The 10 Scariest Horror Anthology TV Shows

There's something about horror that makes it a natural fit for the anthology format. From the days of yore when ye olde folks would tell each other ghost stories around the fire, the horror genre arguably works best in short bursts – just enough to build up a sense of dread and then wallop the audience with a big scare at the end. Many horror movies have adopted the anthology format over the years and yielded terrific (or terrifying) results – from 1982’s Creepshow to 2007’s Trick ‘r Treat. Yet, there is something to be said for TV making better use out of the format. A horror anthology TV show can serve up a different horror story each week (or each season, in more modern examples), offering more than the usual three or four that an anthology movie can manage. Here, then, are our picks for the 10 best horror anthology series of all-time, stretching all the way back from television’s early days to right here in the present. 10) Masters Of Horror 2005’s Masters of Horror sported a brilliant central hook for an anthology show. As the title suggests, every episode was made by one of the biggest directors in horror filmmaking paired with one its biggest writers. In the revolving door of the director’s chair, there was everyone from John Carpenter to John Landis, while the writers included Hellraiser’s Clive Barker and legendary sci-fi/horror novelist Richard Matheson. Plus, some episodes were based on the works of the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. With mainly cinematic talent behind the scenes, it was a show that borrowed much more from the tradition of horror movies than horror TV shows. For instance, where lesser-budgeted series might prefer suspense, Masters – with a sizeable sum behind it thanks to premium cable network Showtime - went all out in giving its audience slashers and monster movies that were full of gratuitous violence, nudity and gore. Though the show only lasted a relatively short 26 episodes over two seasons, Masters of Horror is most definitely a much watch for aficionados of the genre. 9) Are You Afraid Of The Dark? If you grew up in the 1990s, chances are that you remember this Canadian children’s horror show all too well. R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps – a similar-themed show that also ran through the decade - is probably the more famous of the two, but AYAOTD is generally considered to be the scarier one. Originally running from 1991-1996, with the concept revived for one final season in 1999, the show gave its viewers endless nightmares with atmospheric stories that eschewed the usual clear-cut moral messages you would expect for something aimed at a younger audience. Kids' television has never been so frightening since, and likely never will again – what with changing opinions about what's suitable for younger audiences. Obviously, Are You Afraid of the Dark is not as scary to us now that we’re all grown up, but it nonetheless thoroughly deserves its place for acting as an introduction to the horror genre for a generation of children. Just watch the chilling opening sequence above and tell us it doesn’t bring back a wave of long-repressed terror. 8) Tales From The Crypt The Tales From the Crypt franchise is one of the oldest horror anthologies around and has endured over the years in a variety of different mediums. Originally a pre-code comic book from EC Comics that was as beloved by its young readers as it was hated by conservative adults, Crypt eventually inspired a movie version in 1972. Finally, in 1989 HBO created a TV series around the premise, which is now the most familiar iteration for modern audiences. Lasting for seven seasons, Tales from the Crypt gleefully recreated the no-holds-barred nature of the comics by featuring levels of profanity, sex and gore that were unprecedented for TV at the time. It was genuinely creepy, too, and is most remembered today for the wraparounds segments that starred the Cryptkeeper – a wizened, pun-filled ghoulie played by John Kassir. That and the litany of famous faces who appeared over the years – including Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael J. Fox. Recently, it was revealed that M. Night Shyamalan is working on a new version of the show - let's hope he can capture the anarchic spirit of the original. 7) Night Gallery Rod Serling is the king of horror anthology shows. Not only did he create The Twilight Zone, but five years after that series finished he managed to follow it up with a similar show that is almost just as fondly remembered. Night Gallery's famous linking narrative (as memorably parodied in one of The Simpsons’ Halloween specials) saw Serling explain the macabre story behind one of the peculiar paintings in the titular Night Gallery. Despite his heavy involvement on screen and behind it, though, Serling didn’t have the same level of creative control that he did on The Twilight Zone. As such, Night Gallery largely lacked the psychological and sociological themes of its predecessor. Instead, it ramped up the horror element to make up for it. Unusually, Night Gallery squeezed several stories into each episode (at least, for its first two seasons – season 3 mostly reverted to the traditional Twilight Zone format). While this meant that some segments were more fleshed-out than others, the show still usually hit the mark. 6) Inside No.9 This British series - which is expected to return for a third season soon - is mostly flying under the radar in comparison to the other, glitzier anthology shows on TV at the moment. This is a great shame, as it's one of the finest examples of the format that we’ve seen. Starring and written by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith (most known as two thirds of dark sketch show The League of Gentlemen), every episode of Inside No. 9 is set in a different number nine, be it a gothic mansion, train carriage, flat or barn. The tone varies as much as its setting, with some episodes being thrillers or comedies or even touching dramas. As such, it would be disingenuous to call Inside No. 9 a straight-up horror show, but it's certainly a dark, macabre and frequently disturbing one. In particular, it's a must-watch for fans of those so-called “bottle episodes” of TV shows, which get a maximum amount of drama from a single location and minimal amount of characters. 5) American Horror Story Ask anyone to name a horror anthology show and they'll most likely first think of American Horror Story. The Ryan Murphy-created series has made such a mark on television that it’s redefined the anthology show format – ushering in a new age of the anthology miniseries that also includes True Detective and American Crime Story, As you'll probably already know, AHS doesn’t offer a new story every week but changes the setting and cast of characters each season. Its MO is simple; the writers take a well-worn horror setting and spin their own crazy take on it. Be it a haunted house, a mental asylum, a creepy hotel or a freak show. The only connective tissue between the wholly different storylines are a repertoire of recurring actors – such as Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Katy Bates, Jessica Lange and, most recently, Lady Gaga. Due to the nature of the show, some years are more successful than others, but AHS always offers a unique blend of disturbing, surreal and psychosexual horror that makes it perhaps the strangest hit show currently on the air. 4) Alfred Hitchcock Presents In seminal movies like Psycho and The Birds, so-called master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock brilliantly walked the tightrope between horror and thriller. It worked to such winning effect in those movies that Hitchcock’s oeuvre spawned a similarly-styled TV show – one of the first anthology series ever made. Running from 1955 to 1962 (known as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour in its later years), Hitchcock himself was actually heavily involved with the show – directing numerous episodes and, of course, introducing every one of them himself. With Hitch’s oversight – plus the additional talent of the likes of Norman Lloyd and Robert Altman – Presents was an incredibly consistent show over its 360 episodes, with many iconic moments seeping into popular culture. Much like the man’s movies, the series never dabbled in the supernatural or overt horror techniques, but with its mix of murder, mystery and shocks it still produced many terror-filled hours of television. In fact, there's even a strong case to be made for Alfred Hitchcock Presents being the first great TV series ever made. 3) The Outer Limits On the other hand, The Outer Limits was one anthology show that fully embraced the horror genre. Most of these anthology shows we have mentioned liked to shake up the tones and styles each episode. Not this one. The name of the game for The Outer Limits was to make the viewer wet their pants every single week. Often compared (probably unfairly) with The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits didn’t really go in for parables like that show and was instead content to deliver bold and suspenseful entertainment. Also unlike Zone, it remained firmly in the realm of science fiction - but it mined it to the hilt for horror and scares. Its blend of the two genres would reverberate down the years, paving the way for later series like The X-Files. Of particular note when it comes to The Outer Limits is the artistic direction, which was a cut above just about every other piece of television at the time and has really helped the series age well. 2) Black Mirror Black Mirror isn’t strictly a horror show - we'll admit that right off the bat. Really, it’s hard to define. With each episode offering an alternate version of our present or the near-future where some new invention has been misused by humanity, it’s basically science fiction, but with a scary bent that allows it a place on this list. Unlike other sci-fi anthology The Outer Limits, the emphasis here is more on existential horror. Black Mirror doesn’t necessarily frighten you personally, but it will leave you terrified for the fate of the world at large. By drawing on things that are very familiar in our own modern world – smartphones, data clouds or virtual reality – and then giving them a dark twist, Black Mirror is arguably scarier than usual 'ghosts and gore' horror shows. With its move to Netflix for its third season, Black Mirror is getting stronger and stronger. The future might be rubbish, but at least it’s being documented in a great TV show. 1) The Twilight Zone There's one show that's been mentioned numerous times throughout this list – and there's a very good reason for that. Though it wasn’t the first horror anthology show out there and there have been many more stylish and flashier ones since then, The Twilight Zone is – and possibly will always be – the king of anthology television. With its mix of big ideas, science fiction and straight-up scares, it's a series that perfectly encapsulates all that horror anthology series can offer. From the eerie intro to Rod Serling’s opening and closing narration, The Twilight Zone sends a chill down your spine and gives you a lot of food for thought as well. Despite being seeped in Cold War paranoia and the other issues of the time, Twilight Zone remains as smart and scary as it’s ever been. Sure, the make-up and effects might be dated now, but the show’s knack for psychological horror still packs a punch all these years later. All of the series listed here are terrific, terrifying entertainment, but if you watch just one anthology show, make sure your next stop is this one.