15 Best TV Shows Like Archive 81 You Need To See
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Archive 81 is the newest horror-thriller series that made its way to Netflix. The best part about this series is that, while it does have supernatural elements, it has a way of scaring you in a manner that is slow and psychological. As such, people love the fact that it isn’t the same as any other horror TV show. So, if you are looking for a good horror TV show that has similarities with Archive 81, here are some of our picks.
15. Penny Dreadful (2014 – 2016)
Penny Dreadful is supposedly a horror series that uses different stories from history, such as Dr. Frankenstein and Dorian Gray. However, instead of delivering a horror series that scares us, we get a mystery show that explores the dark corners of Victorian-era London, especially considering that there are supernatural creatures involved in this series.
The story revolves around seductive clairvoyant Vanessa Ives, who recruits an unassuming American named Ethan Chandler to look for a certain Sir Malcolm’s daughter, who was actually abducted by vampires. And now we get to see them slaying monsters in a series that has a lot of supernatural elements similar to Archive 81.
14. American Horror Story (2011 – Present)
American Horror Story is one of the most popular horror anthologies available today. This anthology consists of several different seasons that each have their own stories of horror. That is why it is very difficult to really pinpoint which season fits the same style that Archive 81 uses, but we can say for sure that AHS is going to be a fun ride for a lot of different horror lovers out there.
When it comes to its different seasons, you have a wide choice of which AHS story you want. Some are more straightforward in their horror house approach, while others are a bit more psychological. Then there are also seasons that are more supernatural and fantastic than horror. Again, it’s your call when it comes to American Horror Story.
13. Castle Rock (2018 – 2019)
Castle Rock is a series that was adapted from the stories of Stephen King himself, a master author when it comes to horror. That means that there are plenty of horror elements in this series, although its second season focuses more on an action-driven plot. Still, the first season is actually quite moody and mysterious, which is the same vibe that Archive 81 has.
The story of this show revolves around a certain Henry Deaver, who returns to his hometown after receiving a mysterious call. Things only become stranger when a stranger named The Kid arrives in town. This leads to a particularly tense ride that will keep you on the edge of your seats, especially when you are watching the first season. We can’t say the same for the second season, though.
12. The Terror (2018 – 2019)
The Terror is one of the most unique mystery shows that you can watch right now because of how it revolves around the unknown. This series is quite tense because you get to see from the perspective of the unassuming characters of the show, who are driven by paranoia in this horrific story that carries some amazing twists that you won’t see coming.
Set in 1847, The Terror revolves around the crews of two naval vessels that went on an expedition to plot a course through the Arctic North. These ships get stuck in the ice as terrifying things begin to happen to them. At first, you would think that the series is focused more on realism than horror and mystery. But as the series moves on, you will begin to understand what makes this a truly terrifying show.
11. Channel Zero (2016 – 2018)
Channel Zero is one of the more underrated shows that you can watch today, even though it does have four seasons under its belt. It’s a truly compelling horror series that delivers a storyline that will keep you glued on your screen, wanting to understand more about it. And seasons 1 and 3 of this series are actually quite similar to Archive 81 in the sense that they were able to deliver a tense type of mystery.
The thing about Channel Zero is that it puts a weird yet satisfying twist to the age-old tale of the Tooth Fairy. However, it also blends the story with some of the creepiest dolls you will ever see on television, as you get to see an interesting plot that combines deep storylines, intriguing characters, and scenes that are full of suspense.
10. Lovecraft Country (2020)
Despite the fact that it only lasted for a single season before HBO decided to ax it, Lovecraft Country is a series that puts a good twist on the stories that were written by HP Lovecraft himself. Simply put, there are plenty of mysterious and supernatural things going on in this series, as some of them are taken out of Lovecraftian lore and even from the stories you hear from different countries and cultures.
Lovecraft Country focuses on a post-War storyline that follows the story of a former African-American soldier who went on a cross-country journey with his friend and his uncle in search of his missing father. Along the way, a lot of different weird and supernatural things happen to the group, as they find themselves in grave danger.
9. Equinox (2020 – Present)
Equinox is a good series to watch if you are into the mystery aspect that makes Archive 81 so great. The reason why Equinox carries that mysterious aspect so well is that it was able to tell the story of nightmares that haunt a girl who was the sole survivor of a graduating class that suddenly vanished in 1999.
The story follows the story of Astrid, who was only nine when the class of 1999 suddenly vanishes without a trace. She is the sister of one of the missing students, as she begins to find herself seeing visions of horror after her sister disappeared. Then, in 2020, Astrid is now leaving peacefully with her family until the visions start flooding back again. And she becomes determined to find out what happened to her sister and the rest of the graduating class when the sole survivor dies.
8. Servant (2019 – Present)
As early as the first few scenes of Servant, we are instantly made to understand that this is a series that is quite dark in its premise. And the best part about those who love the dark and weird aspect of Archive 81 is that Servant will only get darker and darker as you proceed with the story.
Servant follows the story of a wealthy couple who are trying to cope with the death of their infant son. As such, they use a lifelike doll to ease their pain, but the nanny that takes care of their “son” starts experiencing strange events. These strange events test the couple to the limits as the story goes down a dark path that pushes the characters to their breaking point.
7. The Order (2019 – 2020)
The Order isn’t necessarily a horror series but is more of a supernatural and mystery story that is similar to the supernatural side of Archive 81. As such, if you are into the occult and magic, The Order should be a good series for you to watch when you have just seen Archive 81.
This series revolves around the story of a college student named Jack Morton when he realized that he ate more than what he could chew after joining a secret society that explores the occult. He begins to uncover the different layers of the organization as Jack discovers hidden secrets hiding beneath more secrets. This would allow you to scratch the mystery itch if you loved the supernatural mystery side of Archive 81.
6. Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021 – Present)
Brand New Cherry Flavor is a series that is based on the novel by Todd Grimson. This is a show that you won’t really think is about mystery and anything supernatural, but it promises to be a heck of a ride for the people who watch it without not knowing what it is about. And this is a wild and surreal story that will keep you glued to your seat.
The story follows film director Lisa Nova, who hires a mysterious woman who claims to be a witch so that she can exact her revenge on a powerful Hollywood producer. Our main character begins to understand that she has found herself in a weird situation that makes her question her own sanity, and that will also leave you questioning your own sanity as well. This is a dark and interesting story that can be delightful in its own unique way.
5. Them (2021 – Present)
One of the best parts about Archive 81 is the weird atmosphere surrounding the Visser apartment building, which Melody was filming. The same kind of atmosphere is present in Them, which focuses on a story that combines a lot of different elements such as racism and mystery in one unique and amazing package.
Them starts off with a black family that moved into an all-white neighborhood in the 1950s. They begin to experience weird malicious forces from their neighbors and from the supernatural world the longer they stay in their home. As such, we are not only talking about systemic racism here because there are also dark forces lurking around the shadows in what is a rare twist in the horror genre.
4. Stranger Things (2016 – Present)
Stranger Things is one of the most popular horror and supernatural shows that you can stream. It has been going on for three seasons, and with the fourth season coming soon. And the best thing about this series is that it tackles the supernatural events happening in a small town in the middle of the 80s.
The main characters of Stranger Things are actually children that found themselves entangled in the mysterious events happening in their town. Aided by Eleven, a girl with psychic powers, the children basically solve the mysteries themselves, as we actually see the characters growing up in front of our very eyes from the very first episode of the series. And even though it might be a horror series, it blends comedy, romance, and fantasy in one neat package.
3. Midnight Mass (2021)
Midnight Mass may not be a part of Mike Flanagan’s “The Haunting” anthology, but it still is a good story that is created by Flanagan himself. This show departs a bit from the usual elements we saw in Hill House and Bly Manor, as Midnight Mass focuses on a small island community in the US. The community itself, due to how small it is, is quite religious. And the arrival of a seemingly new and charismatic pastor brings tests their religion in the worst way possible.
In Midnight Mass, a new pastor took over in a small island community that is separated from the rest of America. The community, thanks to the pastor, begins to see miracles happening to their members as they think that God has chosen them. In a sense, the series starts off quite slow and focuses more on religion. However, as the story progresses, we get to understand that there is something dark and sinister going on in the community.
2. The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
The Haunting of Bly Manor is Mike Flanagan’s second entry in his “The Haunting” anthology and is set in the UK instead of the US. In this series, we are looking at a family that spent its days in the Bly Manor as a nanny arrives from America to take care of the children that live in the house. And while Bly Manor relies more on jumpscares than Hill House, it still is an amazing horror series that will scare you to the bone.
In The Haunting of Bly Manor, the aforementioned nanny/private tutor that spent time with the family in Bly Manor begins to experience supernatural and creepy experiences in the mansion. This leads her to believe that the house is haunted and that something creepy is going on with the family. And we get to see the past and the future in this amazing series so that we get to understand more about the history behind the house.
1. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
The Haunting of Hill House is a trail-blazer in the horror genre in television because it was the first of the “Haunting” anthology by director Mike Flanagan. While The Haunting of Hill House does have some of the common troupes that you often see in horror movies and shows (like jumpscares), what will amaze you about this series is that it has a way of blending good storytelling with scary scenes. That means that this isn’t a show that relies solely on scary scenes.
This show’s story revolves around a fractured family that had to leave the aforementioned Hill house when they were younger because a lot of things happened to their family back then. They had to go their separate ways, and we see the family reuniting when one of their siblings passed away. As such, we get to jump between the past and the present to get to know more about the family and what they went through.
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