Folklore has long been a wellspring of fear and fascination in the form of stories designed to warn, to frighten, and to shield from hidden powers. In recent years, contemporary horror television series have drawn heavily from these ancient traditions, breathing new life into timeless anxieties and making them resonate with modern audiences. Rather than relying solely on shock tactics and visceral bloodshed, many of today’s most compelling horror shows use folklore as a structural foundation, embedding collective traumas and enduring icons into their storytelling.
Shows like American Horror short ghost story, The Witcher, and Midnight Mass incorporate regional myths and superstitions to ground their paranormal phenomena in a sense of cultural truth. For example, the use of Balkan and Rusyn traditions in The Witcher, with its female demons and cursed revenants, adds layers of historical resonance that go beyond visual shock value. These creatures are not just scary because they appear monstrous