Just in time for Halloween, master of the macabre Guillermo del Toro opened the first two doors of his new Netflix horror anthology series Cabinet of Curiosities on October 25th, 2022. With two new episodes released each day until October 28th, horror fans everywhere should have plenty of terrifying content to keep them busy as All Hallows Eve fast approaches.
While it's easy to trace a direct lineage to the sci-fi show The Outer Limits and crime drama Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Cabinet of Curiosities also belongs to a more horror-centric crop of TV anthology shows every horror fan should check out at least once.
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
Available On Paramount+
The definitive horror anthology that laid the blueprint for the rest to come, The Twilight Zone is easily the most influential TV series that del Toro can't help but show his affection for on Cabinet of Curiosities. Just like host Rod Serling did, del Toro introduces each episode with high camp and kitsch.
Although Jordan Peele rebooted the venerated horror anthology in 2019, the original stands the test of time through compelling, well-written, and downright mortifying stories that continue to be adapted and retold across various mediums. For instance, one of The Twilight Zone's best episodes includes "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." It remains one of the scariest episodes in TV history, with George Miller translating the terrifying tale as a big-screen movie adaptation.
Night Gallery (1969-1973)
Available On YouTube
Also hosted by Rod Serling, Night Gallery takes the basic premise of The Twilight Zone and leans into scarier and more supernatural storytelling. Each episode is symbolized by a painting on the wall of a moldering museum, much like each episode in Cabinet of Curiosities is represented by a new level. Even episode 5, "Pickman's Model," features a fey painting.
From wicked witchcraft, haunted houses, and vicious vampires to evil aliens, ghastly ghost ships, grotesque creature features, creepy cannibals, and a lot more, Night Gallery has a fantastic selection of short stories sure to captivate every type of horror fan. It may be more of a cult favorite compared to the massively popular Twilight Zone, but it's arguably even more terrifying.
Tales From The Darkside (1983-1988)
Not Available For Streaming
Adapted into a solid movie in 1990, Tales From The Darkside is one of the most underrated horror anthologies on record. It's a must-watch for fans of Cabinet of Curiosities, especially with stories like "The Grave Robber," "Beetles," and "Moth" paralleling "Graveyard Rats" quite a bit. Even the first chapter, "Lot 36", sounds like "Lot 249," the first entry in Tales From The Darkside: The Movie.
While the qualities of the stories over four seasons may be uneven and also feature a comedic sensibility at times, the most frightening chapters – like "Inside the Closet," "Halloween Candy," and the Christmas episode "Seasons of Belief" and its baleful boogeyman The Grither – prove that Tales From The Darkside had more harrowing originality than most anthology shows.
Amazing Stories (1985-1987)
Available On NBC
If people took the family-centric sensibilities of Amblin Entertainment and fused them with the morbid mannerisms of Night Gallery, the result would resemble Amazing Stories, a must-see anthology show created by Steven Spielberg. Tapping into childhood fears and wonderment, it'd be shocking if del Toro didn't watch this show growing up.
Whether riding on a ghost train, exploring Voodoo, reviving dead spouses, fighting deadly wigs, building creepy Annabelle-like dolls, or subverting holidays like Thanksgiving to tell original and genuinely unnerving horror vignettes, Amazing Stories lives up to its title and then some.
Tales From The Crypt (1989-1996)
Available On iTunes
Based on the 1950s EC Comics, Tales From The Crypt is arguably the most entertaining horror anthology in TV history. Between the ghoulish crypt keeper introducing each sinister story and the overt dark comedy the show imbues, the show brilliantly channels the sensibility of the source material. It also proved to be a start for talented up-and-coming actors, writers, and directors who went on to do big things in the horror genre.
While Cabinet of Curiosities takes a slightly more grave approach in terms of tone and tenor, Tales From The Crypt still has enough scares and authentic thrills and chills to rival any horror anthology. For instance, Robert Zemeckis' "And All Through the House," a bone-clattering sadistic Santa Claus episode, is even scarier than the version featured in the 1972 Tales From The Crypt movie.
Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1990-2000)
Available On Paramount+
Although remade for Nickelodeon in 2019, fans of Cabinet of Curiosities are far better served to watch the original horror anthology Are You Afraid of the Dark?, which ran for seven seasons and 91 episodes during the 1990s. The story centers around a group of teenagers who gather in the woods by a campfire at night and tell each other blood-curdling spook stories.
A morbid mixture of The Monster Squad and The Midnight Club aimed toward a younger demographic, the acclaimed anthology also has more than enough in common with del Toro's latest, using classic horror tropes and tenets to put new spins on old myths. This includes getting through creatures, like Zeebo the creepy clown in "The Tale of Laughing in the Dark."
Masters Of Horror (2005-2007)
Available On Roku
Beyond The Twilight Zone and Night Gallery, Masters of Horror is the closest horror anthology resembling Cabinet of Curiosities. Both series showcase the talents of a venerated horror director, with each getting the full autonomy and creative license to tell their specific story. So far, Cabinet has featured the work of Guillermo Navarro, Vincenzo Natali, David Prior, and Ana Lily Amirpour.
Similarly, Masters of Horror features the directorial acumen of Tobe Hooper, Stuart Gordon, Dario Argento, and other legendary horror filmmakers who put their unique stamp on each scarifying vignette. However, most agree that John Carpenter's "Cigarette Burns" is the best Masters of Horror episode and is head and shoulders above the rest for its spellbinding and hair-raising terror.
Slasher (2016-Present)
Available On Netflix & Shudder
Viewers specifically drawn to the brutal graphic carnage depicted in Cabinet of Curiosities are sure to find relish in Slasher, the underrated Chiller/Netflix/Shudder anthology series that focuses on one masked serial killer each season who carries out a string of hyper-violent massacres. Both shows also feature 8 episodes per season.
Unlike most TV shows that end up jumping the shark at some point, Slasher gets stronger with each passing season, with season 4 marking the high point. The sinister tale of the Galloway Family proves Slasher is becoming more interested in strong storytelling than abject violence, making it a perfect companion to del Toro's baleful brand of unpredictable plotting.
Into The Dark (2018-2021)
Available On Hulu
Made in conjunction with Blumhouse Productions, Hulu's Into the Dark is a hit-or-miss horror anthology with each episode specifically tailored around a holiday. Much like Cabinet of Curiosities, each chapter showcases the talents of a new international director, including the likes of Daniel Stamm, Patrick Lussier, Sophia Takal, Emma Tami, and more.
Aside from Judy Greer's awesome turn in the killer puppy dog episode "Good Boy," the two Christmas holiday-themed horror anthology episodes — Nacho Vigalondo's "Pooka" and Charles Hood's "A Nasty Piece of Work" — are the clear standouts that prove Into the Dark is more than just a gimmicky horror anthology.
Creepshow (2019)
Available On AMC+ & Shudder
Adapted to the small screen from the classic 1982 Stephen King/George A. Romero horror anthology, Creepshow may not be as strong as its source material but still has enough petrifying doses of terror to engross any fan of Cabinet of Curiosities.
With a campy comic book tableau inspiring each episode, the Shudder original series produced by The Walking Dead's Greg Nicotero features everything from rabid werewolves, sinister scarecrows, and monkey paws to lethal leeches, seductive sirens, mutated spiders, deadly shower monsters, and more. And just like Cabinet of Curiosities, each chapter is helmed by directors with solid horror movie track records, with the best coming via season 1's "All Hallows Eve/The Man In The Suitcase," which is perfect for Halloween.