10 Great Horror TV Shows That Will Crush Your Soul

10. Penny Dreadful

Inspired by spooky short stories from the Victorian era, John Logan's dark fantasy has Frankenstein joining forces with a medium and gunslinger to battle paranormal threats in 19th century London.

Rather than focusing on the sensationalism of the source material, this show indulges in the pessimistic and macabre aspects. Our heroes fight against witches, vampires, and other creatures of the night, but they're also dealing with poverty, disease, and prejudice, which adds to the realism. 

On top of that, Penny Dreadful does a great job at humanising the most inhumane characters. Even though there are times where Frankenstein's Creature and Ethan the werewolf behave like villains, they didn't ask for the life they have, so it's heartbreaking to see what they must endure. 

Although uplifting moments are expected in even the most depressing tales, Penny Dreadful harbours little relief. Any time there's a moment of romance, humour, or hope, it's quickly dashed, reminding viewers this isn't that kind of story. 

Not only does redemption barely feature, the characters regularly question whether they can be redeemed. No matter how hard the group tries to atone, they find themselves pulled back into the darkness over and over.