Halloween is upon us. While witches (you know the three), ghosts, and zombies may have dominated the Halloween season for years, lately, there have been more vampires hitting the screens. Popular releases like Nosferatu and Sinners have revived an interest in vampires and the dark romances that follow them.
If you are craving more of this vampiric resurgence (or if your love of vampires never left), the shows below are the perfect addition to your 2025 Halloween weekend watch list. Go ahead and sink your teeth in!
Interview with a Vampire
The ‘94 movie starring Brad Pitt and Anne Rice’s debut novel, Interview with a Vampire, are both gothic horror staples. AMC’s 2022 Interview with a Vampire series has all of the elements to make it a new classic. Plus, it was renewed for a third season!
Set in modern-day Dubai, the show follows Daniel Molloy, an American reporter, as he interviews the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac. Viewers uncover the truth of Louis’ life along with Daniel as Louis recounts his poignant transformation and the romance that follows. Although Louis tells his narrative in a modern 2022 skyrise, most of the action takes place in 1910s-1940s New Orleans and post-WWII-era Paris. This dual timeline brings together everything you could want in a tragically beautiful Gothic romance- a rich setting, captivating dialogue, tragic love, and main characters with an accent (hello, Southern Louisiana drawl, anyone?).
This show is for you if you are looking for early 1900s opulence, ambiguous characters, and a haunting love story with LGBTQIA+ representation. I suggest you bring tissues!
Midnight Mass
Riley Flynn has recently returned home to the sleepy community of Crockett Island. After time away at the mainland prison due to a drunk driving incident, Riley must reacquaint himself with his dwindling, yet deeply religious, hometown. As Riley arrives on the island, so does Father Paul, the new priest at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Unbeknownst to Riley and the townspeople, terror (or possibly miracles, depending on which character you ask) awaits the church and Crockett Island. This isolated island with its dying population creates the perfect setting for a monstrous mystery with an unforgettable ending.
If I had the chance to choose one show to watch again for the first time, I would immediately pick Midnight Mass. While I’ve never seen a Mike Flanagan mini-series that I didn't enjoy, Midnight Mass is by far my favorite because of the deeper themes it explores. It has so many layers and asks deep religious and existential questions, like “what happens when you die?” Jump scares do not drive the horror here—human nature does.
If you’d like eight episodes of thought-provoking monologues within an unsettling atmosphere of mystery, then Midnight Mass is for you.
Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful is a must-watch for literary lovers. The show combines elements and characters from classic Gothic novels, like The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula, Frankenstein, and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, to create a chilling period horror like no other.
Set in dark and gloomy 1890s London, Sir Malcolm Murray, a wealthy aristocratic explorer, is searching for his missing daughter, Mina. He teams up with an unlikely group of characters, including psychic Vanessa Ives and American gunman Ethan Chandler, to delve into London’s underworld of dark creatures. As the search for Mina continues and the mystery grows, feelings and friendships grow, as well.
I must admit that while Penny Dreadful has vampires in it, the romance is not really between vampires. Instead, Penny Dreadful’s true love story is seen in the bonds forged between the misfit group of characters. Regardless, it has everything you could want in a binge session- clairvoyance, cowboys, and creepy chaos—and is a must-watch for Halloweekend.
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows was originally a 1960s daytime soap opera that drew heavily on classic Gothic influences, like Dracula, to create the dramatic story of Collinwood Estate. At first, the plot focuses on Victoria Winters, a governess who has arrived at Collinwood Estate to work for the Collins family. Later, Barnabas Collins, a vampire who has escaped his tomb and returned to his ancestral home, is introduced into the fray.
There are multiple versions of Dark Shadows to choose from, all with their respective pros. While the 1960s version is a completed series, it has over 1,000 episodes; be prepared to commit! The 1990s version was canceled after one season, but its 12 episodes are a much easier way to dip your toes into the Dark Shadows universe. If all else fails, you can't go wrong with the 2012 Johnny Depp movie.
There is a reason that Dark Shadows quickly became an inspiration for movies, books, and comics. That reason? It is just that good! And it is the perfect pick for you if you want cheesy special effects and nostalgic daytime drama, with a supernatural spin.
True Blood
True Blood is another killer vampire show that is based on a book series, The Southern Vampire Mysteries. This HBO series is different from typical vampire narratives in that it takes place after vampires have come out of the coffin and are attempting to integrate themselves into human society.
At a time when many humans are shying away from vampires, the main character, Sookie Stackhouse, finds herself drawn to Bill Compton, Bon Temps, Louisiana’s newest vampire resident. As Sookie falls deeper into the supernatural world of vampires (and werewolves, shifters, and fairies), her friends and family struggle to adjust to her new lifestyle. As an HBO classic, all seven seasons of True Blood bring the drama, the suspense, and the spice.
True Blood should be added to your repertoire of spooky season comfort shows if you find hot vampires, bloody murders, and deadly love triangles comforting.
A Discovery of Witches
Diana Bishop, a witch who refuses her powers, is thrust back into the world of magic when she discovers an ancient magical manuscript in an Oxford library. Despite her misgivings about the magical community, she bands together with Matthew Clairmont, a vampire biochemist, to find the book and uncover its secrets. In a world where there is nothing but hatred and contempt between supernatural creatures, the two face many challenges along the way. Vampires, witches, and demons- oh my!
A Discovery of Witches is the perfect blend of romance, fantasy, and history. There is even time travel, nods to science fiction, and, of course, a love story for the ages; it truly has something for everyone. With only three seasons, it is the perfect completed series to binge for Halloweekend. And if you really like it, you can even check out the All Souls Trilogy book series that inspired the show (because, of course, there was a book that inspired the show).
First Kill
Originally a short story by V.E. Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, this teen drama focuses on vampire Juliette Fairmont and monster-hunter Calliope Burns. Both girls must complete their “first kills” in order to be accepted by their respective families. As they struggle with the morality of slaying, their relationship grows, and so does the pressure they feel. First Kill is a tale as old as time—a modern-day Romeo and Juliet with a supernatural twist. At its core, it is a story of navigating first love, the demands of high school, and familial expectations.
Don’t let the fact that it wasn’t renewed for a second season deter you! Full of teenage angst, forbidden love, and LGBTQIA+ and Black representation, this eight-episode season is the perfect short and sweet Halloween binge.
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