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The 10 Scariest Horror Anthology TV Shows

There's something about horror that makes it a natural fit for the anthology format. From the days of yore when ye olde folks would tell each other ghost stories around the fire, the horror genre arguably works best in short bursts – just enough to build up a sense of dread and then wallop the audience with a big scare at the end.

5) American Horror Story

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Ask anyone to name a horror anthology show and they’ll most likely first think of American Horror Story. The Ryan Murphy-created series has made such a mark on television that it’s redefined the anthology show format – ushering in a new age of the anthology miniseries that also includes True Detective and American Crime Story,

As you’ll probably already know, AHS doesn’t offer a new story every week but changes the setting and cast of characters each season. Its MO is simple; the writers take a well-worn horror setting and spin their own crazy take on it.

Be it a haunted house, a mental asylum, a creepy hotel or a freak show. The only connective tissue between the wholly different storylines are a repertoire of recurring actors – such as Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Katy Bates, Jessica Lange and, most recently, Lady Gaga.

Due to the nature of the show, some years are more successful than others, but AHS always offers a unique blend of disturbing, surreal and psychosexual horror that makes it perhaps the strangest hit show currently on the air.