The Terror

The Terror

show

TV-14, 2018, Mystery, Drama

WISE
32%

WISE Score

87

Avg. Tomatometer

Prestige horror meets historical tragedy—think Masterpiece Theatre but everyone dies horribly and there's a monster eating them.

IMDb7.8
RT Critics87%
MC76
TMDB7.3
Common Sense Media
Where to Watch
Loading streaming options...
Screenwise Verdict

Look, The Terror is genuinely excellent prestige television—if you're an adult who loves smart, slow-burn horror with historical depth. The production is gorgeous, the acting is top-notch, and it treats both history and horror with respect.

But let's be crystal clear: this is absolutely, positively not for kids or teens. We're talking graphic cannibalism, people freezing to death in excruciating detail, a monster that tears people apart, scurvy-rotted teeth falling out, and an overall atmosphere of hopeless dread. It's the kind of show where you need to check that your teens are actually asleep before you watch it.

The historical angle is legitimately educational—the Franklin Expedition is fascinating, and Season 2's take on Japanese internment camps is thoughtful—but the horror elements are so intense that this isn't sneaking vegetables into dessert; it's more like hiding dessert in a horror show.

For Screenwise purposes, this scores low because it's simply not appropriate for the families we're serving. If you're a parent looking for something to watch after the kids are in bed? Sure, it's great. But this has zero place in any family media library.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults 18+ or very mature 17-year-olds who actively seek out intense horror and can handle graphic violence, psychological terror, and deeply disturbing imagery. Absolutely not for anyone younger.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
25

This is a horror anthology series featuring people in terrifying situations with death, violence, and psychological horror as core elements. The tone is deliberately dark, grim, and emotionally intense—designed to frighten and disturb. Season 1 follows the doomed Franklin Expedition with crew members dying horrifically from cold, starvation, disease, and a supernatural creature. Not emotionally healthy viewing for most audiences, and certainly not modeling cooperation in any wholesome sense.

Imaginative
72

Takes a fascinating historical event (the lost Franklin Expedition) and weaves in supernatural horror elements, creating an atmospheric blend of period drama and creature feature. The show demonstrates creative storytelling by grounding horror in real historical mystery. Season 2 shifts to Japanese-American internment camps with ghost story elements. The imaginative world-building and historical reimagining are genuinely compelling, even if the subject matter is grim.

Safe
15

Multiple serious safety concerns: graphic violence including cannibalism, body horror, gruesome deaths, psychological terror, and disturbing imagery throughout. Characters are mutilated, frozen, diseased, and killed in horrific ways. The supernatural creature attacks are visceral and bloody. This is explicitly adult horror content with trigger warnings for violence, death, gore, and disturbing themes. Completely inappropriate for children or young teens to stumble upon.

Enriching
58

Does offer historical education about the Franklin Expedition and Japanese-American internment (Season 2), exploring themes of survival, leadership under pressure, colonialism, and human resilience. The period detail is meticulous and could spark interest in Arctic exploration history or WWII history. However, the enrichment is heavily wrapped in horror that may overshadow the educational value. Best suited for mature viewers who can process complex themes alongside graphic content.

Parent Info

Why It Might Be Great

  • Exceptional production values with meticulous period detail and atmospheric cinematography that horror fans will appreciate
  • Actually teaches real history (Franklin Expedition, Japanese internment) while delivering genre thrills—educational horror is a rare combo
  • Strong character development and slow-burn storytelling for viewers who want substance with their scares
  • Explores themes of leadership, colonialism, survival, and human nature under extreme pressure

What to Watch For

  • GRAPHIC CONTENT: This is hard-R horror with cannibalism, mutilation, freezing deaths, scurvy, and a creature ripping people apart—absolutely not for kids or young teens
  • Psychological intensity and bleakness throughout—this is deeply depressing horror, not fun scary
  • Slow pacing in a 10-episode season means it's a commitment, and the horror builds gradually
  • Some viewers find the supernatural elements clash with the historical drama tone

Conversation Starters

  • "What do you think the show is saying about how people behave when there's no hope left?"
  • "How does adding a monster change the way you think about what really happened to the Franklin Expedition?"
  • "Which was scarier to you—the supernatural stuff or the realistic survival horror of cold and starvation?"
  • "Do you think the captains made the right decisions, or were they doomed from the start?"
Stills
The Terror — still 1
The Terror — still 2
The Terror — still 3
The Terror — still 4
The Terror — still 5
The Terror — still 6
The Terror — still 7
The Terror — still 8

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Related Guides