5 Suspenseful TV Shows to Get You in the Mood for Halloween

Listen, I know it’s barely even September, but bear with me here! I love Halloween! Aside from my birthday, it’s my favourite time of the year. *shoves Christmas aside*

And since I’m one of those people who just can’t shut up about the things she loves and feels the need to spread the love for Halloween around, here are my top five TV shows to watch to get yourself in the mood for all things spooky.

1. Harper’s Island

Summary:
Seven years ago, John Wakefield went on a killing spree in the small town of Harper’s Island. He was stopped by Sheriff Charlie Mills, whose wife was one of the victims. In the wake of the tragedy, Sheriff Mills sent his daughter to live with her grandparents in LA. Today, Abby Mills is back to attend her best friend’s wedding, but when the killings begin anew, everyone’s a suspect.

My take:
I’m only on the third episode and so far I am loving it! Suspenseful like nothing else you’ve seen before. I can usually guess what’s going to happen in a horror/mystery/thriller series or movie, but this one has just left me stumped. Remember to inhale while watching because I swear, each episode will have you holding your breath.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 67%

2. Bates Motel

Summary:
Based on the classic horror movie Psycho, this TV show focuses on Norma and Norman Bates’ lives just before they purchase the motel and how they run and maintain it. It also shows us Norman’s slow descent into madness, and Norma’s futile attempts at maintaining a semblance of normalcy for their family.

My take:
I’ve just finished Season 1 and holy mother of God, this show is amazing. I loved Psycho, but we didn’t really get to see too much of Norman Bates and what drove him insane. It’s nice to be shown the history behind one of cinematic history’s most prolific killers.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 89%

3. Masters of Horror

Summary:
An anthology series with each episode featuring a one-hour film directed by a well-known horror film director, Masters of Horror has something for every different kind of horror fan.

My take:
As with any anthology, this is pretty much hit-or-miss, but those episodes which are great are really great. Horror at its finest. My favorite is Pro-Life, directed by John Carpenter of Halloween fame. It’s about a pregnant girl trapped in an abortion clinic who discovers that there are things far more dangerous than the murderous family trying to kill her.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 67%

4. Tales From the Crypt

Summary:
Come on! If you were a kid in the 90s, you should know what this is!

My take:
My favorite episode was The Ventriloquist’s Dummy, otherwise known as one of two contributing factors to why 90s kids are so terrified of wooden dummies. The other is Slappy of Goosebumps fame.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 71%

5. Stranger Things

Summary:
Are you one of those people who has yet to jump onto this classic 80s horror fuelled bandwagon? Well, what are you waiting for? Hop to it! Set in a small town in Indiana in 1983, Stranger Things begins with a 12-year-old boy named Will Byers disappearing. Police Chief Jim Hopper conducts an investigation, while Will’s mother Joyce, his older brother Jonathan, and his friends Lucas, Dustin, and Mike make some interesting discoveries of their own. All the mystery and strangeness seems to center around the sudden appearance of a little girl who says her name is Eleven, and who seems to display terrifying psychokinetic abilities.

My take:
WATCH IT. WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT I DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE WATCH IT.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 90%

Any horror or suspense TV shows you’d like to recommend?