In dictionary terms, paranormal denotes to events or phenomena such as telekinesis or clairvoyance that are beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Us, humans are a curious lot by inherent nature. Hence, it comes as no surprise that all things paranormal (including and especially God) feel so interesting. Exactly why, more often than not, horror films end up being the highest grossers of the year. That and superhero films, of course. Through the establishments of online media streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon, there’s been a surge in the quantity of visual media content over the last few years. With that said, here’s the list of really good paranormal shows on Netflix that are available to stream right now:
10. The Walking Dead (2010-present)
‘The Walking Dead’ is undisputedly the biggest supernatural undertaking in recent television history. Developed by Frank Darabont, it is an American post-apocalyptic horror television series based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. The series features a large ensemble cast as survivors of the zombie apocalypse, trying to stay alive under near constant threat of attacks from the mindless zombies colloquially known in the show as “walkers”. Exceedingly successful since its premiere, ‘The Walking Dead’ has spurred spin-off series like ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. Beginning with its third season, the show has attracted the most 18-49 year old viewers of any cable or broadcast television series, though viewership has declined in the latter seasons. It has been nominated for several awards including the Writers Guild of America Award for New Series, and the Golden globe award for Best Television Series – Drama.
9. Santa Clarita Diet (2017-present)
Created by Victor Fresco, ‘San Clarita Diet’ is a Netflix Original horror-comedy web television series. Starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, the single camera series premiered on February 3, 2017 and has received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the cast and the premise. Excessive number of graphic scenes shown in the program has, however, been subject to some criticism. The show follows the suburban real estate agents Joel and Sheila Hammond in Santa Clarita, California. The couple face a series of obstacles when Sheila has a physical transformation into a zombie, and starts craving human flesh. Although supportive of Sheila in her troubled times, Joel and the family have to deal with neighbors, cultural norms and getting to the bottom of a potentially mythological creature.
8. Hemlock Grove (2013-2015)
Produced by horror film director Eli Roth, whom you may remember as The Bear Jew in ‘Inglourious Bastards’, the Netflix Original ‘Hemlock Grove’ is a horror web television series. The show examines the strange happenings in Hemlock Grove, a fictional town in Pennsylvania. Roman Godfrey, heir to the town’s wealthy Godfrey family, befriends the town’s newcomer, Peter Rumancek. Together, the two of them try to investigate the recent murders that has stirred up the town, while simultaneously hiding their own dark secrets. Netflix earned the first Primetime Emmy Award nominations for original online only web television for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2013.
7. The Order (March 2019- present)
‘The Order’ is a horror drama web television series created by Dennis Heaton. The show follows college student Jack Morton as he joins the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose, a secret society that teaches and practices magic. As Jack goes deeper, he uncovers dark family secrets and an underground battle between werewolves and the magical dark arts. Starring Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Matt Frewer, Sam Tarwell and Max Martini, ‘The Order’ premiered on Netflix on March 7, 2019. Production for the first season began on April 18, 2018, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and concluded on July 20.
6. Crazyhead (2016)
Created and executive produced by Howard Overman, ‘Crazyhead’ is a six-part British comedy-horror television series. It premiered on E4 on 19 October 2016 in the United Kingdom, and internationally on 16 December 2016 on Netflix. Co-produced by Channel 4 and Netflix, principal photography of the show took place in Bristol. In 2017, the show picked up 3 RTS West of England awards for Best Sound, Best Design, and Best On-Screen Performance for Wokoma as “Raquel”. Despite the show’s cancellation, ‘Crazyhead’ was acquired by UK Netflix in February 2018. The show stars Cara Theobold as the lead character Amy, an unhappy bowling alley worker and rare ‘seer’-someone who sees demons hiding in society. The Guardian described the show as ”disturbing and excellent” as well as ”fizzy and fun”. They also praised the double act of Cara Theobold and Susan Wokoma. The Daily Telegraph described the show as ”bright, punchy and [a] genuinely funny series”.
5. Dark (2017- present)
Co-created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, ‘Dark’ is a science fiction thriller web series. Marking the first German language Netflix original series, it debuted on Netflix’s streaming service on December 1, 2017. The premise of the plot is laid when children start disappearing from the fictional German town of Winden, bringing to light the fractured relationships, double lives, and dark past of four families living there, and revealing a mystery that spans three generations.
The series follows Jonas Kahnwald, a teenager struggling to cope with his father’s suicide. Though the narrative begins in 2019, it soon spreads to include story-lines in 1986 and 1953 via time travel, as certain characters in the show’s core families grow aware of the existence of a wormhole in the cave system beneath the local nuclear power plant. During the first season, secrets begin to get revealed concerning the Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler and Tiedman families, and their lives start to crumble as the ties become evident between the missing children and the history of the town and its citizens.
4. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018- present)
‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ is an American supernatural horror web television series developed by Roberto Aguirre- Sacasa for Netflix, based on the Archie comic book series of the same name. The series is centered on the Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman, portrayed by Kiernan Shipka, and also stars Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Chance Pedromo, Michelle Gomez and Jaz Sinclair among others. Originally in development during September 2017 at the CW Television Network, the series was intended to be a companion series to Riverdale. However, in December 2017, the project was moved to Netflix with a straight to series order, comprising of two seasons. The central premise of the plot is laid through its titular character Sabrina Spellman, as she must reconcile her dual nature as a half witch, half mortal, while fighting the evil forces that threaten her, her family, and the daylight world humans inhabit.
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3. American Horror Story (2011- present)
Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, ‘American Horror Story’ is an American anthology horror television series. Each season is conceived as a self contained miniseries, following a different set of characters and settings, and a storyline with its own “beginning, middle, and end.” Often, the plot elements of each season are loosely inspired by true events. Retroactively subtitled ‘Murder House’, the first season takes place in Los Angeles, California during the year 2011, and centers on a family that moves into a house haunted by its deceased former occupants. The second season, titled Asylum, takes place in Massachusetts during the year 1964, and follows the stories of the patients and staff of an institution for the criminally insane.
The third season, titled Coven, takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana during the year 2013, and follows a coven of witches who face off against those who want to destroy them. Titled Freak Show, the fourth season takes place in Jupiter, Florida, during the year 1952, and centers around one of the last American freak shows and their struggle for survival. The fifth season, titled Hotel, takes place in Los Angeles during the year 2015, and focuses on the staff and guests of a supernatural hotel.
The sixth season, titled Ronoake, takes place in North Carolina during the years 2014-2016 and focuses on paranormal events that take place in an isolated farmhouse haunted by the deceased Ronoake colony. Titled Cult, the seventh season takes place in the fictional suburb of Brooklyn Heights, Michigan, during the year 2017, and centers on a cult terrorizing the residents in the aftermath of the 2016 U.S Presidential Election. Lastly, the eighth season, titled Apocalypse, features the return of the witches in the third season as they battle the Antichrist from ‘Murder House’, Michael Langdon, and attempt to prevent the apocalypse.
2. Stranger Things (2016- present)
‘Stranger Things’ is an American science fiction horror web television series created, written and directed by the Duffer Brothers and released on Netflix. The first season stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown and Gaten Matarazzo among others, with Noah Schnapp and Joe Kerry starring in recurring roles. Subsequently, they were made regulars in season 2. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s, the first season focuses on the investigation of the disappearance of a young boy amid supernatural events occurring around the town, including the appearance of a girl with psychokinetic abilities, who helps the missing boy’s friends in their own search. The second season, titled ‘Stranger Things 2’, is set one year later and deals with attempts of the characters to return to normality and consequences that linger from the first season.
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1. The Haunting (2018- present)
‘The Haunting’ is an American supernatural horror anthology web television series created and directed by Mike Flanagan for Netflix, produced by Amblin Television and Paramount Television. The series is a re-imagining of classic horror literature, including the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The first season titled ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ featured an ensemble cast of Michiel Hulsman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel and Victoria Pedretti as the adult counterparts of the Crain siblings. In the summer of 1992, Hugh and Olivia Crain and their children – Steven, Shirley, Theodora, Luke, and Nell – move into Hill House to renovate the mansion in order to sell it and build their own house, designed by Olivia. However, due to unexpected repairs, they have to stay longer, and they begin to experience increasing paranormal phenomena that results in a tragic loss and the family fleeing from the house. Twenty-six years later, the Crain siblings and their estranged father reunite after tragedy strikes again, and they are forced to confront how their time in Hill House had affected each of them.
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