Stephen King Loved M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Servant’ on Apple TV

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M. Night Shyamalan’s horror films are known for their memorable settings – like a beach that makes people age rapidly – and characters, such as a killer hiding at a concert and a child who can see ghosts. These elements have become iconic in the horror genre, as recognizable as franchises like Scream, Child’s Play, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Following his work as an executive producer on the TV series Wayward Pines, he recently led the creative direction of a suspenseful AppleTV+ thriller with an increasingly complex and frightening mystery.

Stephen King enjoys a variety of horror series, including the terrifying Marianne and Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass on Netflix. He also gave high marks to M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant, praising its unsettling and unique take on a classic horror theme.

Stephen King Is Right to Love M. Night Shyamalan’s Apple TV Thriller ‘Servant’

The Apple TV+ series Servant first aired on November 28, 2019, and continued for four seasons. It centers around Leanne Grayson, a nanny played by Nell Tiger Free, who is hired by Sean and Dorothy Turner (Toby Kebbell and Lauren Ambrose) to care for their baby, Jericho.

If that were the whole story, it’s unlikely Stephen King would have been so enthusiastic about the Apple TV series. Clearly, there’s more to it than meets the eye. On December 4, 2019, King actually shared on Twitter:

The trailer for Servant is genuinely unsettling, starting with the question, “Do you know who you welcomed into your home?” – a hook that would grab most viewers. It then shows a seemingly normal family with a new nanny, hoping she’ll feel like part of the family. When Rupert Grint’s character, Dorothy’s brother Julian, asks if the nanny is aware of the unusual circumstances, and we see Sean holding the baby upside down, it’s clear we’re in for a truly frightening story.

Jericho is a realistic doll that Sean and Dorothy are treating like a real baby, seemingly as a way to cope with the loss of their child. Or perhaps Dorothy is the only one fully embracing this fantasy, while Sean understands Jericho isn’t actually their baby. The first episode ends with a surprising reveal, hinting at a more complex situation, and it also raises questions about Leanne’s involvement.

I’ve been hooked on Servant since Season 1, which really centers around two big puzzles: who is Jericho, and what’s going on with Leanne? What I love is that each season keeps that same unsettling feeling. If the show just kept repeating the same story as Season 1, it wouldn’t be special – and Stephen King probably wouldn’t have been such a fan! It’s smart because it uses the classic creepy doll idea from horror, but it’s more than just that. We’ve all seen scary dolls before – I mean, who hasn’t seen Chucky? He’s hilarious and terrifying at the same time! So, I kept wondering how Servant could bring something new to that familiar trope.

Instead, Servant keeps the truth about the real Jericho and the reborn doll shrouded in mystery. While the story is frightening, it also thoughtfully explores difficult themes like grieving the loss of a child and the strain such a tragedy puts on a relationship. Dorothy is a compelling character, and despite the heightened reality of the story, her experiences feel deeply personal and, sadly, recognizable. Adding to the film’s strengths, Rupert Grint delivers a fantastic performance, and it’s a delight to see him in a role so different from his beloved character, Ron Weasley.

Anyone familiar with M. Night Shyamalan’s work knows to expect surprises in Servant, just like in his movies. Similar to films like The Sixth Sense, Trap, and Knock at the Cabin, the show explores themes of family, love, and fear, blending scary moments and unusual characters with relatable issues. While it doesn’t get the same buzz as Apple TV+ hits like Severance, Pluribus, or Silo, or comedies such as Ted Lasso and the emotionally resonant Shrinking, Servant is a captivating and genuinely frightening series—one of the scariest available on the platform.

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2026-04-17 00:33