5 Best Horror Shows Like The Haunting Of Hill House

Those who loved Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House remember how much it raised the standard for horror on streaming when it debuted on Netflix in 2018. While streaming horror was already doing well, Hill House felt like a peak achievement – deeply moving, impressively made, and full of themes that continue to resonate with viewers. It became the standard many use to judge other horror series on TV.

Although Hill House is a landmark achievement in horror television, it’s not alone in its ability to deliver a truly unsettling and emotionally resonant experience. Several other shows capture similar feelings, building dread slowly through well-developed characters and stories. Whether they explore themes of trauma or simply create a pervasive sense of unease, these series stand alongside Hill House as some of the best horror TV has to offer.

Channel Zero (2016-2018)

A Mix Of Trauma, Surreal Dread, And Atmospheric Storytelling That Mirrors Hill House’s Emotional Intensity

Syfy’s Channel Zero was a truly unsettling and surprisingly personal horror anthology series that ran for four seasons. Each season drew inspiration from a different online creepypasta story, but the show always focused on the emotional lives of its characters—something fans of The Haunting of Hill House will appreciate. Channel Zero featured striking visuals, a carefully measured pace, and a consistently claustrophobic atmosphere that made it genuinely terrifying.

Season 2, titled No-End House, is a must-watch if you loved the atmosphere of Hill House. The main character, Margot Sleator (played by Amy Forsyth), is dealing with deeply rooted trauma, a theme that will resonate with fans of the original series. Like the Crain family in Hill House, Margot’s grief takes on a frightening, almost physical presence, but this season explores that idea in a new and creative way.

More broadly, Channel Zero shares Hill House’s tonal DNA. It’s gorgeous but disturbing, emotional but unsentimental, and always more interested in mood and psychology than jump scares (though Channel Zero has no shortage of scary moments). Those who loved how Mike Flanagan used ghosts as expressions of internal wounds will find a similar approach here, albeit filtered through anthology storytelling.

Beyond its second season, Channel Zero consistently creates a haunting and unsettling atmosphere that appeals to viewers who enjoy slow-burn horror. It’s been one of the most reliably good horror shows of the last ten years, and if you liked The Haunting of Hill House, you’ll likely love this one.

The Terror (2018-Present)

Bleak Atmosphere And Creeping Psychological Horror Capture The Same Quiet Dread That Made Hill House Unforgettable

The first season of AMC’s The Terror is a brilliantly unsettling study of creeping dread. Based on the ill-fated Franklin Expedition, the show mixes historical events with eerie, supernatural elements, but its most frightening aspect is how loneliness and confinement break down the people on board. Viewers who enjoyed The Haunting of Hill House will recognize a similar focus on the psychological toll of fear and the vulnerability of the human spirit.

The strong cast of The Terror, particularly Jared Harris as Captain Cozier in the first season, is what truly makes the show impactful. While the characters are hunted by a terrifying creature, the most frightening aspect is how their mental states deteriorate. Like Hill House, the show focuses on psychological horror as much as supernatural events, with trauma, guilt, and fear acting as unseen enemies.

As a real fan of atmospheric horror, I’d say The Terror really nails that immersive, creeping dread – it reminds me a lot of what Mike Flanagan does so well. It’s not about jump scares constantly; instead, it builds this incredibly unsettling mood with long, quiet moments, and then hits you with truly frightening scenes. It’s a show you have to really get into – if you appreciate a well-developed world alongside the scares, you’ll absolutely love it.

Season 2, titled Infamy, takes the story in a completely new direction, but it’s just as compelling as the first. Though the location and characters are different, it still explores the same themes of inner struggles, the impact of past events, and eerie local legends, maintaining the show’s focus on realistic and emotional horror. Both seasons demonstrate that truly scary stories and high-quality television can be a perfect match, similar to Hill House.

Archive 81 (2022)

Eerie Slow Burn And Layered Timelines Echo Hill House’s Structure And Creeping Emotional Suspense

If you enjoyed the complex storytelling and slow-burn suspense of Hill House, you’ll likely love Archive 81, a hidden Netflix treasure. The show centers on Dan Turner, an archivist played by Mamoudou Athie, who gets pulled into a puzzling mystery while restoring old documentary footage created by Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi). Like Hill House, the series skillfully blends different timelines, creating a captivating and familiar narrative flow.

What sets Archive 81 apart is its dedication to building horror slowly and subtly. It doesn’t jump to constant scares; instead, it creates a growing sense of dread by layering small details until they become intensely unsettling. If you enjoyed how The Haunting of Hill House carefully uncovered the Crain family’s past traumas, you’ll likely appreciate the way this lesser-known Netflix series reveals its secrets.

The actors in Archive 81 truly bring the story’s emotional core to life. Dan’s loneliness and sadness are just as important to the plot as the mysterious events he investigates, and Melody’s desperation creates a heartbreaking tension that makes the show even more suspenseful. This strong emotional foundation is what makes the supernatural elements so impactful.

Despite being cancelled after just one season, Archive 81 is a genuinely scary and satisfying horror series. It’s a complex, haunting story that creates a deep sense of unease and is reminiscent of The Haunting of Hill House. It’s the kind of show that stays with you long after you finish watching.

Fall Of The House Of Usher (2023)

A Heavy Dose Of Flanagan’s Signature Blend Of Gothic Horror And Emotional Storytelling That Hill House Fans Crave

If you loved Hill House, Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher is a perfect next watch. It’s his best work yet on Netflix – a beautifully made and clever adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories, filled with the emotional depth and chilling mood he’s known for.

This series centers on Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood) and the decline of his family, offering a darkly comedic take on horror – a bit different from Mike Flanagan’s earlier work. However, fans of Hill House will quickly recognize his signature style: deeply emotional stories, building suspense, and complex characters. Flanagan once again demonstrates his ability to create horror that is both frightening and deeply moving.

If you enjoyed The Fall of the House of Usher and Hill House, you’ll likely appreciate other shows created by Mike Flanagan for Netflix, such as The Haunting of Bly Manor and Midnight Mass. Though each show is unique, they all explore similar themes. Flanagan’s work on Netflix is consistently strong, but Usher feels like his most impressive and assured project yet.

What makes The Fall of the House of Usher a must-watch for fans of The Haunting of Hill House is its deep emotional impact. Beyond the dramatic deaths and gothic style, the story explores themes of family history, the repercussions of past actions, and the damage caused by avoiding difficult truths. Flanagan is skilled at using supernatural elements to represent deeper issues, and he does so here with remarkable clarity.

Marianne (2019)

Takes Hill House’s Escalating Dread And Amplifies It Into Some Of The Scariest Television In Years

Netflix’s Marianne is a truly frightening horror series – one of the few that feels genuinely scary. Right from the start, this French show builds a relentless and escalating sense of terror. If you loved the creeping dread of The Haunting of Hill House, Marianne will likely be even more intense, and at times, shockingly brutal.

The horror series Marianne follows Emma Larsimon (Victoire Du Bois), a writer whose terrifying fictional witch begins to manifest in the real world. What sets Marianne apart from typical possession stories is its skillful blend of compelling characters and genuinely frightening moments. The suspense builds gradually, similar to The Haunting of Hill House, but the scares are ultimately much more impactful.

One of the things that makes Marianne so scary is its masterful use of atmosphere. Every setting feels unsettling, every shadow seems to hide something, and each character is clearly burdened by a hidden past. The show expertly builds fear slowly, creating a constant sense of dread rather than relying on jump scares.

Both Hill House combines sadness with warmth, and Marianne delivers intense fear, but both stories still connect with you on an emotional level. Like Flanagan’s other work, the horror in Marianne is driven by the characters’ personal struggles, which will feel relatable to fans. If you’re looking for a truly terrifying follow-up to The Haunting of Hill House, Marianne is the one to watch.

2025-11-15 01:13