Gothic horror/spooky/eerie TV shows?
September 8, 2018 5:20 PM Subscribe
What are some fictional television series about ghosts, demons, etc that are not too network-TV or broad (a la Supernatural) -- but instead capture a certain Lovecraftian spookiness/eeriness?
I'm not interested in mini-series, or in shows that are anthologies of unrelated stories with a different set of characters each time (like Lore). I already know Channel Zero and American Horror Story (too much horror, not enough spookiness).
I'm just craving gothic ghost stories and don't know where to look. Please help!
I'm not interested in mini-series, or in shows that are anthologies of unrelated stories with a different set of characters each time (like Lore). I already know Channel Zero and American Horror Story (too much horror, not enough spookiness).
I'm just craving gothic ghost stories and don't know where to look. Please help!
Best answer: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
posted by bleep at 5:54 PM on September 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by bleep at 5:54 PM on September 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Carnivàle springs to mind if dustbowl gothic fits the bill.
posted by haruspicina at 6:47 PM on September 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by haruspicina at 6:47 PM on September 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
Amazon Video has every episode of the original Dark Shadows series. It started out based (loosely) on Jane Eyre, but later added ghosts, vampires, werewolves, etc. You might want to start with Episode 210 (when the vampire story arc begins). The vintage production values may be cheesy, but there’s lots of romantic Gothic goodness.
posted by elphaba at 7:18 PM on September 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by elphaba at 7:18 PM on September 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's old and it was network, but American Gothic (1995 tv series) might fit the bill. It's currently streaming on Hulu.
posted by current resident at 7:26 PM on September 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by current resident at 7:26 PM on September 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
The Terror was fantastic.
The Living and the Dead was great if you can find where to watch it. It's set on a Victorian farm conveniently located next to an old battlefield and features a maverick doctor who may or not be mad, workhouse orphans, a village Halloween and all sorts. I bet you'd love it. It was only one short season sadly.
Outcast was pretty good for the first season, I haven't seen any more of it but you might like it. Mostly about demons but it was genuinely creepy. It was well reviewed as I recall.
Alias Grace was brilliant and I think is still on Netflix. It might qualify as a mini series or a short TV season.
posted by fshgrl at 7:47 PM on September 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Living and the Dead was great if you can find where to watch it. It's set on a Victorian farm conveniently located next to an old battlefield and features a maverick doctor who may or not be mad, workhouse orphans, a village Halloween and all sorts. I bet you'd love it. It was only one short season sadly.
Outcast was pretty good for the first season, I haven't seen any more of it but you might like it. Mostly about demons but it was genuinely creepy. It was well reviewed as I recall.
Alias Grace was brilliant and I think is still on Netflix. It might qualify as a mini series or a short TV season.
posted by fshgrl at 7:47 PM on September 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Castle Rock on Hulu is very spooky and moody with very rare jump scares or gory elements.
posted by MythMaker at 8:30 PM on September 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by MythMaker at 8:30 PM on September 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Castle Rock definitely. This show is a lot like Channel Zero.
You may want to check out shows on the Shudder channel. I don't have that, but it's specifically horror. Some are Scandinavian. I'm sure you can find them elsewhere online.
posted by xammerboy at 10:51 PM on September 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
You may want to check out shows on the Shudder channel. I don't have that, but it's specifically horror. Some are Scandinavian. I'm sure you can find them elsewhere online.
posted by xammerboy at 10:51 PM on September 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Whitechapel. Four seasons, and although the supernatural hints aren't obvious until S3, it starts out creepy and gothic from the beginning.
posted by betweenthebars at 4:12 AM on September 9, 2018
posted by betweenthebars at 4:12 AM on September 9, 2018
Seconding 'The Terror'.
posted by so fucking future at 6:17 AM on September 9, 2018
posted by so fucking future at 6:17 AM on September 9, 2018
Best answer: I haven't watched it but i did hear a few good things about Fox's The Exorcist.
I found the French show Les Revenants to be super-spooky and unsettling, with the caveat that I only ever watched the first season.
posted by Squeak Attack at 7:52 AM on September 9, 2018
I found the French show Les Revenants to be super-spooky and unsettling, with the caveat that I only ever watched the first season.
posted by Squeak Attack at 7:52 AM on September 9, 2018
Penny Dreadful and Les Revenants
posted by forkisbetter at 8:52 AM on September 9, 2018
posted by forkisbetter at 8:52 AM on September 9, 2018
The Preacher is also a maybe. It's kind of a supernatural mystery with a very southern gothic bent.
posted by fshgrl at 11:12 AM on September 9, 2018
posted by fshgrl at 11:12 AM on September 9, 2018
I’m not sure if it’s available via streaming, but the old Dark Shadows tv show (not the recent-ish movie) might be of interest.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:24 PM on September 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 12:24 PM on September 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Alienist was just what you're looking for. It aired on TNT and I don't know how you'd go about watching it now.
posted by mannyfeefees at 1:02 PM on September 10, 2018
posted by mannyfeefees at 1:02 PM on September 10, 2018
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posted by gideonfrog at 5:35 PM on September 8, 2018 [6 favorites]