Cancel your Halloween plans to binge these horrifying shows

Reader, beware, you’re in for a scare… (Credits: Chad Scott) Cancel your Halloween plans to binge these horrifying shows The spooky season is in full swing, and the Hallowtide, the scariest time of the year, is upon us. Yes, it’s Halloween, and as the dark creeps in, thousands of people across the world will be dressing as monsters, ghouls, and … probably the girl from Obsession… before heading out into the night to make mischief. But be warned! It’s cold out there; wouldn’t you rather stay home and be warmed by the glow of the TV? Honestly, you’re better off staying in and enjoying something spooky. But what small screen horrors should you choose? Well, some people would take the easy way out and recommend Carrie because it’s at the top of the streaming charts, but we won’t be doing that (And not just because we didn’t think Carrie was all that). Here at Metro Towers, we’re putting in the extra effort to bring you a suitably spooky list of the best horror shows you can watch tonight. Just don’t blame us if you have nightmares… IT: Welcome to Derry To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If you ever watched Stranger Things and found yourself thinking, ‘I’d like this a lot more if these kids got eaten,’ then IT: Welcome to Derry is the perfect show for you. A gory, gruesome, and ghoulish prequel to the IT movies, this creepy little show follows a new group of children as they investigate strange and sinister goings-on in Derry, which all seem to involve a certain clown with far too many teeth. Incredibly violent and quite horrible in the best possible way, this shocking show is perfect for horror hounds who like their scares grislier than a school trip to a slaughterhouse. IT: Welcome to Derry is streaming now on HBO Max. Inside No. 9. Welcome inside.. (Picture: BBC / Sophie Mutevelian) An anthology series from the warped minds of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, watching Inside No. 9 is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get next. Some of the stories are funny, some are sad, and others are so out there they could be floating in space. Still, each and every tale Steve and Reece tell has something of the uncanny (no, not the podcast) about it that makes it the perfect treat this Halloween season. Be warned, though, once you go Inside No .9 you may never leave… Inside No. 9 is streaming now on BBC iPlayer. Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace He knows writers who use subtext… (Picture: Channel 4 Picture Publicity) If you like your thrills more than a duck wearing a tie (silly duck, you’re going to get it all wet), then might we recommend Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace? A parody of 80s soap operas with a horror twist, this delightfully dark (hence the name) comedy follows author and dreamweaver Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holdness) as he presents footage of his ‘radical’ TV series Darkplace, which tells the story of Dr Rick Dagless, M.D. (Also, Holdness) who battles evil forces invading a hospital built over the ‘gates of Hell’… in Romford. Yes, it’s a show within a show, but trust me when I say you’ve never seen anything quite like Darkplace. It cannot be described, only experienced. Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is streaming now on Channel 4. Widow’s Bay I promise there’s a witch (Picture: Apple TV+ via AP) A relatively new show but arguably one everyone should be talking about, Widow’s Bay is a black comedy set in the eponymous town. This is no ordinary New England locale, though. A dark curse placed on the town draws in all sorts of evil spooks, and it’s up to Mayor Tom Loftis to save the day (I wonder if he knew that when he took the job?). Outlandish and spooky Widow’s Bay will have you crying with laughter one moment and weeping with fear the next. Just don’t blame me if you get a fear of the open sea after watching. Widow’s Bay is streaming now on Apple TV. Chucky To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Chucky, the TV series, has no right to be as good as it is. This weird spin-off from the Child’s Play saga is a direct sequel to the Cult of Chucky movie (No, I didn’t see it either) and you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just another schlocky cash-in… but it’s not. The Chucky show is a surprisingly introspective series that balances the murderous charm of the first three films with a story about identity and sexuality in the modern era. Did I expect to write that about a show starring a killer doll possessed by the spirit of a vicious serial killer? No, but here we are. Chucky is available to buy on Prime Video. The Haunting of Hill House To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It wasn’t a question of ‘if’ a Mike Flanagan show would appear on this list; it was a question of ‘which’ Mike Flanagan show would appear on this list, but to be honest, you can’t really go wrong with any of Mike’s series. From Bly Manor to The Fall of the House of Usher (and even Carrie), Big Mike knows how to send a chill down the spine of TV viewers. Still, if you could only pick one show, it would be The Haunting of Hill House, the series that arguably made him an icon of the small screen. This twisted adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name puts a clever spin on the classic tale that’s full of so many twists and turns (as well as hidden, terrifying ghosts); it’ll leave you with a bent neck. The Haunting of Hill House is streaming now on Netflix. Creep Tapes To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Creep movies are sensational, unsettling found footage movies about a serial killer who lures victims into his life, films their time together, and then brutally murders them while wearing a wolf mask; he calls Peach Fuzz. They’re very odd films, but also very scary, and unsurprisingly, the anthology show based on the movies is just as disturbing. Each episode follows a different Peach Fuzz victim and somehow manages to be as darkly funny and tense as the original films. The Creep Tapes are streaming now on Shudder. Crystal Lake To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video While watching any of the Friday the 13th films, did you ever see Jason Voorhees and wonder, ‘What’s his story?’ Well, if you did, then you’ll love Crystal Lake, a fun if slightly unnecessary prequel TV show that explains how Crystal Lake got such a bloody reputation (Can you tell I’m trying to avoid spoilers). Think of it as like an evil version of Young Sheldon, where you see how the famous Friday the 13th killer got a taste for blood and what pushed them to start killing frisky teens. Crystal Lake is available to watch now on NOW. 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