Psychological thrillers or dark mystery shows are not everyone’s cup of tea. These shows make one think about some dark reality of society that one would rather avoid in their daily lives. Dark shows are different from horror shows. They remind one that ghosts are not what are terrifying, but humans are.
Shows like Black Mirror and 13 Reasons Why are a commentary on the misuse of social media and the indifference of society. Psychological thriller shows explore the psyche of a man and what drives him.
So, if you are ready to jump into the sordid underbelly of the human psyche and society, check out the list of 10 dark and twisted shows you must watch.
The Act
A true crime drama, The Act is based on the life of Gypsy and her mother, Dee Dee. Since Gypsy has been suffering from cancer and remains in the overprotective custody of her mother, slowly, this toxic need to protect her suffocates Gypsy, and she decides to take back her independence by hook or by crook. Starring Joey King and Patricia Arquette, the drama has only one season, which is available to watch on Hulu.
Black Mirror
An anthology series of dystopian future, Black Mirror is a British drama series. Every episode of the series deals with the dark side of technology and how, perversely, it will affect our mindset and behavior. Each episode is a standalone with a total of 6 seasons, available to watch on Netflix.
You
Netflix’s You is a show about Joe Goldberg, a seemingly average man on the surface who is hiding a darker side of himself from everyone. From a harmless crush to an obsession with killing people, Joe is a terrifying man who everyone mistakes for a good guy. Starring Penn Badgley and Elizabeth Lail, the drama series has four seasons out until now, all available to watch on Netflix.
The Haunting of Hill House
A couple with five children moved into Hill House, a house they would renovate and then sell off. After paranormal activities and loss during their stay in Hill House, the family leaves the premises. But after 26 years, the estranged family decided to reunite again at Hill House and face the horrifying past they endured. Directed by Mike Flanagan, the paranormal drama stars Kate Siegel, Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, and Henry Thomas.
13 Reasons Why
Liberty High School is dealing with the sad loss of Hannah Baker, who committed suicide, especially Clay Jensen, who had a crush on her. A few days later, he receives recorded cassette tapes, each with the voice of Hannah Baker, who narrates her miserable time at Liberty High and why she decided to take the tragic step. Starring Katherine Langford, Dylan Minnette, and Brandon Flynn, the American show is produced by Selena Gomez and has four seasons, all available to watch on Netflix.
Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is based on the real-life criminal gang of the Shelby family during the time period after World War 1. Churchill had started a clean-up act of removing street gangs and criminals from the streets of Britain, and the inspector he appointed started paying attention to the ruthless gang, the Peaky Blinders. Starring Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, and Sam Neil, the British crime period drama has 6 seasons, all available to watch on Netflix.
Sharp Objects
Based on Gillian Flynn’s novel, an author known for writing Gone Girl, Sharp Objects brings a female protagonist who is battling inner demons. Camille Parker, a crime reporter, has just finished her stint at a psychiatric asylum for alcoholism and inflicting self-harm. Restarting her life, she returns back to her hometown and takes up a case of the murder of two girls. Starring Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, and Chris Messina, the drama miniseries is available to watch on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
The Handmaid’s Tale
It is a dystopian series in a totalitarian society where fertile women are forced to be handmaids to elites and remain under strict rules. The Golden Globe-winning series follows the handmaiden Offred, who desires to reunite with her daughter. Starring Elizabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, and Alexis Bledel, the show has five seasons available to watch on Hulu.
Riverdale
Archies comics have been a part of childhood reading, but Riverdale adapted those familiar characters and set them in a story that is so much darker than the originals. In the town of Riverdale, a student is found murdered, and somehow, Archie and his group of friends are all involved in this mystery. Starring KJ Apa, Cole Sprouse, and Lili Reinhart, the Netflix show has seven seasons, with the last one just coming out in August 2023.
Dexter
Dexter has a dual identity where he serves as a forensic technician who moonlights as a serial killer at night, with his specific targets being criminals. With his righteous vigilantism of removing criminals who often go unpunished, Dexter deals with both his day-time persona and night-time persona seamlessly. Starring Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, and Jennifer Carpenter, the American crime drama show is available to watch on Hulu.
