A horror series that has been described as the “most terrifying” TV show ever made is streaming for free, and fans are being warned to prepare for a chilling experience
One of the most spine-chilling horror series ever made, which viewers insist ‘just gets scarier’ after each episode, is now available to stream for free in the UK.
The Terror, adapted from the acclaimed sci-fi and horror author Dan Simmons’ book of the same name, depicts the ill-fated Franklin Expedition of 1845, which aimed to discover the Northwest Passage, the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via the Arctic Ocean.
Simmons, also the author of the Hyperion Cantos, fictionalised the accounts of the expedition’s Captain Sir John Franklin as two British ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, became trapped in Arctic ice, eventually vanishing without a trace and leaving no survivors.
Across 20 episodes, featuring Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, and Ciaran Hinds amongst others, historical fact is woven with supernatural horror as the crew aboard the Terror succumb to starvation and cannibalism whilst grappling with the mysterious creature that haunts them.
The series, which was recently revived in 2025 following its first two seasons in 2018 and 2019, has received rave reviews on both IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes film and TV review platforms, scoring 7.8 stars out of 10 and an approval rating of 87%, respectively, reports the Express.
Evidence of its bone-chilling nature can be found on Reddit’s Horror subreddit, which boasts over 3 million members who post reviews and pose questions to the site’s leading horror entertainment community.
Horror enthusiasts can watch the programme without charge in the UK via ITVX’s streaming service, following account registration and enduring several advertisements.
Reddit user gtr011191 put forward a query to the online forum: “So just finished The Haunting of Hill House again, just looking for something else now to watch. What, in your opinion, is the most terrifying TV series?”.
Numerous Reddit contributors were swift to suggest The Terror, alongside other programmes, with user Hookums garnering more than 40 upvotes for their comment, “The Terror, season 1. F***ing horrifying. Episode one has some really chilling moments, and it just gets scarier from there.”
On IMDB, a verified critic named mohahaa13 awarded the programme nine out of 10 stars, cautioning audiences: “Going into the series with no expectations or impressions from the novel, and barely reading about the series at all before binge watching it, I was expecting a high-paced master and commander type of series.
“And, while it’s set in roughly the same time period, it’s unlike anything I was expecting. It’s quite suspenseful and chilling.
“Much thanks to the great acting, casting and details. The ambient soundtrack (R.I.P. Marcus Fjellstrom) is fantastic and really helps with the eerie feeling.
“There were some moments that made me feel really at unease. Right up there with the top series for sure. Well worth a watch.”