These sixhorror TV showswere canceled too soon and never got the closure they deserved. Some of thebest horror TV shows in the modern era are now miniseries, which can be traced to a fundamental problem with multi-season horror TV shows: it’s just hard to keep them scary if a series goes on too long. At some point, someone is going to have to fail or succeed in defeating or avoiding whatever is terrorizing them, and at that point, we lose the scares that come with not knowing what happens to our characters.
However, there have still been someexcellent horror TV showsthat were intended as multi-season-long series.These horror shows offer mystery, comedy, action, and everything else that can be mixed with the ever-complimentary genreand continue to be scary, or at least deal with the tropes of the genre, for multiple seasons. Some of these series, like everyseries that’s canceled before it was done, never had a chance to get closure on their stories. If you decide to watch these horror TV shows, keep in mind you may be left wanting at the end.
1899is a German-language mystery science fiction horror series that follows a group of Europeans setting sail from England to start their new lives in New York City. TheKerberos, the ship they are sailing on, had a sister ship,Prometheus, which attempted the same journey only four months earlier. However,Prometheusdisappeared without a trace along with all its passengers. On theKerberos' journey, they receive a mysterious message, fromPrometheus.
The first season of1899has a 77% onRotten Tomatoes, and was building a frightening, but exciting mystery, set within a fascinating time period. The multicultural cast and attention to detail made it stand out among other Netflix originals.Despite the atmosphere and production,1899was canceled by Netflix, a victim of the streamer’s frequent purges, and now we’re left with an intriguing series that barely got going before it too disappeared.
Lovecraft Countryis an incredibly odd, incredibly fascinating project from showrunner Misha Green. The series is a hard one to describe. There are elements of an anthology in this series, but it’s mostly a serial fantasy horror drama set in 1950s Jim Crow America. As the title implies, there are elements of H.P. Lovecraft in the story; Shoggoths even make an appearance, causing a lot of blood to spurt on screen when they do.
The series is based on and serves as a sequel to Matt Ruff’s 2016 novel of the same name.
There are parallel narratives that are all loosely linked, more by theme, but the mystery at the center of the series still remains a core part of every episode.Lovecraft Countrywas canceled after only one season, and while the general plot of season 1 was completed, the series left so many open-ended questions about the world, creatures, and mythology ofLovecraft Countrythat it can’t help but feel like a wasted opportunity for such a unique and probing premise.
Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) returns 30 years after the end of Army of Darkness, and despite all he’s experienced and the growth he showed, Ash reverted to his slacker ways and has remained a stock boy at the “Value Stop” for the last three decades. However, he’s called to action and glory once again when the Evil Dead return, and he’s the only one who knows how to stop them. Exceptionally violent with a hilarious and twisted sense of humor, Ash vs Evil Dead is afaithful return to Sam Raimi’s franchise.
It also doesn’t feel right that Campbell didn’t get to close out his legendary role with something a bit more final.
With a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, Ash vs Evil Dead was only getting better as the season went on. Sadly, the series was canceled soon after the third season ended. The final season does have something of a definitive ending, but it’s obviously rushed, and it feels like there’s so much more meat on the bone. It also doesn’t feel right that Campbell didn’t get to close out his legendary role with something a bit more final.
A spinoff ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer,Angelpremiered in 1999 and depicts the events that occur afterBuffyseason 3. The series stars the titular vampire, Angel, played by David Boreanaz, who has been cursed with a soul, meaning he is tormented by the many murders he committed as a vampire prior to regaining his soul.Angelgoes even further thanBuffy, with the final season taking place after the last season ofBuffy.
One ofthe best spinoff TV showsto ever air,Angelincludes all the horror, action, comedy, and heart that fans ofBuffyhad come to expect. The series earned one Golden Globe nomination and 14 Emmy nominations, winning twice. Despite the critical acclaim and popularity,Angelwas unceremoniously canceled, forcing Whedon to end the show with a no-doubt cool, but still unresolved, cliffhanger ending.
Set afterCult of Chucky, theseventh film in theChild’s Playfranchiseand the last one in the original series, theChuckyTV series stars Zackary Arthur as Jake Wheeler, a young boy in New Jersey who purchases the possessed Chucky doll at a yard sale. Brad Douriff returns as the killer toy’s voice, and continues on his bloody warpath. The series contains the same hilarious and gory elements that made the movie so popular, but also offers interesting details about Charles Lee Ray’s life before becoming a serial killer.
The series has a 93% onRotten Tomatoes, and yet, it was canceled a few months after the season 3 finale.The end of season 3 left a lot of plot threads dangling, including Chucky and Tiffany’s continuing relationship; how Wendell Wilkins (John Waters) fits in; and most crucially, if and how Jake, Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), and Devon (Björgvin Arnarson) get their bodies back.
The horror comedy Netflix seriesSanta Clarita Diethas about as unique a premise as you can get in a TV show. Drew Barrymore stars as Sheila Hammond, a suburban mom who undergoes a change, becoming a zombie who craves flesh but retains the rest of her faculties. Her husband, Joel (Timothy Olyphant), helps his beloved wife any way he can, even providing her with meals as they, and their two children, try to get to the bottom of this supernatural mystery.
Santa Clarita Diethad a somewhat rocky start, but by season 3, was running on all cylinders. It currently has an 89% onRotten Tomatoesand manages to combine horror, laughs, and a legitimately compelling mystery all in one story. Frustratingly, thehorror TV showwas canceled after season 3, which ends on a massive cliffhanger that sees Sheila biting Joel, transforming him into a zombie in order to save his life, robbing of us some key closure.
