Horror maestro Stephen King has thrown his weight behind a spine-chilling French Netflix series that keeps viewers awake at night. The acclaimed author, known for masterpieces like IT, Carrie, and The Shining, took to social media to share his enthusiasm: “If you’re one of those people–like me–who enjoys being scared, Marianne will do the job”.
Stephen King Netflix Perfect Scores and Terrifying Tales

With an impeccable 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics have hailed Marianne as “pure nightmare fuel,” praising its “smart and scary” approach to horror. “It features the most unsettling pair of eyes since Nicolas Cage in Vampire’s Kiss,” the critics’ consensus declares, setting a high bar for psychological terror.
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A Story of Haunting Returns

The eight-episode French series follows Emma, a successful horror novelist whose past comes back to haunt her in the most literal sense. When she returns to her quiet hometown, a childhood friend makes a chilling confession – she believes she’s the witch from Emma’s novels. This revelation sets in motion a series of events that force Emma to confront the nightmarish entity that tormented her dreams fifteen years ago.
Stranger Things Meets Stephen King

Stephen King noted the series’ unique atmosphere, stating it has “glints of humor that give it a Stranger Things vibe” and, with characteristic modesty, acknowledged its similarity to his own work. This comparison has particularly resonated with viewers seeking to fill the void left by Stranger Things’ extended hiatus.
Viewer Reactions and Testimonials

Reviews have been full of two things: high praise and terror. “Just finished watching Marianne on Netflix and it’s the scariest thing I’ve ever watched in my whole life,” one viewer proclaimed. Another early viewer shared their immediate reaction: “Just finished the first episode of Netflix’s Marianne and I am scared for my life. Good start!”
Audience members have been particularly effusive in their praise, with one declaring it “Possibly the best horror series I’ve ever seen”. Another viewer described it as “horror at its finest,” while a third affirmed it as “One of the scariest shows I’ve seen. Very well written, acted and directed”.
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Behind the Curtain

Creator Sam Bodin had ambitious plans for the series, revealing to one publiction that he “really wanted to do three seasons. The story in my head takes three seasons, three acts… Three big chapters”. Despite its critical acclaim, Netflix made the decision to conclude the series after its initial run. As disappointing as having the series cut short, we’re still left with an excellent product – even if unfinished.
Other Notable Horror Series on Netflix

For viewers who enjoyed Marianne, Netflix offers an impressive collection of other critically acclaimed horror series. Death Note, an anime psychological thriller about a supernatural notebook that grants lethal powers, holds a perfect 100% Tomatometer score. The Order, following a college student who joins a secret society, and Crazyhead, about a demon-seeing twentysomething, both maintain impressive 100% ratings as well.
For fans of darker fare, Ash vs Evil Dead brings Bruce Campbell back as the iconic chainsaw-handed hero with a near-perfect 99% rating, while the German mystery series Dark delves into small-town secrets with a 95% critic score. The haunting Castlevania, inspired by the video game series, has earned a 94% rating for its dark medieval fantasy storytelling. And of course, any of Mike Flanagans work – The Haunting of Hill House, The Fall of The House of Usher The Haunting of Bly Manor, Gerald’s Game (actually also a Stephen King netflix story), Midnight Mass, and The Midnight Club are all excellent choices.