6 Indian horror shows you can watch on Zee5, Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix if you liked Betaal

After a series of fails, Betaal finally came as an Indian horror show that made true-blue fans of the genre sit up and take notice, or should we say, lose sleep. Created by Patrick Graham, the show has hit the nail on the head with its crossover of Indian folklore with a zombie apocalypse.

The good news is that it isn’t the only one. International series like The Haunting of Hill House and American Horror Story may have notched up our expectations, but show-makers closer to home are listening, too. From psychological scares to twisted tales of the dead, streaming platforms are full of Indian horror shows that deliver the goods. Here’s our pick of the best.  

Typewriter

An old typewriter, a haunted villa and a group of wannabe ghost hunters—four kids and a labrador—that’s the setting Sujoy Ghosh chose for his five-episode show set in Bardez, Goa. A series of bizarre incidents start taking place inside a picturesque bungalow as a new family moves in, setting the stage for a tale that goes from spooky to down-right chilling. Don’t let the kids angle lull you into thinking it’s a tame affair—Typewriter is anything but that.

Streaming on Netflix

Ghoul

The three-part mini-series, starring Radhika Apte and Manav Kaul, was Netflix’s foray into the Indian horror space. Tension and fear brew at every corner of a remote military interrogation centre where a dreaded terrorist has been brought in. The dystopian political drama soon meets Arabic folklore, unleashing a demonic monster that wants to ‘finish the task, reveal their guilt, eat their flesh’. With top-notch production values and a tightly-woven plot that does not rely on standard horror tropes, this one is for those who like spooky with some imagination and intelligence.

Streaming on Netflix

Parchhayee: Ghost stories by Ruskin Bond

As kids, Ruskin Bond’s ghost stories always had a dual effect on us. They scared us with their shocking twists and they charmed us with some endearing characters. This show does the same. Not a typical ghostly affair, this one can be watched by children and adults alike. Every handpicked tale in the show transports the audience to a different world, with a variety of known actors bringing their talented presence to the table. A bit of spook here and there, Parchhayee is for those who want just a hint of shivers down their spine.  

Streaming on ZEE5

Shockers

Shockers features two seasons and 12 unique stories, all bound by one theme—horror. As the title suggests, there are some shocking revelations at the end of each of the chilling episodes. The director relies on the actors’ performances and the broody aesthetics to bring out the spook factor in each story. What also makes the episodes stand out is the talented cast with actors like Dia Mirza, Kalki Koechlin, Amit Sadh and Prateik Babbar among others.

Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar

Bhram

In the series, there’s a sense of foreboding right from the word go. A traumatised woman, played by Kalki Koechlin, heads to a hill-station for some solace, but soon starts seeing a mysterious girl in her hallucinations. More than a spook-fest, this one is a thriller with a heady combination of paranormal and psychological elements thrown in. Along with the element of suspense, a show like Bhram relies heavily on its protagonist’s shoulder, and Kalki’s dependable presence and eerie performance pretty much takes care of it.

Streaming on ZEE5

Darr Sabko Lagta Hai

Prefer zombies to spirits or paranormal activities to pure ghost stories? The show has it all. The 20-episode series sees host-cum-actor Bipasha Basu meet a variety of people who have had spooky experiences, with each episode telling a different story. While some of them might seem too mild for a true horror fan, a few stand out for the chills they manage to send down your spine.

Streaming on Netflix

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