10 Great Horror TV Shows That Will Crush Your Soul

Great horror series regularly explore petrifying concepts like serial killers, alien invasions, or supernatural forces. 

However, the creepiest tales tend to put a lot more focus on the human experience. In situations like this, the ensemble aren't just dealing with monsters, but existential dread or survivor's guilt. Even when there are zombies or vampires running amok it's only a matter of time before humanity themselves are at each others' throats.

Worst of all, the story can conclude with little to no catharsis whatsoever (especially if it gets cancelled before tying up all the loose ends). The evil in question may never be truly vanquished, so there's a noticeable absence of closure, for the characters or the audience. Even if there's violence and gore aplenty, watching an ensemble that we've grown attached to give up or betray one another tends to be more impactful

Even if these TV shows wrap things up with a happy ending, the lead characters are often left irreparably wounded, either physically or psychologically.

The ten entries on this list are absolutely worth checking out, but they're not for the faint of heart.

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.