The 5 best horror TV shows to binge-watch this weekend

There's more to prepping for Halloween than buying candy and costumes.

For many, October is a great time of year to catch up on your favorite horror films, and the classic "Halloween" franchise is even back in theaters.

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But don't sleep on the horror genre's TV canon, which, admittedly, is not as large as it is in film, but still can scare with the best of them.

For your Halloween pleasure, we've rounded up our five favorite horror TV shows that are available to stream. Watch at your own risk. And maybe during the daylight.

If you like when movies and TV collide: 'Hannibal'

There are few series as graphic, terrifying and visually stunning as "Hannibal" that have ever made it onto broadcast TV. But NBC's low-rated gem pushed the envelope every chance it got, as it brought Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) to life. This is not the horror series for someone with a weak stomach.

Stream it on Amazon.

If you ever wished 'Glee' was scarier: 'American Horror Story'

Over the course of its eight seasons, Ryan Murphy's horror anthology has proved itself to be a uniquely campy, gory and psychological entry into the horror canon, one of the best applications of the genre on TV. Just remember that not every season of "AHS" is created equal. "Cult" and "Hotel" are particularly bad, "Asylum" and "Murder House" are the best, hands down, and the rest range from the average to the very uneven. We can't say for sure if the currently airing season, "Apocalypse," will fall on the good or bad end of the spectrum.So far, it's started off with a blast, pun intended.

Stream it on NetflixAmazon or Hulu.

If you love urban legends: 'Channel Zero'

Like "AHS," Syfy's "Channel Zero" is an anthology horror series where each season follows a different story. Unlike "AHS," "Zero" brings to life Internet urban legends and myths, making it some of the most unique horror you'll see, as well as horror that's intensely rooted in our modern sensibilities.

Stream it on Shudder.

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If you love the gothic: 'Penny Dreadful'

Mixing and mashing characters from classic gothic literature including "Frankenstein," "Dracula," "Dorian Grey," and "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," Showtime's series was a mastery as both a horror show and a period piece. With Eva Greene and Josh Hartnett leading the series with incredible performances, "Dreadful" was the rare horror show that could both terrify and delight.

Stream it on Showtime.

If you want to be afraid of your smartphone: 'Black Mirror'

The episodes of the British sci-fi anthology range in genre from romance to action adventure to sociological study to outright horror, being known mostly for the latter. Whether you like psychological torment, jump scares, creepy creatures or all of the above, there's a "Mirror" episode for you.

Stream it on Netflix.

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