7 must-watch horror shows that deliver spine-chilling thrills and sleepless nights

If you crave the adrenaline rush that comes from flickering lights, eerie soundscapes, or shadows moving where they shouldn’t, horror shows offer the perfect escape into darkness. From haunted mansions and sinister cults to psychological nightmares and supernatural mysteries, today’s horror series bring a wide spectrum of fear—slow-burn, atmospheric, emotional, or full-blown terrifying.

Whether you enjoy supernatural entities lurking in the dark or psychological dread that creeps under your skin, these seven shows promise chills that linger long after the credits roll. Here’s a detailed look at some of the most gripping horror shows streaming today.

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1. Adhura – Amazon Prime Video

Set against the backdrop of a boarding school in Ooty, this horror series ties the present to a dark past filled with secrets and cruelty. The story begins when alumnus Adhiraj Jaisingh returns to his school after 15 years for a reunion. His best friend Ninad has been missing for years, making his return emotionally heavy.

A new student, Vedant Malik, enters the school just as bizarre events begin. He behaves strangely, becomes a target of bullying, and appears connected to the sinister happenings. As the narrative shifts between 2007 and 2022, a chilling mystery of bullying, abuse, guilt, and vengeance comes to light.

Bodies begin to drop, supernatural encounters intensify, and the past refuses to stay buried. The show blends emotional storytelling with unsettling horror, exploring how trauma haunts people long after the events themselves have passed.

2. Dhootha – Amazon Prime Video

This Telugu horror thriller stars Naga Chaitanya as Sagar Varma, the chief editor of a newspaper whose life turns upside down after he discovers a newspaper clipping predicting a disturbing event. When the prediction—concerning his pet’s death—comes true, it triggers a chain of terrifying incidents.

Sagar soon realises that more such clippings exist, each foretelling gruesome outcomes. As he digs deeper, he becomes entangled in a larger mystery involving murders, revenge, and supernatural entities manipulating fate itself.

The series balances crime investigation with horror, making the audience question whether Sagar is being warned, framed, or hunted by a force beyond comprehension. With atmospheric tension and strong performances, Dhootha keeps viewers hooked as Sagar races to survive and uncover the truth.

3. Servant – Apple TV+

Created by Tony Basgallop and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, this psychological horror series is unsettling from the very first episode. It follows Dorothy and Sean Turner, a couple grieving the tragic loss of their infant son. Dorothy falls into a catatonic state, and to cope, the couple begins caring for a hyper-realistic therapy doll as if it were their real baby.

When the nanny, Leanne Grayson, moves in to help, strange events begin to unfold. The doll, the house, and Leanne herself become the centre of eerie happenings, blurred reality, psychological manipulation, and supernatural undertones. The tension builds slowly, rooted in grief and denial, making the horror feel painfully intimate. Servant doesn’t rely on cheap scares; instead, it creates dread through atmosphere, silence, and emotional unraveling.

4. The Haunting of Hill House – Netflix

Often hailed as one of the best modern horror dramas, this series from creator Mike Flanagan blends supernatural terror with deep emotional trauma. The story follows the Crain family—parents Hugh and Olivia, along with their five children—who move into Hill House in 1992 with the intention of renovating and flipping the mansion. What follows is anything but normal.

The house becomes a labyrinth of nightmares: shifting hallways, cold spots, ghostly figures, hidden rooms, and a terrifying entity that refuses to let go of the family. One traumatic night forces them to flee—but the haunting doesn’t end there.

Years later, the now-adult siblings are still haunted, psychologically and supernaturally, by what happened inside Hill House. When another tragedy strikes, they must confront the evil that has tethered itself to them. The show delivers big scares but also heartbreaking storytelling about grief, guilt, mental health, and family trauma. It’s horror that hurts—but in a way you can’t look away from.

5. Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities – Netflix

This anthology crafted by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is a treasure chest of nightmares. Each of the eight standalone episodes works like an object pulled from a haunted cabinet—mysterious, beautifully crafted, and unsettling. Del Toro appears at the start of every episode as the “curator,” enhancing the eerie museum-of-horrors feel.

The stories range from cosmic terror to gothic fantasies, and from twisted folklore to psychological dread. Some explore human greed and moral decline, while others dive into the uncanny and surreal. The beauty of this series lies in its variety: you can pick episodes based on your preferred horror style—creature horror, paranormal, occult, or dark fantasy. Every story is visually rich, sharply written, and atmospheric enough to make you hesitant to turn off the lights.

6. American Horror Story – JioCinema

This long-running anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk reinvents itself every season with a new setting, cast of characters, and horror theme. Because each season stands alone, viewers can jump in anywhere based on their favourite sub-genres.

The first season, known as Murder House, follows a family that moves into a seemingly beautiful mansion only to discover it is haunted by violent, vengeful spirits. As dark secrets unravel, the true horrors of the house’s past come to light.

Other seasons explore witch covens, haunted hotels, asylums, cults, slasher madness, occult horror, demonic possession, and apocalyptic terror. The show is known for bold storytelling, disturbing imagery, and layered characters. Whether you enjoy psychological terror or classic supernatural scares, American Horror Story offers something for every horror fan.

Also Read: Silent scares: 7 horror movies that terrify through sound and suspense

7. Them – Amazon Prime Video

This anthology series steps into the horror of racism, generational trauma, and supernatural malevolence.

Season 1 follows Henry and Lucky Emory, an African-American family relocating to Los Angeles during the 1950s Great Migration. They hope for a fresh start, but their new neighbourhood turns into a nightmare. Facing racist neighbours on one side and horrifying supernatural forces on the other, the family fights for survival in a series of increasingly disturbing events.

Season 2 shifts to LAPD homicide detective Dawn Reeve, who finds herself investigating a gruesome murder that pushes her into a spiralling confrontation with evil—human and supernatural.

Them is both socially conscious and deeply terrifying, blending real-world horror with paranormal forces to create an unforgettable experience.