10 Best Slasher Horror TV Shows
Want more gore? Here's slashers galore!
Slasher films hold an undeniably important place in the horror canon. From the inspired origins of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, to the golden age of the genre that spawned iconic franchises like Halloween, A Nightmare On Elm Street, and Scream, and now modern classics such as Ti West's X, these gory blockbusters have captivated horror fans and earned dedicated cult followings thanks to their unique, adrenaline-fueled terror.
Sadly, this particular flavour of fear seems to have struggled to translate to the small screen, with the majority of long-form horror taking a more insidious, supernatural approach to fit the more drawn out format. It’s an obvious gap in horror programming that leaves film fans who wish the suspense and shock of their favourite masked villains lasted more than a 120-minute run time waiting impatiently for the next instalment.
Despite this, some slasher gems have made it onto our TVs, and we’ve collected the best of the bunch for your reading and viewing pleasure.
Here, then, are ten such small screen offerings that tick plentiful boxes for horror hounds looking to get their slasher fix in TV land.
10. Dead Of Summer
Released in 2016, supernatural slasher Dead Of Summer was produced in order to coincide with its network ABC Family’s rebranding to Freeform, as a spearhead for a slate of more serious, young adult focused programming. Unfortunately, this appearance on a seemingly new and unfamiliar channel meant that few horror aficionados actually saw it.
The lack of viewership for the show is a shame, as it capitalises on some of the best slasher nostalgia - with a late eighties summer camp setting, a well-acted collection of scared and stunning teenagers, and a mysterious killer on the loose. Admittedly, the drama is schlocky, but lean into the silliness and as the first season progresses you will discover twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Though intended to be an anthology series, with second and third seasons reliving similar settings with new casts set in the 1970s and 2000s respectively, Dead Of Summer was cancelled after its first outing. Still, the show proves an enjoyable watch, and would certainly provide a worthy snack for the seasoned slasher fan.