The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)

The Haunting of Bly Manor is a slow-burning, character-driven gothic thriller that blends psychological horror with heartfelt drama. When a young American governess is hired to care for two orphaned siblings at the remote Bly estate, she and the household staff — including the reserved owner, his brooding housekeeper, the warm chef, and the pragmatic groundskeeper — begin to confront unsettling apparitions and a tangled, tragic history tied to the manor. Strange occurrences steadily escalate, revealing secrets about grief, memory and the ways love can haunt the living. Viewing experience: expect an eerie, atmospheric mood more than constant jump scares. The series favors lingering shots, careful sound design and a melancholic score to build tension, with moments of genuine fright balanced by emotional, sometimes tender scenes. The storytelling interweaves past and present, slowly peeling back character backstories and moral ambiguities, so the payoff is cumulative rather than instantaneous. Themes of loss, guilt, and what it means to protect or fail a child run through the scares, making the horror often as much about human frailty as supernatural menace. Tone and audience: emotionally affecting and mature, it will appeal to viewers who enjoy literary, haunted-house tales and horror that emphasizes mood, relationships and atmosphere. Watchers should be prepared for poignant, occasionally haunting scenes that linger after the credits.

Actors: Victoria Pedretti, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Amelia Eve

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery

7.4 /10 7.4 /10