5 thriller TV shows so scary that you would need to rethink before watching

Thriller TV shows are best when it comes to unpredictable twists, surreal interventions, and time ticking suspense. Thrillers use several filmmaking techniques discovered by maestro Alfred Hitchcock with his classic film, Psycho, while the themes have been evolving over the years. The genre has now been adapted to series as well, helping people weave stories that keep the viewers hooked to their seats and think what would happen next.

Some thriller TV shows have marked a unique place in television history, like The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix. It was released in 2018 but remains relevant by exploring themes that are universally relatable and emotionally resonant, regardless of when the audience watches it.

Here is the complete list of the 5 best thriller TV series you can't survive alone.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

5 Thriller TV shows to rethink before watching

1. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

This 2018 drama showcases the Crain family moving to Hill House to renovate it. As the couple and children start to spend their days in the house, they are traumatized by some supernatural elements. Years later, they all again reunite to confront both the house's lingering spirits and their own psychological scars to end it once and for all.

The show perfectly merges the imagery of ghosts with the family's emotional and psychological trauma based on their past experiences. It blurs the line between supernatural presence and hallucination, creating a layered story that is haunting and also deeply human.

2. Hannibal (2013–2015)

We cannot forget Hannibal if we are discussing thriller TV shows. The NBC show features an FBI profiler, Will Graham, with a rare ability to empathize with killers. He further joins Dr Hannibal Lecter to solve crimes, unaware of the fact that he is a psychopathic murderer.

What you should look forward to in the show is the way it has depicted violence. It comes out as uniquely haunting, while the manipulative genius of Hannibal escalates the fear among the characters and the viewers alike.

3. Marianne (2019)

This Netflix show has Emma, a successful horror novelist, as its focus. She returns to her hometown only to realize that the terrifying witch she wrote about, Marianne, is really chasing her down. She suffers some haunting experiences and decides to unravel its origin and the way to neutralize it for survival.

If you like some folklore horror, this show could be a good start. This blends folktale with supernatural elements and disturbing imagery, building a film world worth experiencing.

4. Channel Zero (2016–2018)

Each season of Channel Zero adapts a different “creepypasta” internet horror story. Some seasons are based on stories such as haunted children's shows, turning them into full-fledged narratives where a show has actually impacted children psychologically.

The anthology series further weaves some chilling narratives with distinct creepypasta stories, giving the viewers a connection with the popular internet tales. The horror element in the show comes with the dream-like, surreal nightmares merging with reality and hallucinations, making the experience disorienting and persistent.

5. Mindhunter (2017–2019)

Mindhunters is one of the notable thriller TV shows that is set in the late 1970s and shows FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench reaching out to already imprisoned serial killers and interviewing them to understand their criminal psychology, and tracking down active criminals.

If you want to watch a thriller that is also grounded in reality, this is the show for you. It tries to portray the methodical and calculating nature of killers. The interviews are disturbingly authentic that even without any supernatural elements involved, they can still give you chills.