10 Great Horror TV Shows Recommended by Stephen King

Stephen King is a horror basic genre, and he often recommends TV shows or movies he likes. He is best known for iconic horror novels such as The Shining and Thisand remained in the public spotlight for his books and adaptations of his work. Stephen King still has another book on the way, continuing a legacy that has scared readers for decades.

Because of his reputation in the horror genre, many trust his recommendations for various works, be they novels, TV shows or even films. The genres of their recommendations often vary, but horror still seems to be the most consistent. While many of King's books could still use sequels, his recommended shows such as Cabinet of Curiosities and Midnight Mass will have to do in the meantime.

10

Evil (2019-2024)

This Paramount+ Horror Series Recently Ended

Starting with a simple premise, Evil follows a group of researchers working on behalf of the Catholic Church. Each with their own diverse backgrounds, these investigators are tasked with investigating supernatural events for the church, with their work having the group analyze everything from demons to proclaimed prophets of God. The series was met with widespread acclaim, reaching an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stephen King praised Evil, describing it as "occasionally very scary" and "thought-provoking." He specifically praised the chemistry between the lead actors, something that is evident throughout the entire show. Although the show has already come to an end, the series ends on a satisfying note.

9

Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)

Del Toro's series captures the beauty of his iconic style

Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is a horror anthology series that collects stories from del Toro himself and other filmmakers. The series leans into the gothic horror genre, and although each episode presents a different story, they are all tied together by del Toro's beautiful style. The series has been praised for its loving attention to the gothic style, making the series stand out among other horror titles.

Similar to other critics, King also praised this anthology series for its beauty. Prior to its release on Netflix, King noted that the series is "terrifying" and "sinister,” praise from one horror icon to another. The series is a masterclass in horror, showing that beauty can be found even in such horrific stories.

8

Yellowjackets (2021 to present)

Showtime's horror series tells a two-part story

Known for its haunting storytelling and narrative that spans two timelines, Yellow Jackets is split between two timelines. It details the story of a plane crash that occurred in 1996, leaving a high school girls' soccer team stranded deep in the woods, as well as their lives in the modern day, 25 years later. As the story turns into madness, the viewer ends up discovering that many of these girls have resorted to cannibalism to survive.

Yellow Jackets was praised by critics and fans for its well-paced narrative, achieving a natural and convincing balance in the plot. As the series continues, it explores the characters introduced in a way that doesn't shy away from the darkness within each of these seemingly innocent women. King's own praise focuses on the series' writing, noting that Yellow Jackets has a "Sharp characterization and a biting sense of humor."

7

Servant (2019-2023)

M. Night Shyamalan returns to psychological horror

After a Philadelphia couple finds their son dead, they replace him with a lifelike doll to help overcome their grief. However, in a strange twist, they hire a nanny to look after the doll as if it were real. What follows is a horrific exploration of grief and the human mind in M. Night Shyamalan's latest horror show.

Not only did King praise the series for being generally scary and having an engaging narrative, but he also stated, "Two episodes and I'm hooked." The series' exploration of grief as an avenue of horror is impressive, frightening in the way it manipulates the viewer. At one point it was nominated for an Emmy for its evocative cinematography, but unfortunately it didn't win.

6

Midnight Mass (2021)

Netflix's horror miniseries is shocking and grotesque

Mired in misguided faith and paranoia, Midnight Mass takes place in the run-down community of Crockett Island. When a mysterious priest arrives in town, strange and terrifying events begin to terrorize the town's residents. Bloody and tense, Midnight Mass takes a unique approach to portraying supernatural elements that have been extensively covered in other media.

Because of this growing tension, Midnight Mass It has a bit of a slow start. However, this is beneficial to the series, with King noting that this series is a "Dense, beautifully photographed horror tale that reaches a heightened level of terror in the 7th and final episode." It's gripping from start to finish, with the larger story slowly unfolding over the course of the miniseries.

5

From (2022 to present)

This series is terrifying at its core

Trapped in a town surrounded by a spooky forest, the cast of Of are tormented by terrifying creatures that haunt this mysterious city. The series centers on Boyd Stevens, the town's sheriff and mayor, as he and the Matthews family attempt to escape. Of it's only gotten better with time, with its most recent season receiving an incredible 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

King's response to the show is full of surprise, noting that the series thus far has been "beautifully handled." He also expresses interest in the future of the series, theorizing, “Is it possible that these people are dead and don’t know it?“The program certainly stimulates questions in the viewer, with many shocking moments that will certainly leave your jaw dropped.

4

Dracula (2020)

BBC One and Netflix created a dark version of Bram Stoker's classic

Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss from Doctor Who and Sherlock fame, Dracula is a revealing look at Bram Stoker's original story of the same name. The story initially follows Johnathan Harker's character before moving on to focus on the vampire Dracula himself, and what follows is a bloody affair drenched to the bone in blood. This series strays a bit from the original storybut despite this, it is considered one of the best portrayals of Dracula in cinema history.

The series' blood and violence is also something King noted, describing it as "incredible. Which is to say fantastic and VERY bloody."He also writes that the series is"smart"probably a compliment to the incredible writing in the miniseries. Although the series is only three short episodes, more like a movie in that regard, it's worth every bloody minute.

3

The Stranger (2020)

This HBO miniseries is based on Stephen King's own novel

Another series that starts as a slow burn that pays off later, The stranger It's equal parts horror and crime drama. It is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, focusing on detective Ralph Anderson, who still suffers from the loss of his son. In addition to being a great series in general, The stranger it also has an incredible pilot episode, making it even more memorable from the start.

Although the series sometimes departs significantly from King's novel, the author has received rave reviews for the series. King has stated that this series is "one of the best adaptations"of his novels out there. With adaptations as large as the THIS series of films out there, that's incredibly high praise.

2

Dark (2017-2020)

This German sci-fi thriller has dark implications

Being another critically acclaimed Netflix horror series, Dark puts a sci-fi twist on horror, focusing on both time travel and conspiracy. The series begins to unravel the mystery at its core as children in the area begin to disappear, adding terrifying stakes to the series' plot. Even though it was filmed in German Dark has a large following internationally.

In addition to describing the show as "very German", praised King Dark due to its complexity. The show seems to overlap, and with time travel thrown into the mix, things can often get confusing. Despite that, Dark pulls off its potentially confusing premise with aplomb, creating a series that rivals series like Twin Peaks and Strange things.

1

Mariana (2019)

This Netflix series is a novelist's worst nightmare

Chilling to the core, Mariana is a French horror series in which the protagonist, a novelist named Emma, ​​realizes that the characters she writes about in her horror novels are actually real people. She has nightmares about the titular Marianne, and those nightmares slowly make their way into Emma's reality. The show has a creepy feel that eventually pays off, making this series genuinely scary in a way that many horror series simply aren't.

When Stephen King discussed Mariana, He not only described it as scary, but went a step further when he wrote, "If you're one of those freaks – like me – who likes to be scared, MARIANNE (Netflix) will do the job." He not only praises the fear factor of this horror series, but he notes that it feels like something that has the “vibe” of his own writing. This is an incredible compliment coming from such an iconic author, cementing Mariana as an incredible example of great horror television.