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All streaming services have a catalog of horror TV shows, and HBO Max has a lot of variety in this area. For years, HBO has been home to some of the best TV shows of all time across different genres, with titles like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and more. In 2020, HBO joined the world of streaming with its platform, HBO Max.
The platform has most of HBO’s catalog of movies and TV shows, though some can also be found on other services. Like most streamers, HBO Max also produces its own TV shows, further adding to its already impressive catalog. Of course, HBO Max has a list of horror TV shows, with titles from various subgenres, and some are worth watching at least once.
7
Falling Skies
Falling Skies is a sci-fi horror TV show created by Robert Rodat and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg. Falling Skies takes place six months after the Earth was invaded by aliens, who destroyed all the world’s militaries and killed over 90% of the world’s population. The survivors aren’t safe, either, as the invaders keep killing those they find.
The aliens use mechanical attack drones called “mechs”, controlled by six-legged beings called “Skitters”, with a species known as the Overlords being the engineers and masterminds behind the invasion. Starring in Falling Skies is Noah Wyle as Tom Mason, the leader of a group of survivors fighting against the alien invaders.
Falling Skies is a good mix of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and drama, showing a post-apocalyptic world and an alien invasion without an apparent motive. Thanks to this, Falling Skies explores themes like family, grief, resilience, humanity, and survival, and it’s a great watch for those into sci-fi and horror.
6
Urban Legend
Not to be confused with the movie of the same name. Urban Legend is an anthology horror TV series produced by Eli Roth, and it’s formed by different stories based on urban legends – from organ thieves who steal their date’s organs to someone living in the walls of a house. Urban Legend was only around for one season, so it’s an easy watch.
Urban Legend’s strength is giving a cinematic twist to urban legends, even if the stories themselves don’t offer anything new, as most of these legends are well-known. However, Urban Legend succeeds in building suspense and delivering graphic horror and jumpscares in most of its episodes, but it also has some big flaws.
Some viewers have found the stories in Urban Legend to be predictable, inconsistent, with too many plot holes, and even “cheesy”, but I would argue that all this will depend on each viewer’s experience with the show and the horror genre, in general.
5
30 Coins
Original Title: 30 Monedas
30 Coins is a Spanish mystery horror TV show created by Álex de la Iglesia. 30 Coins follows Father Manuel Vergara (Eduard Fernández), an exorcist and ex-convict living in the small town of Pedraza, in Spain. When paranormal events begin to happen around town, Father Vergara teams up with Paco (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) and Elena (Megan Montaner) to figure out a mystery related to a coin.
The coin is one of the 30 pieces of silver paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus, and this drags Father Vergara, Paco, and Elena into a conspiracy involving the Holy See. Thanks to this, 30 Coins brings together horror, religious themes, sci-fi, and even dark comedy in a multi-layered story.
30 Coins addresses topics like demonology and mythology, with well-developed characters battling their own demons while also dealing with the supernatural. One of 30 Coins’ biggest strengths is its visuals, which are accompanied by a complex and layered story, compelling characters, and an intriguing story.
4
The Outsider
The Outsider is a psychological horror crime drama based on Stephen King’s 2018 novel of the same name. The Outsider introduces the audience to Ralph Anderson (Bill Mendelsohn), a detective and recovering alcoholic struggling with the death of his young son. Anderson is assigned to the case of Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman), a baseball coach arrested for the murder of a young boy.
Anderson is joined by Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo), a brilliant private detective with incredible observational skills and memory. Despite its good critical reception and 91% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Outsider wasn’t picked up for a second season, but that makes it easier to watch.
The Outsider‘s biggest hook is the mystery Anderson and Holly have to solve, which leads to some shocking reveals. The Outsider brings together horror, drama, crime, mystery, and even supernatural elements, and succeeds in building suspense and a sense of dread. The cherry on top is the performances of the main cast, particularly those of Mendelsohn and Erivo.
3
Lovecraft Country
Lovecraft Country is a black horror historical fantasy TV show based on the 2016 novel by Matt Ruff. Lovecraft Country tells the story of Atticus “Tic” Freeman (Jonathan Majors), who served in the Korean War. Back home, Tic reunites with his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance).
Together, they go on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America to find Tic’s father. Not only do they come across the terrors of racism, but also those of terrifying monsters in the horrifying style of those by H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft Country was a critical success, but it was canceled after just one season.
Lovecraft Country has been praised for its blend of horror, sci-fi, and social commentary, as well as for the performances of its main cast. The addition of Lovecraftian horrors makes the show stand out from many other great sci-fi horror TV shows, and it’s also through them that Lovecraft Country explores serious themes like racism, murder, and discrimination.
2
True Blood
One of HBO’s best and most popular horror TV shows is True Blood. Based on the book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, by Charlaine Harris, True Blood is set two years after the invention of a synthetic blood product has allowed vampires to “come out” and become part of society. True Blood follows Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic young woman living in a rural town.
Sookie meets Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a 174-year-old vampire with whom she falls in love. Although vampires are now part of society, they struggle for equal rights and to be accepted, as anti-vampire organizations begin to surface. Thanks to this, True Blood brings together horror, drama, and the exploration of social issues like acceptance, prejudice, and discrimination.
Although it’s not a perfect show (and its final episode is widely regarded among the most controversial finales ever), True Blood is engaging and entertaining, and its biggest hook is its concept of humans and vampires freely coexisting, along with the issues this creates.
1
The Last of Us
One of HBO’s best horror TV shows is also one of its best shows ever. Based on the video game franchise of the same name, The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama TV series set many years after society’s collapse following a mass fungal infection. This turned the infected into zombie-like creatures, forcing the rest to take extreme measures to survive.
The first two seasons follow Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they travel across the United States, fighting for their survival. The Last of Us has succeeded thanks to its narrative and visual quality, world-building, complex characters, strong performances, and its loyalty to the video game.
The Last of Us blends horror, sci-fi, and drama in a way that will appeal even to those not into the horror genre. The Last of Us is surprisingly deep and emotional, too, making it stand out from most horror shows and contributing to its success.
