Entertainment

6 Horror Shows 'Z Nation' Fans Should Watch

by Molly Freeman

Because of Hollywood's love of zombies, there are plenty of dramas on television about the undead walking among the living — y'know for people who can watch that kind of thing without having nightmares. Syfy's Z Nation is just one of the zombie dramas currently on television and, although it's not as much of a ratings powerhouse as AMC's The Walking Dead, it has built up a following of its own. So, fans of the zombie drama will be happy to know that after it concludes its second season, Z Nation will return for Season 3 in 2016, though an exact date hasn't been set just yet. (The first two seasons premiered in September, though, so I'd count on that.)

But, with so much time to pass until Z Nation returns, what will we do? Well, thanks to the recent resurgence of horror on television, there's plenty of other series about everything that goes bump in the night, from zombies to werewolves to vampires. So, I've compiled a list of six shows — some that include zombies and some that don't, in case you need a break from the living dead — of the horror persuasion to keep you busy until Z Nation returns. Of course, I'd recommend not marathoning any of these before bed, but you do you.

1. The Walking Dead

C'mon, did you think I would leave this off? Sure, zombie shows aren't interchangeable, but it's safe to say this drama about a post-apocalyptic world has amassed such a massive following because it's good. So, if you haven't already checked it out, the first five seasons are on Netflix.

2. The Strain

From the mind of Guillermo del Toro, this FX horror series deals with an outbreak of a new form of vampirism and the people who are battling to save humanity. With plenty of creepy visuals, this vampire-apocalypse show is sure to scare you. The first season is available on Hulu.

3. Ash vs Evil Dead

More along the lines of campy horror, this new Starz series is a continuation to Sam Raimi's cult-classic films in the Evil Dead universe. In the new series, Ash Williams returns to face off with the Deadites (things possessed by demons) in an effort to save all of mankind. The show is currently in its first season, but the first episode is available for free on the Starz website.

4. From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series

Another horror show based on a cult classic, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series follows the Gecko brothers, Seth and Richie, who start off as bank robbers before being roped into a vampire plot, so it's sort of horror-meets-western. The first season is available on Netflix.

5. In the Flesh

Set in a world where zombies are integrated into the world's population, In the Flesh is a miniseries drama about a teenager that must confront a community who had a chilly welcome to his return. The three-episode series is available to watch on Amazon.

6. Hemlock Grove

Executive produced by Eli Roth (who has scarred movie viewers forever with films like Hostel and The Green Inferno), Hemlock Grove follows the residents of a small Pennsylvania town that also has a werewolf population. Between the politics and the crime in this small town, Hemlock Grove is horrifying in many ways. If that has piqued your interest, all three seasons of the series are on Netflix.

So, whether you need another zombie show to tide you over until Z Nation returns, or if you're looking for anything horror-related, these series will keep you busy — and hiding under your bed.

Images: Daniel Sawyer Schaefer/Go2 Z Ice/Syfy; Giphy (6)