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It’s no secret that the horror genre isn’t for everyone. Horror has always been a niche cinematic genre because it’s a grim form of escapism rather than a pleasant one. Not everyone enjoys the sensations of shock, horror, and disgust that the genre typically elicits. However, the horror genre is evolving, with some projects allowing viewers to enjoy the sensations of suspense and spookiness without some of the typical deterrents of the genre, like gore, jump scares, and body horror.
One such horror series that viewers should watch, even if they hate horror, is Servant. Servant is a six-year-old Apple TV+ series, and its showrunner is none other than M. Night Shyamalan. Boasting Shyamalan’s signature twists and psychological thrills, Servant is a standout horror series that appeals to both horror lovers and skeptics alike.
Servant Isn’t Your Typical Horror Series & For Good Reason
The AppleTV+ Series Bends and Mixes Genres Masterfully
Servant evokes horror through its eerie, creative premise. The series centers on married couple Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) and Sean Turner (Toby Kebbell), who suffer the unimaginable loss of their infant son, Jericho (Mason and Julius Belford). When the couple seeks therapy as the loss renders Dorothy catatonic, an unlicensed therapist urges them to use a reborn doll as a coping mechanism. However, Dorothy comes to treat the doll as if it were her living son, Jericho, going so far as to hire a nanny, Leanne (Nell Tiger Free), to care for the doll.
Leanne’s entry to the home coincides with several bizarre circumstances, including the reborn doll turning into a living baby. In some ways, Servant follows the standards of a typical horror series, with a suspicious figure entering one’s home, followed by bizarre and supernatural occurrences. The inexplicable animation of the reborn doll effectively conveys an aura of dread and eeriness. Servant, though, also leans heavily into the mystery genre. For the entirety of the series, the characters try desperately to solve the puzzle of Jericho’s supposed resurrection.
From episode to episode, viewers will shift between believing the reborn doll is nothing more than a ruse and thinking there is, indeed, a supernatural force and a higher power responsible for the miracle. However, the mystery of Jericho’s resurrection in Servant is just one of many mysteries that rears its head throughout the series. Leanne’s presence and ties to the cult, the Church of Lesser Saints, also raise questions regarding her true intentions and identity.
Meanwhile, even as the mystery of Jericho’s resurrection plays out, the original mystery regarding his death also hangs in the air. Between the mystery and horror, there are also elements of family drama and psychological thriller. Servant dives deep into the minds of Leanne, Dorothy, and Sean, probing the inner workings and exploring concepts of grief, delusions, religious fanaticism, and obsession. Underneath everything is the emotional story of a family struggling to stay together amid grief and family secrets.
Servant Has the King of Horror's Seal of Approval
Stephen King Approves of ‘Extremely Creepy’ Series
Servant has attracted the attention of several prominent figures in the horror genre. Stephen King, the «King of Horror,» Tweeted to support the series following its premiere. He wrote, «SERVANT, on Apple+: Extremely creepy and totally involving. Two episodes and I’m hooked.» Guillermo del Toro, known for his gothic horror, also took the time to recommend Servant shortly after its first season concluded. On Twitter, he described it as a «beautifully crafted, elegant show» that felt like an «European / British slow-burn show.» Del Toro noted the surrealism and praised the subtle, small, creepy details that make the show reminiscent of literary horror.
Both King and del Toro perfectly describe the tone of Servant. The series has a delightfully creepy atmosphere, but is otherwise low on traditional horror elements, such as jump scares, gore, and hauntings. Instead, it relies on aspects like character behavior and cinematography to unsettle viewers. As del Toro said, Servant is a slow-burn show, so viewers are hit with some graphic depictions and scares, but stretched out over four seasons and combined with mystery, drama, surrealism, and psychological thrills. The result is a show that’s binge-worthy and creepy, but never overwhelming.
Ultimately, what makes Servant so watchable for horror fans and skeptics alike is that it widens its perception of what horror is. It’s easy to stereotype horror, with viewers instantly imagining it involves hauntings, exorcisms, or masked murderers. However, Servant takes a different approach, acknowledging that horror can be found in the more mundane. Sometimes horror exists not only in the unknown, but also in the complexities of human nature, grief, loss, life, and death.
Servant isn’t the type of series that will keep viewers up at night afterwards, but it is the kind of series that challenges viewers to think. For much of the series, the truth remains elusive, refusing to reveal to viewers their most significant and burning questions. For some, the mystery may feel almost tedious, but the slow-burn nature of the series only adds to its appeal. The Servant’s primary goal isn’t to terrify audiences, but to puzzle them and introduce them to the Turner family. In doing so, it maintains the perfect balance of tension and suspense while pulling at viewers’ emotions as they become deeply entwined in one family’s secrets and fears.
