It’s Halloween! And besides Christmas, no other holiday has probably gotten as much TV exposure as the season of scares.

From horror-themed episodes to documentaries about haunted places and the occult, scaring the wits out of couch potatoes has become a tradition much like “Trick or Treating.”

But while free TV viewers have to stick it out with their daily doses of telenovelas and a few strained TV specials (that now seem to border more on shock value), cable subscribers have been getting more quality scares thanks to the new seasons of The Walking Dead; American Horror Story and several other series guaranteed to bring a few screams and sleepless nights.

So turn off the lights and curl up on the nearest couch and check out some of the scariest series on TV or DVD!

Zombie days are here again
Based on the comic book series The Walking Dead (TWD) by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, many initially doubted the appeal of a zombie-themed TV drama series. After all, the success of zombie movies such as 28 Days Later, Day of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead or even the Resident Evil series relied on its fright factor, while Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead, was remembered for its comedic take on an apocalyptic world ruled by the undead.

TWD on the other hand focuses more on the drama and the conflicts faced by a small group of people as they try to search for a safe haven and survive a world full of “walkers” (apparently zombie wasn’t in this world’s dictionary).

To say that the series has been well received would be an understatement as it has become a global television phenomenon that no one, not even the network executives who gave it the green light, expected. Its season three premiere shattered its previous records pulling in 50 percent more viewers and scaring 10.9 million viewers in the coveted 18-49 year-old demographic in the US. It has also become the highest rated show on Fox here in the Philippines and many other Asian countries according to Jude Turcuato, VP of Fox International Channels.

Based on the first two episodes, this season is shaping up to be more-fast paced and action-packed, with more walker kills in the premiere episode than the first two seasons combined, and the introduction of several intriguing characters such as The Governor and the Katana-wielding Michonne.

Oh and Merle’s back, and there’s a baby on the way!

With only a total of 22 episodes so far, there is probably no better time to have a DVD marathon of The Walking Dead this long weekend so you could catch up with the new episodes airing every Saturday on Fox (Skycable Ch 50, Destiny Cable Ch 26, Cable Link Ch 51, Cignal Digital TV Ch 41).

Tales of Horror
Another new Halloween favorite is “American Horror Story,” a horror-drama series created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Yep the same guys who created Glee.

But instead of singing, you’ll be screaming along with the cast in this fright fest as it presents a different take on the horror genre, with the primary goal of scaring viewers and making people fall “a little bit off balance” after watching the show.

AHS is described as an anthology series, with each season is conceived as a self-contained miniseries, following a disparate set of characters and settings. The first season anchors on infidelity and follows the story of the Harmon family, who move into a restored mansion, unaware that the home is haunted by its not-so-friendly “former” inhabitants.

The second season, Asylum, takes on sanity and presents a totally different storyline. It tells the stories of the patients, doctors and nuns who occupy Briarcliff Mental Institution, an institution for the criminally insane.

Be warned though as AHS is not for young viewers, with its sexual themes, latex suits, an ax to the gut, decapitations, a Columbine-style school shooting, and a stitched up Frankenbaby all in the first season!

Vampires, werewolves, aliens and company
For those planning a DVD marathon of creepishly-scary stuff, you could also check out True Blood (vampires, werewolves, fairies and shapeshifters); Fringe (alternate reality, specialized bioweapons, and unusual abilities); X-Files (aliens); American Gothic; Fear Itself (serial killers) or classics such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Tales from the Crypt and The Twilight Zone.

Craving for something more local to scare you? Try to find some episodes of these rare horror gems; Midnight DJ; Oka Tokat; Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara; and of course Pinoy Thriller and Regal Shocker.