It’s spooky season, which means it’s time to kick back, relax, and get into the mood with some classic horror movies and TV shows. It’s easy to get lost in the endless volume of choices, covering every single scary concept imaginable, so it’s hard to know what to pick. When it comes to TV shows, the 1990s produced a surprising amount of them, many of which are still remembered fondly.
Some of these shows might be anthology series, which have no overarching or consistent narrative, whereas others might be miniseries, or standard shows that tell a single story. But whatever the format, they’re brilliant all the same.These are the best horror shows of the 1990s, which provide spooky throwbacks to one of horror’s greatest eras.
10’Goosebumps' (1995-1998)
Created by R. L. Stine
AuthorR. L. Stineis the writer of theGoosebumpsseries of novels, an iconic collection of various horror stories intended for a younger audience. In the 1990s, there were a couple of different horror shows coming out geared towards this same audience, so, naturally, Stine sort of jumped on the bandwagon and had a direct hand in the creation of theGoosebumpsTV series, which adapted several of his written works for kids' television.
To be completely honest, the quality of the show can be kind of lacking at times, but that’s to be expected for what it is. It’s a great little introduction to horror for kids, especially if said kids aren’t keen on reading much. But above all, it earns some points for its nostalgia factor, which it certainly has a lot of. Itreeks of the 1990s, but this actually works out for the better in the end.
Goosebumps
9’The Shining' (1997)
Directed by Mick Garris
It’s well-known thatStephen King was absolutely not a fanofStanley Kubrick’s 1980 filmThe Shining. King has been pretty open about the adaptation of his work, even though this movie is widely regarded as the superior version. Luckily, King did give the seal of approval to the 1997 miniseries. Sure, most horror fans probably won’t love it as much as the movie, but it’s a different take on the story that is still enjoyable.
Like with the movie, it’s about a family who gets snowed in at their hotel retreat and begins to feel the effects of cabin fever. Among them is a father, who turns into a killer intent on slaying everyone in the building, and his son, who has a paranormal gift known as the Shining. The miniseries might lackJack Nicholson’s signature charm as the main character, butthis show is perfect if you’re looking for a more faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s original novel.
The Shining
Buy on Amazon
8’American Gothic' (1995-1996)
Created by Shaun Cassidy
American Gothictakes place in a fictional town in South Carolina, wherein a young boy discovers that his biological father is the town’s corrupt sheriff, who has an affinity for murder and abuse. Worse still, this sheriff is able to get away with his nefarious crimes due to his supernatural powers, which cause everyone in town to bend to his will out of fear of what he might do.
American Gothicwas nominated, but ultimately snubbed of an Emmy award, and was received pretty well overall, with critics praising it for its creepiness and its social commentaries about corrupt governments and evil within law enforcement agencies. Little-known fun fact: DirectorSam Raimiactually served as co-executive producer forAmerican Gothic, so there is some of his signature flair contained within. This, andits relatively underground status has turned it into a modern cult classic that should not be ignored.
American Gothic
7’Eerie, Indiana' (1991-1993)
Created by José Rivera and Karl Schaefer
Eerie, Indianatakes place in the fictional town of the same name, where a teenager moves with his family. He finds that most of the townsfolk are very bizarre, and befriends the only normal person there. The two find themselves on a series of strange adventures ranging from the spiritual to the sci-fi, with a little bit of horror mixed in of course.
The series sort of blurs the line between an anthology series and one with an overarching narrative, and tackles a lot of odd, yet admittedly creative concepts. There are talking dogs, Bigfoot, aliens, and evenElvis Presley, who is somehow still alive.Eerie, Indianais a showthat is certainly like no other, but unfortunately, that isn’t going to appeal to everyone.
Eerie, Indiana
6’The Stand' (1994)
The Standis another miniseries that is once again based on the works of horror maestro Stephen King.The Standis actually directed byMick Garris, the exact same guy who directedThe Shiningminiseries. However, the former is quite a bit better than the latter. Turns out Stephen King adaptations were kind of a big deal in the 1990s.
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland after a deadly virus is accidentally unleashed from a military facility. The remaining survivors divide themselves into two groups, one led by a demon-like entity, and another by a wise elder. They prepare to face off in the final battle between light and darkness. It’s not the best horror miniseries ever made, but it’sone that has a really unique and interesting story, and that examines human behavior after the end of the world.
Rent on Amazon
5’Are You Afraid of the Dark?' (1992-2022)
Created by D. J. MacHale and Ned Kandel
Are You Afraid of the Dark?is the 90s seriesthat started it all. This was the first real horror anthology show that was intended entirely for kids and featured primarily child actors. No other TV series had really tried this before, and it proved to be a smash hit. Each episode follows the Midnight Society, a group of pre-teens who gather every night to tell spooky stories around the campfire. Ask any adult who remembers this show, and they will likely tell you that some of the episodes are genuinely frightening, even in adulthood.
Are You Afraid of the Dark?is riddled with 90s cheese, but that’s exactly why people love it. It’s nostalgic, bringing 90s kids back to a time when things were simpler, and providing some chilling horror stories at the same time. The series was even revived once or twice, which was definitely warranted. The bottom line, though, isthat this show is everything thatGoosebumpstried to be, and no other show has been able to do it so well since.
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
4’It' (1990)
Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace
The recentItmovies starringBill Skarsgårdas Pennywise the Clown are very good in their own right, but there’s just something about the original miniseries starringTim Currythat hits a little bit differently.Pennywise is just as scary as always, only he is made this way using practical effects rather than CGI. Curry is known for his eccentric or bizarre roles, so this proved to be a perfect fit for him, and he brings a new malevolence to the killer clown that no other actor could have delivered.
It’s true that the recent movies are overall better thanks to the advancement of film technology, but the miniseries is still a really good bit of television that doesn’t get all the attention that it deserves anymore.Out of all the Stephen King miniseries out there, this one is definitely among the greatestfor its portrayal of one of the most frightening monsters in fiction.
Rent on Apple TV
3’Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1997-2003)
Created by Joss Whedon
Buffy the Vampire Slayeris a little creepy, but not downright scary, and is one of the most iconic staples of the 1990s. Despite not being very scary, there are still plenty of horror elements, namely, the vampires, as implied by the title. The story follows a teenager named Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who, as the name indicates, has a job as a professional vampire hunter.
It seems like a campy teen romance or drama at first, but it quickly enthralled audiences from all different age groups with its complex and heartfelt plotlines, as well as its supernatural elements.The series proved so successful that it inspired multiple spin-offs and sequels, but as with literally anything that gets a similar treatment, the original just can’t be beaten.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
2’Twin Peaks' (1990-1991)
Created by Mark Frost and David Lynch
Twin Peaksis a short-lived sci-fi thriller show co-directed byDavid Lynch, who is sort of known for his thriller movies, especially when it comes to surreal horror. As one can expect,Twin Peaksis full of surrealism and is an experimental and mind-bending foray into television offering befuddling plotlines and visuals. It can be a turn-off for some people, which is understandable, but for others, it was an absolute masterpiece that wasn’t given the time that it deserved.
Following a murder mystery,Twin Peaksis littered with gallows humor, tongue-in-cheek irony, and some really weird moments that are so off-the-wall and strange that it’s a little unsettling.Yet it’s remained a classic for as long as it’s been around, and is one of the most essential things to watchwhen it comes to understanding director David Lynch’s signature style.
Twin Peaks
1’The X-Files' (1993-2018)
Created by Chris Carter
The X-Filesis known for so much more than its highly-memeable theme song. This series was received with nothing but praise, prompting a revival or two many years later. The series follows two government agents investigating a series of strange and bizarre occurrences, eventually leading them to multiple forms of extra-terrestrial life, which have been hidden away from the general public.
The sci-fi thriller has become known as among the best shows of all time, never mind the best of its genre, and was a trademark of the 1990s that never gets old. The horror in it is absolutely sublime, preferring to lean towards conspiracy theories and behind-the-scenes scares rather than being obvious and loud.The X-Filesis a show thatworks brilliantly, and that has earned every bit of praise it gets.
