Television series

Van Helsing

Name: Van Helsing
Genre: Drama, Action, Horror
Released: 2016
Cast: Jonathan Scarfe, Kelly Overton, Aleks Paunovic, Rukiya Bernard, Christopher Heyerdahl

Other titles called Van Helsing: the 2004 film.

Van Helsing is a Syfy action-horror series following a woman awakened into a vampire-dominated future, discovering she has mysterious power over the undead. It's earnest B-movie fun: bright neon action, committed ensemble cast, and a premise that doesn't apologize for its pulp DNA. For fans of horror who want stakes without nihilism, and action without pretense.

TVMaze rating

3.4

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a long, lurid, pulpy vampire apocalypse with a heroine who keeps swinging, and you don't mind the B-movie gloss.

Skip it if you prize subtlety, since this is loud, blunt and cheerfully silly, and an hour of broad strokes per episode can wear thin over five seasons.

What it asks of you: Sixty-five hour-long episodes across five seasons, so expect a long commitment, with a brisk, action-first rhythm rather than slow dread.

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

If you liked this

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Another genre show built on monster-hunting and ensemble chemistry, with similarly ambitious worldbuilding and a cast that commits fully to the mythology. Henry Cavill's Geralt has that same gruff-exterior-soft-interior energy as Vanessa.

But Production design and pacing are inconsistent early on; the first season can feel scattered while it finds its footing, and some viewers find the tone shifts jarring.

Supernatural2005

The godfather of CW-network monster hunting. Fifteen seasons of found-family chemistry, creature-of-the-week stories, and genuine emotional stakes. If you loved Van Helsing's ensemble, this is the deep well.

But It's very long and wilts in the middle seasons; committing to all of it is a real time investment, and the quality is uneven.

Ash vs Evil Dead2015

Bruce Campbell fighting deadites with chainsaws and one-liners—pure mayhem with genuine heart underneath. Same B-movie confidence, same willingness to be ridiculous while staying emotionally grounded.

But Only three seasons before cancellation; it ends on a cliffhanger, and some gore and comedy beats won't land if splatter-horror isn't your lane.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Van Helsing

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Underworld2003

Both feature a female lead discovering her latent power and leading a war against creatures; both embrace being genre entertainment without pretending to be more.

Kate Beckinsale as a vampire warrior in a hidden war between vampires and werewolves. Slick action, committed gothic atmosphere, and a protagonist with real agency. Two hours of pure fun without apology.

But PG-13 bloodless action and a thin plot; it's style entirely over substance, and the mythology is window dressing for the cool leather and gunfights.

Constantine2014

A demon-hunter surrounded by occult lore and a scrappy team fighting impossible odds. Matt Ryan commits so hard to the role that you forgive the show's TV-budget constraints. Genuinely eerie atmosphere.

But Cancelled after one season; there's no resolution, and the pilot is slow. The occult mythology can feel impenetrable if you're not already into that world.

Midnight, Texas2017

A small town full of supernatural beings hiding from the world, banding together against external threats. Scrappy, ensemble-driven, and surprisingly warm for a show about monsters and curses.

But Only two seasons and deeply uneven; the mythology gets muddled, and some storylines feel abandoned.

The Strain2014

Guillermo del Toro's vampire apocalypse: vampires aren't sexy here, they're parasitic plagues. Bleak, inventive creature design, and a slow-burn narrative that treats the stakes seriously.

But Increasingly dark and grim; by season four, hope is scarce and suffering is relentless. Some viewers find it exhausting rather than gripping.

Grimm2011

A detective can see supernatural creatures hiding in Portland. Monster-of-the-week structure with an overarching mythology; excellent world-building and supporting cast, lighter tone than Van Helsing.

But Six seasons means some filler; the mythology becomes repetitive, and the final season rushes toward an unsatisfying ending.

Penny Dreadful2014

Literary horror: Dracula, Frankenstein, Dorian Gray all converge. Gorgeous gothic atmosphere, phenomenal ensemble cast, and scripts that take themselves seriously without being pretentious.

But Only two seasons (plus a separate limited series); it ends abruptly. Slow-burn pacing and gothic gloom won't satisfy viewers after constant action.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer1997

The ancestor of shows like Van Helsing: a young woman with unexpected power against overwhelming supernatural forces, surrounded by a loyal team. Perfect balance of humor, horror, and genuine emotion.

But 1990s TV production values are visible; early seasons can feel campy. Some mythology is dated, and seven seasons is a full commitment.

The Platform2019

Both use a survival scenario to explore what happens when normal people are forced into impossible circumstances; both ask what you'd become to protect others.

A Spanish sci-fi horror film about survival in a vertical prison where class inequality is literally stacked. Visceral, inventive, and genuinely unsettling. Nothing like anything on network TV.

But Deliberately bleak and without heroes; it's a critique disguised as horror, and there's no catharsis or victory. Subtitled, slow, and morally ambiguous.

In the Flesh2013

Both feature protagonists with supernatural power struggling to bridge the divide between humanity and the undead; both ground fantastic premises in character and consequence.

A short BBC series: zombies return to consciousness and humanity grapples with what they are. Emotional, strange, and treats its premise as a social allegory rather than just action fodder. Extraordinary supporting cast.

But Only three seasons and deliberately paced; there's no bombastic finale, and the show asks questions rather than answering them. Not what you want if you came for monster kills.