15 Best Horror TV Series

Mike Flanagan is one of the most promising figures in modern horror. Gerald's Game, Oculus, Hush and the polarising Doctor Sleep all demonstrate his affinity for the genre; but Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House is his crowning achievement, so far.

Shirley Jackson's fantastic novel was famously adapted by Robert Wise in 1963 as the equally spectacular The Haunting, and considerably less successfully in 1999's appalling remake. Far surpassing everyone's expectations, the series respectfully takes liberties with the source material and very nearly manages to match the brilliance of Wise's film.

The series' primary strength is its suberbly written and fleshed-out characters. We're equally as invested in the Crain family as we are in the supernatural occurrences. The story alternating between past and present provided a great character building opportunity, and Flanagan takes full advantage. The cast, too, are absolutely solid. Even the child actors are impressively believable as younger versions of their adult counterparts. The standout performance, though, has to be Carla Gugino as Olivia Crain, the family's first victim of the house's toying malevolence.

In terms of genuine scares, The Haunting of Hill House must surely rank as one of the most successful horror TV series ever made. Even the jump scares (and there are more than a few) aren't cheap cheats: the scare continues to linger after the momentary jolt. That's a skill that not many modern horror filmmakers have figured out how to pull off.

Also, have a go at a little game of 'spot the ghost'. They crop up regularly in various shots throughout, partially concealed or out of focus. Perhaps that's a game for a repeat viewing.

Thankfully series two is on the way, entitled "The Haunting of Bly Manor" (an adaptation of The Turn of the Screw). There's no reason this new season shouldn't be as fantastic as Hill House. Let's just hope that it's more competently made than this year's The Turning. Fingers crossed.