Halloween means getting the kids dressed up in cute costumes, consuming large quantities of candy, and maybe even attending an adult dress-up party or two yourself. But sometimes, a nice, relaxing night in can make for a perfect Halloween holiday.

Sure, there’s a long list of great Halloween-themed or general horror flicks that are staples for viewing every October 31 – from the Mike Myers Halloween films, to Friday the 13th, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. But these days, television shows are so high-calibre that, instead of curling up on the couch or in bed with a two-hour-long horror movie, why not make Halloween weekend the perfect time to binge watch an entire season of a creepy show?

Here are 5 great options to consider for your Halloween-inspired TV night.

1.The Walking Dead (AMC)

Don’t call them zombies. This show features creepy walking dead known as anything but – from walkers, to biters, to roamers. Whatever you call them, each is different and distinct, from a gory one with sagging skin as the result of lying in a well for months, to the burned walker melted into the pavement, or ones with their ribcages fully exposed as they roam about looking for humans to feast on. Sure, there’s a deeper storyline behind just the blood and guts. But there’s plenty of gore to satisfy your craving for horrific Halloween fare. Binge watch on Netflix.

2.Black Mirror (BBC)

It’s a unique kind of horror that’s explored in this series, examining, in the most extreme way possible, how our modern-day digital age could lead to situations far more terrifying than a scary monster or ghoulish ghost. You’ll be scratching your head, wide-eyed in horror after the first episode, even though there’s nothing particularly visually terrifying in it. Plan to squirm with discomfort and question whether you can stomach moving on to episode two. (Spoiler alert: it’s just as cringeworthy.) Binge watch on Shomi.

3.American Horror Story (FX)

Each season of this FX series is like a 12-episode movie that covers the bizarre happenings of monsters, creeps, and unsuspecting humans – from a couple that move into a clearly haunted home in season one, to the current season that stars singer Lady Gaga as a twisted hotel owner/murderer. Each season can easily be viewed on its own, with many of the same actors, but independent storylines and characters in

each. Binge watch on Shomi, Netflix

4.Game of Thrones (HBO)

If violence, gory deaths, and plenty of bloodshed is what you seek, this show is the right one to meet your Halloween needs. It’s a great opportunity to have some friends over for a fun binge-fest while you chow down on some Halloween-themed treats and festive drinks. Soon, you’ll find yourself arguing over whether so-and-so had it coming, how awful a character such-and-such is, or who will bite the dust next and how. Binge watch on HBO Canada on Demand

 

5.Hannibal (NBC)

A long-time Halloween favourite isSilence of the Lambs. In TV land, check out this thriller series that follows the psychopath title character, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (played by MadsMikkelsen), and his relationship with forensic psychiatrist William Graham (Hugh Dancy). There were only three seasons of the show, so you can digest the entire thing in a full, TV-filled Halloween weekend. Binge watch on Netflix.

Note that in addition to streaming TV options, you can also binge watch these shows by going old-school and buying the DVD/Blu-ray; by downloading episodes/seasons from a site like iTunes; or through local TV service on demand options