10 Must-Watch Shows in the Same Vein as The Fall of the House of Usher

Article Overview

The Fall of the House of Usher is a Gothic horror series that explores social topics while delivering fantastic horror, receiving high ratings and positive reviews.

Other shows such as Slasher, The Haunting of Hill House, and Penny Dreadful explore themes and visuals comparable to The Fall of the House of Usher. Additionally, The Outsider, Castle Rock, Hell Is Other People, Midnight Mass, The Sandman, Dark, and Lovecraft Country also feature elements akin to The Fall of the House of Usher, but each of these series presents distinct perspectives and storytelling approaches.

With Mike Flanagan at the helm, The Fall of the House of Usher emerges as a Gothic horror tale belonging to the "eat the rich" genre, blending social commentary with captivating supernatural elements. Akin to a few other remarkable TV shows, it delves into profound topics while immersing audiences in an enthralling world of terror. The Usher family, having struck a Faustian deal with a demon named Verna many years ago, succumbs to supernatural forces that culminate in their demise. The series debuted to stellar ratings and garnered praise from critics, who applauded Flanagan's skillful storytelling, evident in his previous works.

Unfortunately, the prospects for a second season of The Fall of the House of Usher appear unlikely, as the show concludes Mike Flanagan's tenure with Netflix after his transition to Amazon. From its inception, this horror series was designed to span only a single season, neatly wrapping up its narrative by the final episode, an approach seen in other TV shows by Flanagan. While exploring Flanagan's earlier creations may offer the best chance of discovering similar shows to The Fall of the House of Usher, there are other series by different creators that also encompass comparable themes, storylines, and visual aesthetics.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

10. Slasher (2016-Present)

Slasher, a chilling horror series available on Netflix, features a different masked serial killer in each season. Every season centers around a unique set of characters who must outwit the killer while uncovering their identity. The fifth season, "Flesh & Blood," shares striking similarities with the classic tale "The Fall of the House of Usher," as both involve a wealthy and dysfunctional family facing a series of murders. Beyond this shared theme, both shows captivate audiences with their gothic visuals and abundant gore. The suspenseful pacing and exhilarating thrills found in both works make Slasher a compelling successor to "The Fall of the House of Usher."

9. The Haunting Of Hill House (2018)

Mike Flanagan, known for his exceptional work in the horror genre, has successfully crafted several captivating horror miniseries, including The Haunting of Hill House. Adapted from Shirley Jackson's book, this series follows the Crain siblings as they relocate to Hill House and begin encountering paranormal occurrences. Two and a half decades later, they must come together once again within the estate to confront their haunting past. The Fall of the House of Usher also benefits from Flanagan's direction, sharing a similar aesthetic and storytelling approach with The Haunting of Hill House. Both narratives delve into the complexities of family relationships and the lasting impacts of trauma. However, The Haunting of Hill House excels in capturing the essence of haunted house and ghost subgenres within the realm of supernatural horror, distinguishing itself among its counterparts.

8. Penny Dreadful (2014-2016)

In the dark and thrilling world of Penny Dreadful, an American showman named Ethan Chandler teams up with clairvoyant Vanessa Ives to rescue Malcolm Murray's daughter from a mysterious monster. Set in the eerie streets of Victorian London, this series is brimming with supernatural twists and turns. Unlike The Fall of the House of Usher, Penny Dreadful takes iconic characters like Dorian Gray and Dr. Frankenstein directly from gothic horror literature, giving them a prominent role in the story rather than simply drawing inspiration from them.

7. The Outsider (2020)

Adapted from Stephen King's eponymous novel, The Outsider delves into the arrest of cherished community member Terry Maitland, accused of the heinous crimes of raping and murdering young Frank Peterson. As investigators and police officers take on the case, they stumble upon a supernatural force that shatters their perception of reality. This chilling series, much like The Fall of the House of Usher, skillfully weaves in an investigative component to heighten tension and propel the plot forward. Moreover, both narratives explore the juxtaposition of real-life horrors and supernatural terrors, serving as poignant social commentary. While sharing narrative similarities, The Outsider offers a fresh perspective on society by examining the experiences of a lower socioeconomic class.

6. Castle Rock (2018-2019)

Based on the literary works of Stephen King, Hulu's Castle Rock delivers anthological seasons that explore the lives of characters within the fictional town of the same name. The show features well-known Stephen King characters like Annie Wilkes, Cujo, and Norris Ridgewick. Unlike the Gothic style of storytelling, Castle Rock embraces a modern horror aesthetic. It also deviates from the theme of a family making a Faustian deal and instead revolves around the eerie and seemingly cursed town of Castle Rock. This makes it reminiscent of The Fall of the House of Usher, where multiple pieces of literature by a single author are seamlessly woven together to create a compelling narrative.

5. Hell Is Other People (2019)

The captivating K-drama Hell Is Other People, winner of multiple awards, presents a gripping horror narrative centered around Yoon Jong-woo. This young man finds himself in a peculiar situation after moving into Eden Studio, a Seoul apartment plagued by inexplicable supernatural occurrences. Injecting an additional layer of suspense, Jong-woo becomes distanced from everyone he knows. Drawing inspiration from The Fall of the House of Usher, Hell Is Other People masterfully merges Gothic and Korean visual aesthetics. However, the series distinguishes itself by intensifying the sense of isolation, honing in on the experiences of a solitary individual navigating an unfamiliar environment.

4. Midnight Mass (2021)

Apart from The Fall of the House of Usher, another compelling horror creation by Mike Flanagan is the miniseries Midnight Mass, available on Netflix. Midnight Mass revolves around a tight-knit community residing on Crockett Island, where supernatural miracles and ominous occurrences begin to unfold with the arrival of a young priest named Father Paul. While the two miniseries share a similar visual style and storytelling approach, Midnight Mass delves into the terrifying aspects of Catholicism, shifting its thematic focus away from wealth. Furthermore, this religious horror series embraces psychological elements over explicit bloodshed and gore.

3. The Sandman (2022-Present)

A Neil Gaiman adaptation, The Sandman, is a captivating tale centered around Dream, a cosmic character tasked with rectifying the havoc caused by his century-long imprisonment and restoring balance to his realm, known as the Dreaming. The series encompasses gothic visuals reminiscent of the atmosphere found in The Fall of The House of Usher. The Sandman possesses a haunting quality characteristic of a 19th-century tale penned by Edgar Allan Poe. In addition, Verna from The Fall of the House of Usher bears a striking resemblance to the seven Endless from The Sandman. However, a notable distinction lies in the fact that the Gaiman series follows a hero rather than a villain.

2. Dark (2017-2020)

Dark, a German sci-fi/horror series on Netflix, delves into the puzzling disappearance of two children in the fictional town of Winden, Germany. As the investigation unfolds, it uncovers intertwined stories of four estranged families spanning across three generations. Time travel and supernatural elements are intricately woven into the narrative, reminiscent of The Fall of the House of Usher, where haunting secrets resurface to haunt the characters. The tension steadily mounts in both series, creating an atmosphere of urgency in every scene. However, Dark distinguishes itself by embracing science fiction elements to elucidate the paranormal, setting it apart from the Flanagan miniseries.

1. Lovecraft Country (2020)

Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's tales, Lovecraft Country follows the journey of Atticus "Tic" Freeman, a Black man, as he embarks on a road trip across 1950s America with his friend Leti and Uncle George in search of his missing father. Both Lovecraft Country and The Fall of the House of Usher include subtle nods to the author who inspired the series. Additionally, these two works share a common ground in exploring the supernatural while addressing real-life issues. Lovecraft Country seamlessly blends Lovecraftian monsters with the horrors of racism.

Editor's P/S

1. The Fall of the House of Usher is a Gothic horror series that has received high ratings and positive reviews. It combines horror and drama in a chilling tale that explores social topics. The series follows the Usher family, who have struck a Faustian deal with a demon named Verna many years ago. The family succumbs to supernatural forces that culminate in their demise. The series debuted to stellar ratings and garnered praise from critics, who applauded Flanagan's skillful storytelling.

2. Unfortunately, the prospects for a second season of The Fall of the House of Usher appear unlikely, as the show concludes Mike Flanagan's tenure with Netflix after his transition to Amazon. However, there are other series by different creators that also encompass comparable themes, storylines, and visual aesthetics. These series include Slasher, The Haunting of Hill House, and Penny Dreadful. Each of these series offers a unique take on the horror genre, and they are all sure to please fans of The Fall of the House of Usher.