10 best shows to watch on Shudder right now

Get in the Halloween spirit with Shudder's creepiest, most binge-worthy horror series

10 best shows to watch on Shudder right now
James Remar in Creepshow; Francesca Henry in A Discovery Of Witches; Channel Zero Photo: Richard Ducree/Shudder; Simon Ridgway/AMCN/SkyUK; SYFY

Shudder is a veritable wonderland for horror fans. Owned by AMC Networks, the streamer is a hotspot for all kinds of creepy, gory, and paranormal fare. And naturally, there’s no better time to binge its finest shows—both originals and gems from elsewhere—than during Halloween month. There’s a lot to choose from, including the campy slasher Chucky, spooky imports like A Discovery Of Witches, and some fascinating docuseries. Here are The A.V. Club’s 10 favorite shows on the platform, listed in alphabetical order.

The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments Of All Time
The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time - Official Trailer [HD] | A Shudder Original

Stars: , Kate Siegel, Edgar Wright, Alexandra Essoe, Greg Nicotero, Joe Lo Truglio, David Dastmalchian, Andy MuschiettiOriginal network: Shudder (2022)Seasons available on Shudder: 1 is a pretty self-explanatory title, right? The impressive eight-episode docuseries features interviews with notable horror directors, writers, and actors as they unpack some of the genre’s most famous (and infamous) scary scenes. For fans of horror, there is no better way to dig deep into years and years’ worth of movies that have left an indelible mark on the genre.

Channel Zero
CHANNEL ZERO | Season 1 Trailer | SYFY

Stars: Fiona Shaw, Paul Schneider, Amy Forsyth, Aisha Dee, Luisa D’Oliveira, John Caroll Lynch, Brandon Scott, Gregg Henry, Steven WeberOriginal network: SYFY (2016-2018)Seasons available on Shudder: 4 is a horror anthology from Nick Antosca, who went on to co-produce NBC’s and create Peacock’s true-crime series . Each six-episode season is generated using popular online stories, a.k.a. “creepypastas,” and features an entirely different cast and tale. (Think topics like serial killers and haunted houses.) Channel Zero almost feels like minus the camp and with an added dose of genuine scares.

Chucky
Chucky Season 1 Trailer 2 | Rotten Tomatoes TV

Stars: Brad Dourif, Zackary Arthur, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Björgvin Arnarson, Devon Sawa, Jennifer Tilly, Fiona DourifOriginal network: SYFY (2021-present)Seasons available on Shudder: 2You would think Don Mancini’s , which debuted in 1988, would grow tiresome by now. But Mancini finds a fresh and funny way to update the story with , which follows everyone’s favorite ruthless killer doll as he makes suburban New Jersey, a Catholic school, and . It’s equal parts gruesome and hilarious, and there’s nothing not to love here. (Season three is currently airing on SYFY.)  

Creepshow
Creepshow: Season 4's Terrifying Trailer 💀 Shudder

Stars: Giancarlo Esposito, D’Arcy Carden, David Arquette, James Remar, Adam Pally, Anna Camp, Justin Long, Reid Scott, Michael Rooker, Barbara CramptonOriginal network: Shudder (2019-present)Seasons available on Shudder: 4, a continuation the (that also takes inspiration form the Creepshow comics) pays homage to horror notables like Stephen King, Joe Hill, ’s John Malerman, and ’s Greg Nicotero. Each episode of the series contains roughly two grim tales, maintaining the spirit of the original while still charting its own creepy course.  

A Discovery Of Witches
A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES Official Trailer (HD) Teresa Palmer Fantasy

Stars: Matthew Goode, Terese Palmer, Edward Bluemel, Alex Kingston, Owen Teale, Louise Brealey, Daniel EzraOriginal network: Sky One (2018-2022)Seasons available on Shudder: 3 The surprisingly sexy and dramatic series centers on historian Diana Bishop (Palmer), whose discovery of a witchy manuscript leads to unexpected secrets about various magical creatures. She teams up with a vampire, Matthew Clairmont (Goode), to protect this book and its mysteries from the supernatural world. The show primarily works because of the electric chemistry between the two leads, along with a healthy serving of classic witch-vampire rivalries.

Eli Roth’s History Of Horror
Eli Roth’s History of Horror - Official Trailer [HD] | A Shudder Exclusive Series

Stars: Stephen King, Robert Englund, Quentin Tarantino, Rob Zombie, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Blum, Greg Nicotero, Jack Black, Jordan PeeleOriginal network: Shudder (2018-2021)Seasons available on Shudder: 3Yes, of course, has his own documentary series on Shudder. He produces and hosts History Of Horror, which features some of the genre’s most defining names discussing the rise of everything from slashers to zombies pics. Along the way, they break down why audiences connect with horror, how the genre reflects the state of society, and what fans can expect next.

The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs
The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs: Halloween (1978) | Official Trailer | Shudder

Original network: Shudder (2018-present)Seasons available on Shudder: 5 hosts the variety special , which has already aired five seasons and a whopping 20 specials on Shudder. In each episode, he delves into some of his favorite films, like Halloween, Hellraiser, The Hills Have Eyes, Phantasm, C.H.U.D., A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, and Black Christmas. Basically, it’s like a late-night show devoted to horror, with drop ins from Barbara Crampton, David Gordon Green, Reggie Bannister, Felissa Rose, and others.  

Queer For Fear (Shudder: 2022)
Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror - Official Trailer (2022)

Stars: Carmen Maria Machado, Leslye Headland, Justin Simien, Mark Gattis, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Lea DeLariaOriginal network: Shudder (2022)Seasons available on Shudder: 1This essential four-part docuseries examines the queer-coded aspects of the horror genre, especially in noted works like Frankenstein, Dracula, and all things Alfred Hitchcock. It also delves into gothic fiction, vampire stories, body switching, and the depiction of the LGBTQ+ community in popular films, offering insights from celebs and artists.

Slasher
Slasher: Ripper | Official Trailer | Shudder

Stars: Steve Byers, Christopher Jacot, Joanne Vannicola, Paula Brancati, Mercedes Morris, Lisa Berry, Eric McCormackOriginal network: Shudder (2021-present)Seasons available on Shudder: 2Netflix’s loss is Shudder’s gain in the case of . The former let go of the Canadian horror series after three seasons, so Shudder picked it up for two more. (Only those last two are available to stream here). anthology follows a different masked killer in each season. The fourth, titled Flesh & Blood, feels like a combination of and , while season five, Ripper, is a gothic 19th century tale.

 
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