10 Best TV Shows Like Midnight Mass

5. The Strain

Evil 2019
FX

Guillermo del Toro’s vampire-horror TV series. Enough said.

If somehow, that isn’t enough to glue you to the couch for a 46 episode binge-watch, the FX series draws unmistakable parallels to Midnight Mass beyond the subject matter. The Strain begins with a plane landing in New York, everyone onboard is apparently dead; the cause of the phenomenon is revealed to be a viral outbreak that bears a salient resemblance to vampirism. The series protagonist, along with their co-workers at the CDC fight the burgeoning pandemic, trying to prevent vampires from spreading to infect the rest of the world.

Sounding a little familiar? Inside and out, Midnight Mass treads a lot of the same ground as The Strain but is by no means a copycat. Both series bring a uniquely scientific approach to classical vampirism, analyzing its mythology under a microscope. Approaching horror from this angle lends a palpable verisimilitude to the fantasy, even praying on newer pandemic-centric fears. The strain manipulates feelings of isolation, paranoia, and mistrust that the world now knows all too well.

The Strain, like Midnight Mass, toes the line between archetypal horror and authentic trepidation. For those hungry for a grounded and sparkle-free display of blood-sucking, one which begs the question of how the world would organically react to Dracula, The Strain may be what you’re looking for.

Contributor
Contributor

Dan is a writer and actor originally from South Australia who now lives in a constant state of anxiety... and Los Angeles. Whether writing about movies, watching movies, or binging the Great British Bake-off, Dan approaches any endeavour with a steely resolve which is rivalled only by his ability to lie about his strengths. For professional inquiries, call Melissa Cropley - Dan's mum; she wishes he would call more often and you'd really be doing him a favour.