What We Do in the Shadows
Based on the cult classic film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, this series uses a mockumentary format to follow the nightly lives of four vampire roommates on Staten Island. The humor comes from watching these ancient, powerful creatures struggle
with painfully mundane modern problems, like paying rent, dealing with annoying neighbors, and navigating office politics. It’s less about jump scares and more about the hilarious, often pathetic, absurdity of their existence, making it a masterclass in blending supernatural lore with sitcom sensibilities.
Santa Clarita Diet
Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star as a pair of suburban real estate agents whose lives are upended when wife Sheila (Barrymore) suddenly becomes a zombie. While she gains a new, energetic lease on life, she also develops a craving for human flesh. The show's genius lies in its deadpan approach to the carnage. The family treats zombieism like any other marital problem, leading to absurd situations as they try to find ethically sourced meals for Sheila while maintaining their cookie-cutter lifestyle. It's gory, sweet, and consistently hysterical.
Ash vs Evil Dead
Bruce Campbell reprises his iconic role as Ash Williams, the chainsaw-handed hero from the Evil Dead film trilogy. Thirty years later, Ash is a wisecracking stock boy who accidentally unleashes the Deadites once again. This series is a full-throttle blast of splatstick horror, packed with over-the-top gore, cheesy one-liners, and a complete refusal to take itself seriously. It perfectly recaptures the gleeful, bloody chaos of the movies for a new generation.
Scream Queens
From the creators of American Horror Story, this series is a satirical, campy take on the slasher genre. The first season is set at a sorority house plagued by a serial killer in a red devil costume. It's a biting parody of horror clichés and college life, featuring an all-star cast led by Jamie Lee Curtis and Emma Roberts. The dialogue is sharp, the characters are hilariously awful, and the show delights in its own absurdity, making it a perfect watch for those who like their horror with a heavy dose of mean-spirited fun.
Wellington Paranormal
A direct spinoff of the What We Do in the Shadows movie, this New Zealand mockumentary follows two dim-witted police officers, Minogue and O'Leary, who were briefly featured in the film. They are recruited into a secret paranormal unit of the Wellington police force to investigate supernatural occurrences like demonic possessions and crop circles. The humor is dry, deadpan, and comes from the officers' completely earnest and clueless approach to handling terrifying situations. It's a brilliant expansion of its universe.
Shining Vale
Courteney Cox stars as a novelist who moves her dysfunctional family into an old house with a dark past, hoping for a fresh start. She soon becomes convinced she's either depressed or possessed, discovering that the symptoms are eerily similar. The show cleverly uses horror tropes to explore themes of mental health, marriage, and midlife crises. It's a slow-burn psychological horror story that finds dark humor in its protagonist's unraveling sanity and the ghost trying to take over her life.
iZombie
After being turned into a zombie at a party, a medical resident named Liv Moore takes a job at the county morgue to gain access to brains. When she eats them, she inherits the deceased's memories and personality traits, which she uses to help solve their murders. From the creator of Veronica Mars, the show is a smart, witty procedural with a supernatural twist. Liv's monthly personality shifts provide endless comedic opportunities, balancing the crime-solving elements with a surprisingly heartfelt story about being an outsider.
Ghosts (U.S.)
A young couple inherits a sprawling country estate, only to discover it's inhabited by the spirits of people who have died on the property throughout history. After a near-death experience, wife Samantha gains the ability to see and hear the ghosts. While the premise is supernatural, the show is a warm, character-driven sitcom at heart. The comedy comes from the hilarious culture clashes between the living couple and the eclectic group of ghosts, including a Viking, a Prohibition-era singer, and a pants-less Wall Street bro.
Los Espookys
This wonderfully strange, primarily Spanish-language series follows a group of friends who start a business that provides horror for hire. They stage elaborate, fake paranormal events for their clients, like a staged exorcism or a sea monster sighting. Created by and starring comedians Julio Torres, Ana Fabrega, and Fred Armisen, the show has a surreal, deadpan, and utterly unique comedic voice. It's a love letter to horror fandom and the joy of creating spooky, elaborate practical effects.
