Why 'From' Is The Ultimate Horror Series Of The 2020s

By  Published Apr 12, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT After joining Screen Rant in January 2026, Guy became a Senior Features Writer in March of the same year, and now specializes in features about classic TV shows. With several years' experience writing for and editing TV, film and music publications, his areas of expertise include a wide range of genres, from comedies, animated series, and crime dramas, to Westerns and political thrillers. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

The 2020s have been a particularly special decade for television so far, with the likes of Mike Flanagan and the Duffer Brothers pioneering a new golden age for the genre. But the very best series of the decade is a work steeped in horror traditions created by John Griffin, which is returning to our screens later in April.

Now is the opportune moment for genre fanatics who haven’t already discovered to watch the show’s first three seasons, which scratches just about every itch for screen scares any of us could possibly harbor. Among the many great horror , this one is surely the most definitive multi-season drama.

Featuring some of the most of any generation, From plays on our instinctive fears about isolation and imprisonment, as well as engendering a misanthropic mistrust of first impressions, while providing classic horror tropes and jump-scares galore. At the same time, it draws us into a central mystery that only becomes more intriguing with each passing season.

From Is The Best Horror Series Of The Decade So Far

The dead woman from Elgin Williams' visions in From season 3 episode 1

by anyone who’s seen it, thanks primarily to its unerring ability to deliver truly frightening scenes on a consistent basis. Set in a remote town overrun with mysterious monsters who only come out at night, the show transfixes us with a fear of the unknown that becomes more profound as it progresses.

The central question as to the nature of its horrifying creatures of the night is counterbalanced with empathy for the residents of the town, but underscored with bone-chilling encounters between these residents and the monsters. Not content with scaring us stiff, From keeps us guessing every episode, while acknowledging its debt to genre specialists from Hitchcock to Stephen King.

Although there have been plenty of terrific horror series this decade, including several by Mike Flanagan, a terrific TV adaptation of Interview with the Vampire, and HBO’s video game spinoff The Last of Us, none of them captures the spirit of the genre quite like From. This show already feels like a timeless classic, yet still has more to give.

The Monsters In From Are Among Horror's Most Terrifying

The Smiley Creature smiling in From

The lack of is the whole point of the series, as their mysterious nature and origins only make them more terrifying. The creatures take many different forms, frequently shapeshifting into human guises which appeal to the better nature of the people who coexist in a desolate rural town alongside them.

Their deceptive appearances add to the terror they engender, as the town’s residents are often manipulated into trusting them at their peril. The scariest monster in From is also the most iconic in the show. Smiley typically wears a broad grin that’s deeply unsettling, and is the perfect complement for the sadistic violence he inflicts on humans.

What sets From apart from other horror series is the wide array of monsters it features, whose broad range of physical traits within the logic of the show appeal to horror fans without ever compromising the suspension of disbelief. As well as Smiley, the ghostly Children in White and the strangely disarming Jasmine are standout figures of fear.

From Returns On MGM+ On April 19

The release of has given us a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks, as the show returns to MGM+. New episodes will drop on the platform week by week, with the new season premiering on April 19, just one week from now.

According to the trailer, the plot is about to thicken in a major way, as season 4 will pose some disturbing questions about the nature of human protagonist Boyd Stevens’ relationship to the town’s monsters. From continues to enthrall us with its mystery-box approach to storytelling, just as it continues to deliver generation-defining scares in spades.

818 9.5/10 8/10 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Release Date February 20, 2026 Network Epix, MGM+ Directors Jack Bender, Brad Turner, Alexandra La Roche, Bruce McDonald, Jeff Renfroe 7 Images Close

Cast

• Harold Perrineau Boyd Stevens
• Catalina Sandino Moreno Tabitha Matthews

Where to watch Close

WHERE TO WATCH

From is a series revolving around a mysterious American town that ensnares newcomers. Its new and old inhabitants attempt to maintain order while looking for an escape, all the while contending with haunted nighttime threats and perils from the surrounding forest.

Expand Collapse

Follow Followed Like Share Close Trending Now