From Dead Boy Detectives to Chucky, the best horror TV shows of 2024 prove that the genre's most original and compelling efforts aren't just contained to the big screen. Although well-established heavy-hitters like The Last of Us have yet to return for their latest outings, there's no shortage of on-TV scares. In fact, 2024 continues a great 2023 trend in that regard. Despite the dual Hollywood strikes of last year, several big-name horror series left quite the mark. Hits like Mike Flanagan's latest Netflix series, The Fall of the House of Usher, stole the spotlight.
Although 2024 boasts plenty of returning horror favorites, it also proves that terrifyingly original horror concepts are being green-lit left and right. Long-time genre standbys, like the unanswered question-riddled American Horror Story: Delicate, might have missed the mark, but horror connoisseurs have plenty of other options to check out. Best of all, 2024's best horror TV shows run the gamut in terms of sub-genre. While there are plenty of pure horror hits, the year's best also includes horror romances, mysteries, and comedies. Needless to say, some of 2024's best series are horror shows.
Inspector Rishi
A Tamil-language horror crime drama, Inspector Rishi was created by J.S. Nandhini. The Amazon Prime Video TV series centers on Rishi Nandhan (Naveen Chandra), an inspector who loses his eyesight during a shootout. In the aftermath of the life-altering conflict, Rishi is transferred to a remote jungle. There, the titular inspector is tasked with solving cases that seem to tie into popular myths. For example, the pilot suggests a forest spirit killed a photographer. While not the best thriller or crime caper, Inspector Rishi treats its mythological subject smartly, making for a great 10-episode watch.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
Created by Scott Gimple and stars Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is the latest spinoff of AMC's hugely popular post-apocalyptic horror series. Set after The Walking Dead series finale, The Ones Who Live is a love story at its core — one between two fan-favorite characters, Rick Grimes (Lincoln) and the katana-wielding Michonne (Gurira). Across its slim six-episode run, the miniseries delves into the franchise's past and present, all while being bolstered by the stars' powerhouse performances and a staggering $13.7 million per episode budget.
Dead Boy Detectives
Netflix's Dead Boy Detectives is a spinoff of the fan-favorite Sandman series, which the streamer also recently adapted. Much like The Sandman, Dead Boy Detectives does a wonderful job of bringing the pages of Neil Gaiman's DC Comics series to life. A supernatural detective series that leans into its horror and mystery elements, the show centers on the ghosts of Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) and Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew). Both characters avoid their afterlife journeys, choosing instead to investigate Earth's many supernatural crimes. Best of all, Dead Boy Detectives boasts Sandman Easter eggs, which further unify the franchise.
THEM: The Scare
While THEM: Covenant made waves back in 2021, the second installment in the horror anthology series, THEM: The Scare, is a huge improvement. There's no denying that the original outing boasted incredible performances and a haunting visual style, but, unfortunately, it suffered from its blunt, hyper-violent approach that served to undermine the otherwise-sharp social commentary. With a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, THEM: The Scare provides a discerning look at generational trauma, using horror tropes to augment its point. With memorable performances from Deborah Ayorinde and Pam Grier, The Scare is one of 2024's best.
Evil
The fan-favorite supernatural drama Evil first premiered on CBS in 2019 before jumping to Paramount+ for its subsequent outings. Now in its fourth season, Evil still uses its X-Files-like formula well, pairing skeptical forensic psychologist Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers), with Catholic priest David Acosta (Mike Colter) and equally skeptical tech contractor Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi). With a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Evil season 4 returns to end the beloved series on a high note. With delightfully twisted episodic mysteries and a larger narrative that builds thoughtfully, Evil will be missed.
Chucky
Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams
A supernatural horror-meets-sci-fi series by the titular writer-director, Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams is a mind-bending anthology series that perfectly fills the Black Mirror void, especially for horror fans. Featuring a massive ensemble cast, Nightmares and Daydreams' stories are linked by similar themes and narrative formulas. More often than not, the characters are desperate to protect their lives and loved ones from otherworldly phenomena. For those who love a shared universe, the standalone episodes do boast plenty of connections, making the horror aspects all-the-more haunting.
Parasyte: The Grey
The best example of body-snatcher horror on TV in 2024, the Korean-language series Parasyte: The Grey is a great way to fill a Last of Us-shaped void. An adaptation and spinoff of Hitoshi Iwaaki's manga series, Parasyte sees parasitic creatures invading and feeding on humans. The extraterrestrial parasites are especially terrifying because they can transform their hosts' heads into all sorts of terrifying things. A huge global hit for Netflix, Parasyte: The Grey may be derivative at times, but it boasts enough scares, excitement, and fun visuals to set itself apart in an overcrowded zombie field.
True Detective: Night Country
The fourth season of the long-running HBO crime-drama anthology series, True Detective: Night Country is the first to be helmed by writer and showrunner Issa López, who boldly leans into the franchise's more supernatural elements. While mileage may vary for viewers who prefer the non-supernatural elements of previous True Detective outings, Night Country excels at creating a truly haunting and distinct atmosphere. Bolstered by incredible performances by leads Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, Night Country is must-watch television, and the perfect brand of horror for fans of shows like Twin Peaks.
Interview With The Vampire![Close-up of Lestat de Lioncourt with his face covered in blood in Interview with the Vampire season 2]()
Based on Anne Rice's bestselling novel series The Vampire Chronicles, Interview with the Vampire grafts the classic Gothic romance onto contemporary times. Much like the 1994 film of the same name, the series follows vampires Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), but, refreshingly, the show embraces the source material's queer characters and storylines. Following in season 1's footsteps, Interview with the Vampire's second outing boasts a near-perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes, excelling thanks to its beautiful production design and vividly drawn characters.
