention of gussying it up and re-selling it for a profit, thereby allowing them to build their own dream home. Hugh and Olivia move in with their children Shirley, Theo, Steven and twins Luke and Nell, hoping for a quick renovation.
It doesn’t quite work out that way, as everything that can go wrong when renovating does. And then there are the ghosts who inhabit the place. The Crain family ends up suffering tragedy and loss during their short time at Hill House, and the trauma follow them into adulthood.
The cast for THOHH is perfection – adults and kids alike - and the series is both scary and heartfelt. If you don’t scream at least once (I am looking at you, Theo and Shirley in that car scene) and cry at least once (Oh, bent neck lady…), then you have nerves of steel and no heart.
The Haunting of Hill House is streaming in its entirety on Netflix.
Midnight Mass – Mike Flanaga did it again with this wholly original series. With Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, Flanagan relied on existing stories, altering them somewhat, but Midnight Mass is all his.
Crockett Island is a quiet, isolated fishing village, slowly dying after a catastrophic oil spill. Riley, who grew up on the island, has just been released from prison after serving time for killing a young woman while driving drunk. He returns home to his family, and, as it turns out, to his childhood sweetheart Erin, who has also recently returned.
A new priest has “temporarily” replaced Monsignor Pruitt, who we are told has fallen ill after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Father Paul is charismatic and kind, and the townspeople quickly accept him. But Father Paul has a very dark secret, and things get bloody really fast.
Midnight Mass is streaming in its entirety on Netflix.
The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans – Season two of Titans began this month, and we are only four episodes in, so you will still have something to look forward to in November.
In this spin-off of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, some of the best Dragula contestants are invited back by the Boulets to compete once again – this time for the Titans crown. As you can imagine, the drama level is high, but so are the contestants’ hopes as they compete in fright feats and performance challenges.
It is truly amazing to see what these talented creators come up with when it comes to costumes, makeup and performances. It’s drag with a terrifying twist!
Seasons one and two of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans are currently streaming on Shudder.
Guts & Glory – Greg Nicotero created this horror competition series in which contestants are transported to an Alabama swamp and pitted against one another to compete in ooey-gooey, gross out challenges. Think digging through a disgustingly realistic dead body to find a tag, then having to pile all of the guts into a bucket and guess the weight.
In a team challenge, the contestants are paired up, and one must lay in a small coffin (lid closed), while their teammate gathers bones to put in their place. But everything in this show is not as it seems, so be prepared for twists along the way.
Nicotero describes himself as "a big competition show junkie", and that's what inspired him to create Guts & Glory.
Guts & Glory is four episodes in currently, with two remaining, and can be seen on Shudder.
The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs – This is quite possibly the series that put Shudder on the map for enthusiastic horror fans. It all began with a 24-hour marathon hosted by beloved and iconic “drive-in critic” Joe Bob Briggs. The marathon famously broke the proverbial internet on its debut, and he, Darcy the Mail Girl and the rest of the crew were invited to come back for this series, now in its seventh season.
During each episode, viewers are treated to a double feature consisting of “drive-in” movies, and it’s always a tossup as to how well-known (and high quality) said films will be. The movies are shown in 15-20 minute segments, then Joe Bob and the gang entertain us with trivia, shenanigans, and sometimes interviews with horror notables.
While many episodes are no longer available to watch (thanks to licensing agreements), most still are, so you should definitely check it out! As an added bonus, you can still catch many of Joe Bob's holiday specials on Shudder as well.
The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs is streaming on Shudder.