Television series

Friday the 13th: The Series

Name: Friday the 13th: The Series
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Released: 1987
Cast: Louise Robey, Chris Wiggins, John D. LeMay, Steve Monarque

A syndicated horror anthology where two cousins hunt cursed antiques sold by their uncle to the Devil. Each object grants wishes at a terrible cost. It's a weekly dose of inventive supernatural horror with a stable cast and recurring mythology—think monster-of-the-week but with real stakes and a throughline that matters. For horror fans who want something entertaining without pretension.

TVMaze rating

3.5

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like cursed-object stories where every wish comes with a grim bill, and you enjoy eighties syndicated horror's cheerful sleaze and bold, unpolished craft.

Skip it if you need restraint, since the show leans into lurid, broadly played episodes and rough production values that a modern viewer may find campy rather than frightening.

What it asks of you: Seventy-two hour-long episodes asks for a long commitment, though each one largely stands on its own enough to dip into, and the mood stays gleefully grim rather than slow.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

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The Twilight Zone1959

The DNA of Friday the 13th's structure: standalone supernatural stories with twist endings and moral weight. Rod Serling's scripts prove that formula, done right, never gets old. Each episode lands differently.

But Pacing is slow by modern standards. The black-and-white photography feels distant. Some episodes are clunky where you expect elegance.

Night Gallery1969

Rod Serling again, but darker and more explicitly horrific. Ghosts, curses, and objects of power. The aesthetic is pure 1970s dread—heavier and weirder than Twilight Zone, closer to Friday the 13th's occult energy.

But Unevenly written and occasionally silly. A few episodes feel padded. The host segments can interrupt momentum.

Tales from the Darkside1984

A direct spiritual sibling: syndicated horror anthology with practical effects, creeping dread, and genuine scares. Darker and more cynical than Friday the 13th, but the same weekly horror fix aimed at adult audiences who wanted something meaner.

But Quality varies wildly episode to episode. Some premises are better than their execution. A few feel like they're killing time.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Friday the 13th: The Series

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Quarry2020

Both understand that curses are inherited and deeply personal. Both treat the supernatural not as spectacle but as a weight characters carry. Both find horror in specificity and texture rather than in spectacle.

A Black horror film about blood rituals and cursed objects in rural Louisiana. Character-driven, steeped in real dread, visually stunning. Doesn't lean on jump-scares—it's mood and consequence. Modern indie horror done right, with an understanding of genre history.

But Slow-burn. The pacing demands patience. Some viewers will find it too deliberate. The ending is ambiguous in ways that frustrate. Not mainstream horror; feels more like art film.

The X-Files1993

Monster-of-the-week television done at its best. Two protagonists investigating the supernatural; mythology arc that builds over seasons. It proved the format could sustain network prestige and genuine scares without sacrificing character.

But By season 5 it's running on fumes. Mythology episodes are uneven. The show's length means real patience is required.

American Horror Story2011

Modern heir to the anthology tradition with big budgets and A-list casting. Each season is a contained story. Visually ambitious and not afraid of visceral horror. Direct descendant of Friday the 13th's ethos but with prestige-TV resources.

But Tries too hard sometimes. Tonal whiplash between camp and genuine tragedy. Later seasons lose focus. Shock value occasionally substitutes for story.

The Night Stalker1972

A reporter investigates the supernatural week to week, armed with curiosity and a camera. The monster-of-the-week template Friday the 13th inherited. Darren McGavin's performance carries the show; the creatures are genuinely inventive.

But Only one season. Limited budget shows. Pacing drags in places. Some episodes resolve too easily, undermining the threat.

The Outer Limits1963

Science fiction horror anthology with practical creature effects and real atmosphere. Each episode feels like a miniature film. The creatures are memorable because they had to be built, not rendered—there's weight to them.

But Some episodes are genuinely dull. Acting is sometimes overwrought. The host device is intrusive. The pacing assumptions of 1963 television show themselves.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer1997

Genre television elevated by writing and character investment. The mythology matters. Supernatural threats are personal and specific. It proved TV horror could be smart, funny, and genuinely moving without losing its edge.

But The first season is rough. Some standalone episodes are forgettable. Later seasons lose the balance between comedy and dread. It's a massive time commitment.

Eerie, Indiana1991

Surreal small-town horror with a lighter touch. Weird things happen in an ordinary place; the town itself becomes a character. There's genuine strangeness alongside humor. A cult gem that proves the format works outside darkness.

But Cancelled after one season. Tonal shifts can feel jarring. Some episodes prioritize quirk over coherence. Not as focused on horror as Friday the 13th itself.