The Scariest Episodes of Anthology Horror Series
The horror anthology has been one of the most engaging formats in recent years. Following the popularity of series such as American Horror Story and Black Mirror, many streaming platforms have sought to replicate FX and Netflix’s respective success.
Since the inception of both series, a subgenre titled the horror anthology came to fruition and soon dominated television screens. While no genre or niche is exempt from potential over-saturation, the horror anthology has proven to be quite a reliable source of entertainment. Whether episodes provide audiences with extremely gory scenes, stomach-turning plot twists, or social commentary that is scarily applicable to the real world, horror anthologies have produced some of the best scenarios to engage with and later discuss with friends during a group call, family members at the dinner table, or the millions of pixels that make up your online communities and detractors alike.
Horror anthologies also have the unique advantage of either creating many distinct storylines within a close-knit universe or simply taking viewers from one world to the next with each episode, retaining the essence of the creators’ intentions and influences. Some of these episodes offer rich storytelling, admired protagonists, and bone-chilling revelations.
“Beyond the Aquila Rift” (Love, Death, and Robots)
Love, Death, and Robots have risen the ranks and become one of Netlix’s more acclaimed releases. A horror anthology that covers the three aforementioned themes follows its protagonists in stories ranging from the devastating to the exceptionally grotesque.
From its initial season, the seventh episode “Beyond The Aquila Rift” manages to juggle both feelings of fear and despair, creating one of the most incredible tales, one that will remain in the viewer’s psyche for quite some time.
The episode follows an intergalactic trio traveling thousands of light-years away from planet Earth. Thom, Suzy, and Ray return from a mission and come across Greta, introduced as Thom’s old flame. What begins as an awkward yet steamy reunion soon erodes and only an unsettling truth remains. One that will surely leave audiences disturbed and weary of what the future may hold for them.
“Black Museum” (Black Mirror)
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While many would consider Black Mirror to be a sci-fi anthology more than anything, that does not prevent the series from gaining a reputation for producing some of the most frightening tales for television. While episodes such as “White Christmas” and “Playtest” have gained a reputation for striking fear into the hearts of the viewers, “Black Museum” is easily one of the scariest but also one of the more satisfying conclusions to a season of Black Mirror.
The episode follows Nish (Letitia Wright) as an unassuming visitor of the famed Black Museum, home to many relics of past episodes and events that viewers get to either revisit or review with fresh eyes. As Rolo Haynes (Douglas Hodge), the eccentric curator, guides Nish and the viewers around the large collection of harrowing memories they are exposed to Rolo’s indifference towards terrifying technology. The episode comes with a final plot twist that reveals quite unsettling news, a bleak revelation that offers a scarily realistic prediction of the future.
“I’m Just F-ing With You” (Into The Dark)
One of the more humorous horror stories included, “I’m Just F-ing With You” is the seventh installment in the Hulu anthology Into The Dark. Born out of a collaboration with Blumhouse, the short-lived Hulu series included a series of petrifying episodes that experimented with the macabre, the grotesque, and the psychologically terrifying.
“I’m Just F-ing With You” lies perfectly in the middle of the aforementioned genres and niches. The episode follows Larry (Keir O’Donnell) and Rachel Adams (Jessica McNamee), two siblings who decide to retire for the night in a motel where the two are subjected to nefarious acts of terrorism under the guise of practical jokes. The creatives behind the episode take the idea of trolling and truly explore the issues as well as the repercussions of “mindless” harassment while providing consumers with blood-curdling scenes.
“Squirm” (Two Sentence Horror Stories)
Two Sentence Horror Stories is another horror anthology series distributed through Netflix. As the name of the series suggests, each season contains nine episodes, comprised of twenty minutes of material to view and dissect. Like most horror anthologies, some episodes are fermented in a familiar, realistic world comparable to our own while others venture into the supernatural.
“Squirm” is the second episode of the premiere season and the horrific nature of the episode rests in its relatability rather than experimentation with various mythologies and folklore.
The episode follows Keisha (Tara Pacheco), a young office assistant reeling from the aftermath of her sexual assault. Left to her own devices, the episode chronicles Keisha practically suffocating from the trauma of being a survivor without a reliable network to depend on. The titular two sentences go as follows.
“I felt my skin crawl.
Then I saw the head of the worm push through.”
The realistic depiction of workplace abuse, sexual assault, and subsequent trauma prove to be difficult to watch on its own. However, the symbolism of said experiences comes to life in ways that would ultimately leave viewers petrified.
“Pipe Screams” (Creepshow)
Creepshow is another Shudder production that seems to be satisfying the demands of horror fanatics with its impressive roster of talent and reliable writers. Written by Daniel Krauss and Directed by Joe Lynch, the episode follows Linus, a loyal man who works as a plumber. To honor his late brother’s failing business, Linus takes up the mantle and is tasked with fixing a rather difficult septic system. He soon realizes that the initial suspicions of a rodent couldn’t be any further from the truth.
The episode balances the amusing with the abhorrently grotesque. The episode also has a premise that many viewers can relate to. Between the disastrous plumbing issues many faces as well as homeowners that are more so nuisances rather than helpful hands, “Pipe Screams” creates an entertaining spectacle out of people’s worst dreams.
“3 AM to 6 AM” (Slasher)
While the Shudder/Netflix series has provided horror fans with some of the goriest murders and sensible motives, Season Three remains one of the more compelling examples of what Slasher was able to accomplish.
The season follows Saadia Jalalzai (Bakara Rahmani), a Muslim teenager who is left alone at home for the weekend while her parents leave for the weekend. Just after they depart, Saadia and her community are abruptly introduced to a vengeful serial killer colloquially known as “The Druid”.
Not only is the season decorated with colorful characters, to say the least, but the creative minds behind Slasher‘s third season have concocted an alluring horror with themes of bigotry, social media, and revenge. The behind the scenes decision ultimately elevates the finale from a simple plot twist revelation to a poignant contribution to the seemingly everlasting discourse about punishment in interpersonal relationships, vigilantism, and the effects of both on the greater community.
“Chapter 9” (American Horror Story, Roanoke)
American Horror Story has built its reputation as one of the preeminent horror anthologies due to the critical acclaim and commercial success of the first several seasons.
While avid watchers of the anthology would concede that “Asylum” is easily the most disturbing season, the scariest episode of the series may very well be hidden in the series’ less appreciated ninth season “Roanoke”. The series harkens back to the mystery taking place in the pre-Independence colony of the same name. Reimagined in a modern context, the season is full of bloodshed, horrifying historical events, and bone-chilling villains.
The episode focuses on a trio of teens that actively enjoy the “My Roanoke Nightmare” program, a series-within-a-series that broadcast the events of the season. Hoping to experience a paranormal excursion of their own, they attempt to discover apparitions rumored to be lingering around the town. “Chapter 9” proves to be an underrated feat of excellence as the episode sits among the earlier seasons, especially when the plot is plunged into darkness many fans are already familiar with.
“The Autopsy” (Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinets of Curiosities)
One of the more recent additions to the niche genre is Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinets of Curiosities. The iconic director partnered with Netflix to distribute his chilling contributions to loyal fans and new watchers alike. Steeped in supernatural horror, these episodes also include a fascinating roster of revered icons in the film industry and overlooked talent to carry these stories with their unique quirks.
“The Autopsy” is the third episode overall and follows Carl Winters, a doctor (F. Murray Abraham) who is tasked with performing a series of autopsies on miners who recently passed away. Audiences later come to learn that the deaths have been connected to a series of murders investigated by Sheriff Nate Craven (Glynn Turman). The investigation takes a turn when a shocking revelation has the group of professionals looking to the stars for answers.
“Toyol” (Folklore)
Possibly the most disturbing episode listed, “Toyol” is the fifth episode of the HBO Asia horror anthology Folklore. The series dedicates each episode to a paranormal phenomenon found in a specific Asian country. The episode is based in Malaysia and is named after the spirit of an undead infant commonly found in both Indonesian and Malay cultures.
The protagonist of this particular episode is a member of the Malaysian Parliament, visiting an ominous woman rumored to have powers that could help salvage the state of his suffering fishing town. The two successfully restore the town and in doing so, begin a romantic relationship. However, the mysterious lady has a series of harrowing secrets of her own that threaten their relationship and the stability of their community.
The reveals are horrifying enough, but the talent involved ensures that audiences leave watching “Toyol” with a bone-chilling fear that is both impressive and genuinely frightening.
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