An Anthology of TV Horror Anthologies
I plan on watching at least a sampling of episodes from all series listed (assuming I can find them all) so expect frequent updates.
This list will only feature episodic series. Season-long anthologies (American Horror Story, The Terror, Channel Zero etc.), hosted movie shows (Elvira, Joe Bob, MST3k etc.) and web series are excluded.
This list will only feature episodic series. Season-long anthologies (American Horror Story, The Terror, Channel Zero etc.), hosted movie shows (Elvira, Joe Bob, MST3k etc.) and web series are excluded.
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- CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingRobert McCordJay OverholtsOrdinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.Series Overall Tone:
Smart, thought-provoking and full of grand irony and allegory. There's a reason 'Twilight Zone' is the king of all anthology series.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Aliens messing with humans, Angel interventions, Robots with humanity, Faustian deals, infinite loop motifs, ironic or cruel twist endings.
Host: Rod Serling!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Time Enough at Last" [S1E8]
"The Monsters are Due On Maple Street" [S1E22]
"The After Hours" [S1E34]
"The Howling Man" [S2E5]
"It's A Good Life" [S3E8]
"To Serve Man" [S3E24]
"Little Girl Lost" [S3E26]
"The Masks" [S5E5]
One of the Worst:
"The Betwitchin' Pool" [S5E36] - CreatorRod SerlingStarsRobin WardCharles AidmanRichard MulliganA collection of tales which range from comic to tragic, but often have a wicked sense of humor and an unexpected twist.Series Over All Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Hosts: (Voice Over Only) Charles Aidman (1985–87)
Robin Ward (1988–89)
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Nightcrawlers" [S1E4c]
"The Burning Man" [S1E8b]
"Dead Woman's Shoes" [S1E9a]
"Gramma" [S1E18a]
"Toys of Caliban" [S2E5]
"Something in the Walls" [S3E19]
One of the Worst:
"The Crossing" [S3E3] - CreatorRod SerlingStarsForest WhitakerJune B. WildeChris ShieldsThis second revival of The Twilight Zone (1959) presents tales of suspense, fantasy, science fiction and horror.Host? Forest Whitaker
- CreatorSimon KinbergJordan PeeleMarco RamirezStarsJordan PeeleDavid EpsteinKelly Ann WoodsAn updated version of the classic anthology series featuring various tales of science fiction, mystery, and horror.Series Over All Tone:
Beautifully shot, well acted, often heavy-handed but socially relevant allegorical morality tales.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Adult fears and not-so-subtle allegories with a whole bunch of nods and direct references to the original series.
Host? Jordan Peele!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Replay" [S1E3]
"The Wunderkind" [S1E5]
"Six Degrees of Freedom" [S1E6]
One of the Worst:
"Blurryman" [S1E10] - CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingLarry WatsonJoanna PettetRod Serling presents tales of horror illustrated in various paintings.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Rod Serling!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Certain Shadows on the Wall" / "The House" [S1E3]
"The Devil Is Not Mocked" [S2E6]
"Pickman's Model" [S2E11]
"Different Ones" [S2E14]
"The Caterpillar" [S2E22]
One of the Worst:
"Quoth The Raven" [S2E37] - CreatorLeslie StevensStarsBob JohnsonBen WrightWilliam DouglasAn anthology series of insightful science fiction tales.Series Overall Tone:
Sci-fi stories with a Gothic horror bent, full of surreal imagery and stark, expressionistic cinematography.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Aliens, Monsters, Time Travel, Teleportation, and Other sci-fi tech used for nefarious purposes.
Host? Not really, although, Vic Perrin's voice opens each episode
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Sixth Finger" [S1E5]
"Nightmare" [S1E10]
"The Zanti Misfits" [S1E14]
"Don't Open 'Til Doomsday" [S1E17]
"Expanding Human" [S2E4]
"Demon with a Glass Hand" [S2E5]
One of the Worst:
"Counterweight" [S2E14] - CreatorLeslie StevensStarsKevin ConwayAlex DiakunEric SchneiderA modern revival of the classic science fiction horror anthology show The Outer Limits (1963). Episodes often have twist-endings and involve aliens. Sometimes, a story from one episode continues in a later episode.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Aliens are misunderstood and have some morality lessons for us.
Host?
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Second Soul" [S1E5]
"Under the Bed" [S1E11]
"Descent" [S5E14]
One of the Worst:
"Ripper" [S5E11] - StarsFrank GallopJack La RueMercer McLeod"Lights Out" was a US narrated horror short story series.Series Overall Tone: 1950s gosh-golly cheese
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Ghosts, goofy hijinx
Host? Frank Gallop
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Martian Eyes" [S3E10]
"Dead Man's Coat" [S3E38]
One of the Worst:
"Jasper" [S3E18] - StarsLeslie NielsenCameron Prud'HommeEdgar Stehli"Tales of Tomorrow" was a hosted science fiction anthology series running from 1951 until 1953.
- StarsPaul McGrathHouse JamesonWarren Stevens"Inner Sanctum" was a hosted horror and mystery anthology series hosted by Paul McGrath, and later by House Jameson as "Your Host".Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host?
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
One of the Worst: - CreatorAl SimonStarsWestbrook Van VoorhisBill ErwinNorman AldenA short-lived anthology series narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis. Each episode tells its own thriller story and featured its own unique cast.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host?
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
One of the Worst: - CreatorFrank P. BibasStarsBoris KarloffRobert HardyHarry BartellAn anthology of horror stories hosted by actor Boris Karloff.Series Overall Tone:
Classic era Hollywood, black and white with a sweeping musical score, and very dialogue heavy.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: "But I could've sworn I saw them/it/whatever/" "That's impossible because they've been dead for years / They were here the whole time/ no one lives there..."
Host? Boris Karloff!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Summer Heat" [S1E8]
"Jack the Ripper" [S1E10]
One of the Worst:
"The Return of Madame Vernoy" [S1E9] - CreatorMerwin GerardStarsJohn NewlandRobert DouglasOlan Soule"One Step Beyond" was a collection of tales about paranormal events, horrifying folklore, and the world of the unknown.Series Overall Tone:
Predating 'The Twilight Zone' by only 9 months, "OSB" carries a similar tone only in its hosting by John Newland. Stories were presented as being based on true events, were firmly situated in the realm of the supernatural rather than science fiction, and did not have the social commentary angle of 'The Twilight Zone'.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Plenty of death premonitions, a decent amount of ghosts, as well as some astral projection, psychic powers, and crazy coincidences, thrown in for good measure.
Host? John Newland
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Devil's Laughter" [S1E11]
"The Clown" [S2E27]
"The Death Waltz" [S3E3]
"The Sacred Mushroom" [S3E18]
One of the Worst:
"The Lovers" [S2E22] - StarsLon Chaney Jr.Charles NolteLorri Scott"13 Demon Street" was a horror anthology series, set at decaying 13 Demon Street where the host, an unnerving Lon Chaney Jr., opened and closed each episode.Series Overall Tone:
Hokey and contrived.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Enchanted objects wreak havoc over obsessed holders.
Host? Lon Chaney Jr.!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Vine of Death" [S1E?]
One of the Worst:
"The Secret of the Telescope" [S1E?] - StarsBoris KarloffRichard PeelHenry DaniellExperience the complete series of the show that was hailed as the most frightening ever created for television--now available for the first time.Series Overall Tone:
Underappreciated in its time, 'Thriller' balances pulpy and weird well with eerie and haunting. Every bit as good as its more famous contemporaries 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'.
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Boris Karloff!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Twisted Image" [S1E1]
"The Hungry Glass" [S1E16]
"Late Date" [S1E27]
"Pigeons From Hell" [S1E36]
“Guillotine” [S2E2]
"The Weird Tailor" [S2E4]
One of the Worst:
"Child's Play" [S1E2] - StarsRoald DahlPaul TremaineRichard Morse"'Way Out" was a drama in the macabre genre was broadcast each week hosted by Roald Dahl.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Roald Dahl
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Croaker" [S1E6]
"Sideshow" [S1E12]
"20/20" [S1E14]
One of the Worst: - StarsFrank GallopRobert DuvallLee GrantThe last regularly scheduled television series to be broadcast live in the U.S. was hosted by Frank Gallop, and featured dramatizations of ghost stories and other tales of the supernatural, many of which were adapted from stories by famous authors like Conrad Aiken and Edgar Allan Poe.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Frank Gallop
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
One of the Worst: - StarsJohn LaurieAnn CastleMichael AldridgeSupernatural drama series adapted from the short stories of Algernon Blackwood.Series Overall Tone:
Unfortunately, all 29 episodes are missing, so I have no way of knowing :(
Frequent Tropes and Themes: ?
Host? John Laurie
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
Any. Seeing as all episodes are lost, watching any episode would be kind of a big deal.
One of the Worst: ? - StarsAlfred HitchcockHarry TylerLillian O'MalleySeries of unrelated short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama, and comedy about people of different backgrounds committing murders, suicides, thefts, and other sorts of crime caused by certain motivations, perceived or not.Series Overall Tone:
Understated English crime thrillers
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Last second plot twists
Host? Alfred Hitchcock!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Breakdown" [S1E7]
"The Glass Eye" [S3E1]
"The Perfect Crime" [S3E3]
"Lamb to the Slaughter" [S3E28]
"Arthur" [S5E1]
"Bang! You're Dead" [S7E2]
One of the Worst:
"Graduating Class" [S5E14] - StarsAlfred HitchcockHinton PopeJimmy Joyce"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" was a continuation of the dramatic anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) hosted by the Master of Suspense and Mystery.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Alfred Hitchcock
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Lonley Place" [S3E6]
One of the Worst: - StarsBernard BehrensCynthia BelliveauDavid B. NicholsUpdated remakes of classic stories from Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962), originally produced by the Master of Suspense. His original opening bits are colorized for re-use here.
- StarsJohn GabrielCharles 'Bud' TingwellErik ChittyA classic anthology science fiction series which features adaptations of stories by famous authors including Isaac Asimov, J.G. Ballard, Frederik Pohl and John Wyndham.
- StarsDavid BuckMark MossFreddie Jones"Mystery and Imagination" was a UK hosted horror anthology series running from 1966 until 1970 with host David Buck as "Richard Beckett". who was a romantic young Victorian adventurer always had a tale to tell.
- StarsStefanie PowersVera MilesJulie Harris"Journey to the Unknown" was a British anthology series about everyday people finding themselves put into unusual circumstances...many of them supernatural in nature.
- StarsDavid WoodJohn WentworthSheila HancockThis is a series of thrillers designed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
- StarsRoy DotriceJeremy ClydeRachel KempsonBritish series adapted from a trio of horror-story anthologies which were edited by John Burke and published between 1960 and 1969. The television installments used the cream of Burke's crop.
- StarsRay SmithMichael CraigIan BannenAnthology series in which characters find themselves in weird and scary situations. Not evoked by the supernatural but by other people.
- CreatorRichard MathesonStarsSebastian CabotSheila LarkenMeg FosterAn anthology of suspense dramas concentrating on individuals confronted with supernatural occurrences.* Also known as 'Ghost Story' for episodes 1-13
Series Overall Tone:
Unique, compelling, and not afraid to get weird
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Marital or familial conflicts,
Host? Sebastian Cabot [In Character as Winston Essex for 'Ghost Story' episodes only]
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Dead We Leave Behind" [S1E1]
"House of Evil" [S1E8]
"Time of Terror" [S1E13]
"Dark Vengeance" [S1E16]
One of the Worst: - StarsIan HolmTom BellRudolph WalkerThe Frighteners was a British psychological suspense anthology series that ran for 1 series consisting of 13 self contained episodes.
- StarsAnna MasseyJohn CastleAnna Cropper"Dead of Night" was a non-hosted UK television anthology series of supernatural fiction, produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2 in 1972.
- StarsAnthony QuayleDarren McGavinJack Thompson"The Evil Touch" was an anthology horror, science fiction and mystery series hosted by Anthony Quayle between 1973-74..Series Overall Tone:
Pulpy 70's B-Film style fun.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: People acting evil, after all, "there is a touch of evil in all of us..."
Host? Anthony Quayle
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"A Game of Hearts" [S1E6]
"They" [S1E25]
One of the Worst: - StarsColin WilsonLinda BlandfordGordon SnellAnthology series of supernatural tales.
- CreatorBrian ClemensAnthony SkeneMichael ZagorStarsDonna MillsGary CollinsDerek Francis"Thriller" was an anthology series of self-contained episodes, with genres ranging from murder mystery to suspense to psychological and supernatural horror.Series Overall Tone:
Very 70's dry, British crime thrillers with violence that was nearly always implied and rarely ever shown. Every episode features a generally slowed build accompanied by its own unique score of harpsichord and woodwinds that accentuates more intense moments almost acting as a sort of replacement for actual violence.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Serial Killers, Psychopaths, Cultists, and foreign agents. Investigations kicked off by missing persons, red herrings, and frustratingly condescending wealthy white men who never believe the female protagonists.
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Someone at the Top of the Stairs" [S1E3]
"A Place to Die" [S1E7]
"The Eyes Have It" [S1E9]
"A Coffin for the Bride" [S3E1]
One of the Worst: - StarsPamela MoiseiwitschJane WymarkMartin ShawAn anthology series concerning bestial horror, created by Nigel Kneale.Series Overall Tone:
An overall sense of eerie loneliness and detachment. All 6 episodes contain little to no background score or soundtrack and there is no theme music giving you the feeling of jumping in cold. All episodes are broken into two parts with the first setting the scene and getting you somewhat comfortable with the situation before taking a sharp turn at its end which leaves part 2 to be nearly pure climax.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: With only 6 instalments each manages to set itself apart from the other 5 with very little overlap in themes or ideas beyond all featuring a beast of some sort although not always literal or living...
Host? Nope!
The Best: "Baby" [S1E4]
The Worst: "Buddy Boy" [S1E3] - StarsAndre Van GyseghemBillie WhitelawIan HendryChilling anthology series where membership to the secret society, The Club of the Damned, is granted through telling horror stories.
- StarsWilliam ConradLloyd BridgesRonny Cox"Tales of the Unexpected" was an anthology series presenting stories of suspense, mystery and science-fiction, usually with some sort of twist ending.
- CreatorAndrew BrownStarsFrank DuncanJames BolamMaria AitkenSuspense and mystery-themed anthology series.
- CreatorMerwin GerardStarsJohn NewlandHenry BrandonCraig Littler"The Next Step Beyond" was a hosted science fiction series hosted by John Newland, airing from the late 1950s until the early 1960s.
- StarsTrevor HowardDavid RobbJack ShepherdAnthology series of stories "with a sting in the tail."
- StarsRoald DahlAndrew RayForbes CollinsShort dramas each with a twist of some kind; across the first four seasons most of these are from short stories by Roald Dahl.Series Overall Tone:
Dark, dry humour and a very distinctly low budget 70s feel.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Spouses killing spouses, general murder plots gone awry or successful, but with unforeseen consequences!
Host? Roald Dahl (Seasons 1 and 2 Only)
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Landlady" [S1E5]
"Royal Jelly" [S2E1]
"The Flypaper" [S3E1]
"Number Eight" [S7E5]
"The Open Window" [S7E15]
One of the Worst:
"Wet Saturday" [S7E8] - StarsPeter CushingDenholm ElliottKathryn Leigh ScottThis British anthology series, which was produced by England's leading exporters of horror films, told tales of haunted houses, demons, ghosts, and other supernatural wonders.Series Overall Tone:
Classic Hammer gothic horror but this time with contemporary settings and plenty of wry camp.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Foggy Countrysides, Old Stone Buildings, Cemeteries, Bright Red Blood, and Satanic Cults
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Witching Time" [S1E1]
"The House That Bled To Death" [S1E5]
"The Two Faces of Evil" [S1E12]
One of the Worst:
"Growing Pains" [S1E4] - StarsJames CoburnHelen HuntDavid Carradine"Darkroom" was a hosted horror/thriller anthology series hosted by James Coburn.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? James Coburn
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Make-Up" [S1E8]
One of the Worst: - StarsKeith BarronJack WatsonBrian JenningsWest Country Tales was an early 1980s supernatural drama series based on real-life experiences sent in by viewers in response to a BBC appeal. Of the hundreds of letters received, 13 stories were selected and turned into TV scripts.Series Overall Tone:
Soft, quiet narration of British folk horror tales (supposedly based on real-life experiences sent in by viewers) conveys the feel of sitting around a campfire before turning in for the night. Slow and subtle, "West Country Tales" isn't big on scares but presents a nice gentle, eerie tone.
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Miss Constantine" [S1E7]
One of the Worst: - CreatorLewis CheslerRiff MarkowitzRichard RothsteinStarsPage FletcherNicholas CampbellVincent GrassA young hitchhiker introduces characters who are about to experience a frightening and sometimes supernatural incident of some kind in this moody anthology series.*Better Known as "The Hitchhiker"
Series Overall Tone:
Edgy, R-Rated morality tales that at times take themselves a bit too seriously.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Assholes learning lessons about not being assholes, mainly sleazy men who somehow manage to get with every woman they want.
Host? Nicholas Campbell (3 episodes only) Page Fletcher (remainder of series)
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Killer" [S3E3]
"The Curse" [S3E9]
"Homebodies" [S4E5]
"Made for Each Other" [S4E9]
One of the Worst:
"Garter Belt" [S5E4] - StarsPaul SparerCatherine BattistoneJohn Marzilli"Tales from the Darkside" was a horror anthology series where the viewer is taken through ghost stories, science fiction adventures, and creepy, unexplained events.Series Overall Tone:
Considerably cheesy and over the top, often dark, never particularly scary, but always fun. Predating "Tales from the Crypt" by a few years, it carries a similar feel minus "Crypt's" cynicism and early HBO style debauchery.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Twists where characters suffer disproportionate retribution or fates worse than death, Over the top performances, and plenty of weird creatures.
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Bigalow's Last Smoke" [S1E21]
"Halloween Candy" [S2E5]
"The Geezenstacks" [S3E5]
"Seasons of Belief" [S3E11]
"Sorry, Right Number" [S4E9]
"The Cutty Black Sow" [S4E14]
One of the Worst:
"Going Native" [S4E17] - StarsNorma WestAnnette Wilkie-MillerFrancesca Annis"Shades of Darkness" was an anthology of short mysterious dramas, each with a supernatural twist.Series Overall Tone:
Not really horror but rather quiet, melancholic, Gothic ghost stories.
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
The Worst: - StarsDavid McCallumDavid CarradineDean Stockwell"Fox Mystery Theater" was an anthology series of chilling tales with a twist.
- CreatorHenry OlekStarsOrson WellesPriscilla WeemsNicollette SheridanSuspense anthology series hosted by Orson Welles who asks the audience to solve the crime presented in the first part of each episode. The second part is a separate horror or thriller story with a twist.
- CreatorSteven SpielbergJoshua BrandJohn FalseyStarsCharles DurningDouglas SealeSharon SpelmanTruly amazing, fantastical, funny, and odd, and sometimes scary, sad, and endearing stories are portrayed. Many famous actors, actresses, and directors made guest appearances.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host?
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Mirror, Mirror" [S1E19]
"Go to the Head of the Class" [S2E8]
One of the Worst: - CreatorMark MassariStarsRay BradburyMichael CopemanFrank Whitten"The Ray Bradbury Theater" was a Canadian-produced anthology series scripted by famed science-fiction author Ray Bradbury. Many of the teleplays were based upon Bradbury's novels and short stories.Series Overall Tone:
Dark Whimsy. The whole series has a very light-hearted feel despite its dark themes and morbid twists. Bradbury's best give you plenty to think about and the worst are at least entertainingly bonkers.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Adult fears, Progress vs. Tradition, Asshole Victims, Carnivals, Time Travel, Mars!
Host? Ray Bradbury!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing"
"Playground" [S1E2]
"The Crowd" [S1E3]
"The Town Where No One Got Off" [S2E1]
"The Man Upstairs" [S2E5]
"The Veldt" [S3E11]
"Usher II" [S4E5]
"By The Numbers" [S6E5]
One of the Worst:
"Fee Fie Foe Fum" [S6E13] - StarsDarren McGavinPaul FreemanNancy Travis"Worlds Beyond" was a half-hour supernatural anthology series adapted from real cases of the Society for Psychical Research.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host?
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
One of the Worst: - StarsMichael DickHugh HodginWill BuchananA short-lived American horror anthology series.
- CreatorWes CravenJeff FreilichStarsRobert EnglundMary CrosbyTodd Allen"Freddy's Nightmares" was a 1988 horror anthology series with "Freddy", the dream serial killer, hosting stories set in Springwood, USA.Series Overall Tone:
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Freddy Krueger! [Robert Englund]
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
One of the Worst: - CreatorRichard P. RubinsteinMitchell GalinStarsJohn BolgerPamela Dean KellyMichael J. AndersonA horror anthology about a family of monsters watching a different horror story every week on their TV. Each tale is separate, often cautionary with occasional dark humor and irony and features various deadly creatures.Series Overall Tone:
Even sillier in tone than "Tales from the Darkside" or "Crypt". "Monsters" relishes in its cheesiness and never takes itself seriously. The series will often teeter the line between being so ridiculous its fun to so stupid it's infuriating from episode to episode. But even the dumbest episodes at least provide some creative creature designs or practical effects.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Almost always a Monster of some sort (who knew!), Ironic twists, and plenty of "gosh-golly" type dialogue and cartoonishly dickish assholes.
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Feverman" [S1E1]
"The Match Game" [S1E18]
"A Bond of Silk" [S2E3]
"Jar" [S2E7]
"Reaper" [S2E9]
"The Moving Finger" [S3E24]
One of the Worst:
"Taps" [S1E17] - StarsLinda HuntC. Thomas HowellAmy IrvingA short-lived anthology series featuring adaptations of well-known horror stories.
- CreatorSteven DoddStarsJohn KassirRoy BrocksmithMiguel Ferrer"Tales from the Crypt" was a 1989 horror story anthology series based on the gruesome E.C. comic books of the 1950s presented by the legendary "Crypt Keeper", a sinister ghoul obsessed with gallows humor and horrific puns.Series Overall Tone:
Gleefully campy whilst still managing to be genuinely disturbing. Frequently gory and full of fun makeup and practical effects. Perhaps the most consistently upsetting anthology series to date.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Scorned Lovers, Revenge, and Assholes getting their comeuppance.
Host? The Cryptkeeper! [John Kassir]
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"And All Through the House" [S1E2]
"Dig That Cat… He's Real Gone" [S1E3]
"The Ventriloquist's Dummy" [S2E10]
"Television Terror" [S2E16]
"Top Billing" [S3E5]
"Death of Some Salesman" [S5E1]
One of the Worst:
"Whirlpool" [S6E3] - StarsAnthony PerkinsDoug RollinsAssumpta Serna"Chillers" was a 1990 series based on Patricia Highsmith's short stories: displaying a sinister atmosphere, delving in to the darkest depths of human nature.*Better known as "Chillers"
Series Overall Tone:
A screeching intro accompanied by fairly banal images from the series and an exceptionally ugly show logo leading into an often clumsy introduction by Anthony Perkins sets the tone for an awkward and uneven series of episodes full of questionable soundtrack choices, cringe-worthy acting, and a hopelessly 90s beige colour palette. "Chillers" never gets particularly chilling or suspenseful but isn't without its gems.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: People have dark sides
Host? Anthony Perkins
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Sauce for the Goose" [S1E2]
"The Stuff of Madness" [S1E10]
One of the Worst:
"The Day of Reckoning" [S1E5] - StarsMimi KuzykYannick BissonDon FrancksThis half-hour anthology show usually featured a woman in hardship, musing about might-have-beens, or fighting for her life, such as a woman being visited by the ghost of the child she never had, a housewife discovering her own courage while battling a gang of thugs, a woman being visited by the romance novel hero in her head, or playing dangerous games of theft and sex with her own husband. In the third season, the format became more open-ended and generally Twilight-Zonish, such as the man who thinks he might be a werewolf.
- CreatorThomas BaumJonathan CravenWes CravenStarsJack ColemanLindsay FrostRobert Englund"Nightmare Cafe" - Frank Nolan and Fay Peronivic find themselves in a mysterious all-night café following a brush with death, but they soon learn that they did, in fact, die, and have been brought back to life by the café.
- StarsAkshita AgnihotriVijay RajAshutosh RanaAahat (English: An approaching sound) is an Indian thriller/horror television anthology series created by B. P. Singh for Sony Entertainment Television.The series premiered on 12 October 1995.
- StarsNigel HaversPhyllis LoganKevin McNallyA British horror/fantasy anthology series where each story involves, to some extent, the supernatural and features lead actors from UK television.Series Overall Tone:
Generally understated, presenting a quiet, lonely atmosphere giving most of the five episode series a nice eerie quality.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Obnoxiously skeptic skeptics
Host? Nope!
The Best: "Toby" [S1E2]
The Worst: "The Mirror Man" [S1E3] - StarsRachel WardGeoffrey RushKimberley DaviesBryan Brown introduces stories of the bizarre and the supernatural. Sometimes serious, often comical, but always with a twist at the end of the story.
- StarsErnst-Hugo JäregårdKjell BergqvistThomas Bo Larsen"Chock" is a Swedish horror TV series from 1997. Each episode was presented by the Swedish cult actor and horror host, Ernst-Hugo Järegård. Episodes were directed by Mikael Håfström, Daniel Bergman and Ulf Malmros among others.
- StarsMaureen TeefyKeith CarradineJason Lee"Perversions of Science" was an anthology series of science fiction stories in the style of "Tales from the Crypt".
- StarsRip TornEmilie Jo TisdaleMegan Gallacher"Ghost Stories" was a supernatural anthology series, hosted by Rip Torn, with each story featuring a different chilling tale.Series Overall Tone:
Low budget and cheesy, with melodramatic acting that still somehow manages to be bland, predictable, and thoroughly unremarkable.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: People are haunted by literal ghosts from their past. Nearly all 44 episodes more or less follow this same premise.
Host: Rip Torn! (VO only)
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The New Nanny" [S1E24]
One of the Worst:
"Back Ward" [S1E1] - CreatorJeff FazioStarsTerence StampDavid BowieRichard Jutras"The Hunger" was a horror anthology series where the hosts Terence Stamp (in season 1) and David Bowie (in season 2) eccentrically introduce each of the steamy, erotic and often supernatural tales of power, sex, lust, and driving urges.Series Overall Tone:
Blue and Gray and overly self-serious in that quintessentially late 90's kind of way. Full of quick nauseating cuts and camera angles like a generic alt-rock music video. 'The Hunger' feels like it's trying to be edgy, provocative, and deep but fails to deliver leaving us with a shallow, dated, faux-pretentious mess.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Sex, Lust, Soft Core Erotica. Greed and Desire yadda yadda yadda.
Hosts? Terence Stamp (Season 1), David Bowie (Season 2)
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
You're best skipping this one
One of the Worst:
"A River of Night's Dreaming" [S1E16] - CreatorLynn LehmannStarsJonathan FrakesDon LaFontaineCampbell LaneFive mysterious stories are shown in which people meet strange or unexplainable events. The viewer is invited to decide if the stories are fact or fiction.Series Overall Tone:
The hosting segments and opening theme manage to be the eeriest part of the series. Jonathan Frakes' ominous monologues regarding perception and optical illusions in a fog-filled museum-like setting set up a chilling sense of mystery that the actual segments fail to live up to with their mid-90s network TV brand cheese full of cringy character narrations and goofy acting.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Turns out they're a ghost! Or what an insane coincidence! "There's no Curse!" (There's totes a curse.)
Host? James Brolin (Season 1) Jonathan Frakes! (Seasons 2-4)
Notable Segments Worth Seeing:
Kid in the Closet [S1E2]
Red Eyed Creature [S2E18]
Mirror of Truth [S3E13]
House of Shadows [S4E5]
One of The Worst:
Magic Mightyman [S2E12] - CreatorBilly BrownStarsHarry Van GorkumSusan GibneyKatee SackhoffBill Fearing, a famous writer of suspense thrillers, gets his ideas from things that happen in his family. When he gets an idea, the viewers enter his mind and see the gruesome events unfold.
- CreatorPaul CorcoranHelen FrancisStarsEric RobertsMargot SteinbergLysette Anthony"Dark Realm" was a hosted horror anthology series, with each tale featuring an eerie and terrifying story from the darkest realm.
- StarsAnia SowinskiKelle SpryWilliam ManneringBehind the facade of London's shiny dockside developments, its designer boutiques and coffee bars lie forgotten dark corners and darker secrets. It's a city where anything can happen and being young and pretty won't always save you.Series Overall Tone:
Gen-X-Cyber-Punk-brand edgy complete with a screeching intro, angst, and plenty of sex and gore.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Surly Protagonists. Monsters are cool, edgy bad-asses.
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Cry Wolf" [S1E8]
One of the Worst:
"Deptford Voodoo" [S1E5] - CreatorDan AngelBilly BrownStarsHenry RollinsEmily HolmesDion Luther"Night Visions" was a hosted anthology series similar to "The Twilight Zone" - some tales are supernatural, others are just commentaries on twisted human nature. Each hour show is made up of two half-hour stories aired back-to-back.Series Overall Tone:
Oddly confrontational hosting from host, Henry Rollins, bookends every episode of a dark and enjoyable series that isn't without its bit of early aughts network brand cheese.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Decent people face really harsh fates, real dubious moral lessons.
Host? Henry Rollins
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"A View Through the Window" [S1E3a]
"Harmony" [S1E11b]
"Cargo" [S1E12a]
"Patterns" [S1E13a]
One of the Worst:
"Switch" [S1E12b] - StarsMackenzie CrookBruce MackinnonEmma PiersonAnthology series of black comedies, which sets out to deliver excellent stories with a darkly comic twist. A second installment aired under the title, Twisted Tales.
- StarsYoel GoldenbergMargaret HenshawMarc WarrenDarkly comic stories with a mysterious twist, the tales set out to spook the brain and tickle the funny bone. A follow-up to the earlier Spine Chillers series.
- CreatorMick GarrisStarsKaren Elizabeth AustinJ. Winston CarrollMiho NinagawaAnchor Bay's collection, which has amassed some of the best horror film anthologies.Series Overall Tone:
Each episode directed by a major horror icon, "Masters of Horror", ranges from gritty and gory to campy and over the top making this to be one of the most diverse anthologies on this list at least tonally speaking.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Excessive gore and torture porn, fan disservice, black comedy, and very bleak endings
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Incident On and Off A Mountain Road" [S1E1]
"Cigarette Burns" [S1E8]
"Fair-Haired Child" [S1E9]
"Sick Girl" [S1E10]
"Family" [S2E2]
One of the Worst:
"We All Scream For Ice Cream" [S2E10] - 20068 epsTV-146.8 (5.5K)TV Mini SeriesStarsRobert MammoneKodi Smit-McPheeWilliam H. MacyA television mini-series adaptation of Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Stephen King's collection of short horror stories.The Best: "Battleground" [S1E1]
The Worst: "The Road Virus Heads North" [S1E5] - StarsLee InglebyMark GatissBeth GoddardA ghost story about a cursed house. The cursed house - Geap Manor - weaves together three ghost stories set during Georgian times, the 1920s and the present day.
- CreatorMick GarrisStarsMargherita DonatoValerie WhiteEric RobertsA television series broken down into 13 separate 60-minute films from premiere horror writers and directors.Series Overall Tone:
The follow up to "Masters of Horror", "Fear Itself" attempts to go for a similarly gritty, cynical tone but this time under the restrictions of network television, leaving most entries to feel as if they're lacking in potential and never fully living up to their premises.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Serial Killers, "Oh, Crap!" endings, cruelty and bitches in sheep's clothing.
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Sacrifice" [S1E1]
"Eater" [S1E5]
"Skin and Bones" [S1E8]
One of the Worst:
"New Year's Day" [S1E6] - CreatorCharlie BrookerStarsWunmi MosakuMonica DolanDaniel LapaineFeaturing stand-alone dramas -- sharp, suspenseful, satirical tales that explore techno-paranoia -- "Black Mirror" is a contemporary reworking of "The Twilight Zone" with stories that tap into the collective unease about the modern world.Series Overall Tone:
Bleak.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Advancements in technology will always take a dark turn, but humanity is the greatest monster.
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Entire History of You" [S1E3]
"Be Right Back" [S2E1]
"White Christmas"
"San Junipero" [S3E4]
"Hated in the Nation" [S3E6]
"Metalhead" [S4E5]
One of the Worst:
"Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" [S5E3] - StarsKuldeep SinghAmardeep GargMarcell DsouzaThe series mainly focuses on the story of different paranormal and strange cases from different parts of India inspired from real life incidents. It also shows investigation and subsequent exorcism.
- StarsTom HollandChris HendrieNigel ColumbusGet ready for the scariest ride of your life! Watch the most spine-chilling tales and short films, only on Twisted Tales.
- StarsMichelle AlexanderCarlyn BurchellMiles CarneyA macabre web site called Darknet links the tales in this chilling anthology series whose protagonists face a range of unnamable horrors.
- CreatorSteve PembertonReece ShearsmithStarsReece ShearsmithSteve PembertonDerek JacobiGenre-mixing anthology series, inviting viewers into some very different and enigmatic No. 9s.Series Overall Tone:
Fun and whimsically dark. Contains the best balance of wry, witty, British comedy with underlying tension or a looming shadow just ahead.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: All episodes take place in a single location, plenty of bitches in sheep's clothing, and bittersweet or cruel twist endings.
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Sardines" [S1E1]
"The Harrowing" [S1E6]
"The 12 Days of Christine" [S2E2]
"Cold Comfort" [S2E4] - StarsMontserrat LombardMonica DolanPaul RitterAdaptations of the fantastical short stories written by author, Neil Gaiman.
- StarsAaron MahnkeEmmett J ScanlanPaula MalcomsonOur collective nightmare mythologies are rooted in real-life horror stories.
- CreatorWill CamposDesmond DollyDaniel JohnsonStarsMark HamillCatherine FarringtonSarah HylandAn anthology series that explores the wonders and terrors of our digital age, from outrageous horror comedy to mind-bending action adventure.
- CreatorVera MiaoStarsLauri HendlerWei-Yi LinMardy MaThis anthology series of terror features diverse characters facing primal fears in spine-chilling situations that stretch past daily routine.Series Overall Tone:
Bland, uninspired, and often feels very sterile. Most stories really would be better if they actually just remained two sentences.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Stories you've seen or heard a dozen times before. Very predictable "twists".
Host? Nope
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
One of the Worst: - CreatorMark DuplassJay DuplassStarsJennifer LafleurJon BassJenny LeonhardtAnthology series set in room 104 of a seemingly average American motel, each time telling a different story of the assorted guests who pass through, which can range from funny and fantastical to dramatic and horrifying.Series Overall Tone:
Only occasionally horror. Surreal, smart, often genuinely heartfelt, and always surprising.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Abrupt endings; a particular motel room seems to show up a lot...
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Internet" [S1E5]
"Voyeurs" [S1E6]
"My Love" [S1E13]
"FOMO" [S2E1]
"The Woman in the Wall" [S2E5]
"The Return" [S2E9]
"Prank Call" [S3E9]
One of the Worst:
"A New Song" [S3E6] - StarsLi WenqiangDolly De LeonMaguire JianThis HBO Asia Original horror anthology series features the deeply-rooted superstitions and myths across six Asian countries, including Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.Series Overall Tone:
Eerie dramas that take turns into folklore inspired horror. Each episode reflects a different Asian country's culture and legends.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Vengeful Spirits
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Nobody" [S1E3]
"Toyol" [S1E5]
One of the Worst:
"Pob" [S1E4] - StarsAurora PerrineauDiane SellersDylan ArnoldA horror anthology series with each episode inspired by a holiday.Series Overall Tone:
Generally unremarkable modern horror with a few notable exceptions sprinkled in.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Asshole protagonists are put through the wringer but somehow come out okay while any likeable supporting characters are typically dead by the end.
Host? Nope!
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"They Come Knocking" [S1E9]
"Culture Shock" [S1E10]
One of the Worst:
"Treehouse" [S1E6] - StarsCarey JonesHannah FiermanKara KimmerThe fictional Creepshow comic books come to life in this anthology series of terrifying tales hosted by the silent Creepshow ghoul.Series Overall Tone:
Gruesome and campy with a nice healthy dose of practical effects.
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Over the top monsters, asshole victims.
Host? The Creeper, though he doesn't really say anything.
Notable Segments Worth Seeing:
"The House of the Head" [S1E1B]
"The Man in the Suitcase" [S1E3B]
"The Companion" [S1E4A]
"Drug Traffic" [S3E6A]
One of the Worst:
"All Hallows Eve" [S1E3A] - CreatorKjetil IndregardAtle KnudsenStarsIne Marie WilmannDagny Backer JohnsenNader KhademiIn this deliciously macabre horror anthology series, doomed passengers tell their stories aboard a spectral bus headed toward an unknown destination.Series Overall Tone:
Tounge in cheek and dark but not real dark
Frequent Tropes and Themes: Characters learn about past traumas
Host? None, but we do get a creepy bus driver as a framing device for each episode.
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"Lab Rats" [S1E4]
"The Elephant in the Room" [S1E6]
One of the Worst:
"Bad Writer" [S1E3] - CreatorMary LawsStarsKaitlyn DeverCharlotte CabellVivian CabellEncounters with Gothic beasts, including fallen angels and werewolves, broken people are driven to desperate acts in an attempt to repair their lives, ultimately showing there is a thin line between man and beast.
- CreatorEnzo TedeschiStarsNicholas HopeNaomi SequeiraGemma Bird MathesonA series of six short horror stories anchored by a woman who receives a 'mystery box' from the dark web, and then discovers the sinister secret it holds.
- StarsAsa ButterfieldRachel BrosnahanMing-Na WenQuibi series explores stories based on urban legends from different places in the United States, taking viewers deeper into the horrors that lurk just beneath the surface.
- CreatorBrad FalchukRyan MurphyStarsSierra McCormickParis JacksonMerrin DungeyAn anthology series of stand-alone episodes delving into horror myths, legends and lore.
- CreatorGuillermo del ToroStarsLize JohnstonKevin KeppyBen BarnesBizarre nightmares unfold in eight tales of terror in a visually stunning, spine-tingling horror collection curated by Guillermo del Toro.Series Overall Tone:
Tone varies wildly from each entry as every director brings their own unique style to each piece.
Frequent Tropes and Themes:
Host? Guillermo del Toro
Notable Episodes Worth Seeing:
"The Autopsy" [S1E3]
"Pickman's Model" [S1E5]
"The Viewing" [S1E7]
One of the Worst:
"Dreams of Witch House" [S1E6] - StarsNeville BarberGwyneth StrongGeorge WaringAnthology series of scary stories for children.
- StarsJonathan PryceFreddie JonesJohn WoodvineReadings of classic ghost and horror stories aimed at older children.