Eli Roth's History of Horror Episode Rating Graph

Slasher films killed in the ’80s, but their violence, perceived misogyny, and endless sequels almost ended the genre. Supernatural killers Chucky and Freddy saved them from extinction.

Zombies are the monsters of the 21st century, and America's major contribution to horror. What set off zombie fever? All roads lead to George Romero, who made zombies a metaphor for social ills.

Slashers got sophisticated in the '90s, evolving from Freddy Krueger to Candyman to the terrifying Hannibal Lector. The 2000s brought "torture porn" – a response to post-9/11 panic.

The history of monster movies is also the history of the evolution of special effects technology; whatever their size or shape and whatever they represent, for many horror fans monsters are the best part of the genre.

Holiday mayhem, including "Black Christmas," "Krampus," "Silent Night Deadly Night," "Terror Train," "My Bloody Valentine," "Mother's Day," "April Fool's Day," "Happy Death Day" and the 2018 "Halloween," featuring returning guest Jamie Lee Curtis.

Sometimes disgusting, body horror films makes audience members question their prejudices against physical difference, their attitudes about sex and gender, their fear of disease and contamination, and how much appearance determines destiny.

In films like "The Dead Zone," "Scanners," "Doctor Sleep" and "Beetlejuice," horror superstars Stephen King, David Cronenberg, Mike Flanagan, Brian DePalma, Sam Raimi, Peter Jackson and Tim Burton bring psychic powers to the screen in thrilling ways.

Parents are supposed to love their children, no matter how awful their kids may be. The films highlighted in this episode may not solve the mystery of where evil comes from, but they have a terrifically terrifying time raising the question.

Fans of horror films, like "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3," "Psycho II," "The First Purge," "Bride of Chucky," "Scream 2" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," say sometimes sequels are as good or even better than the originals.

Nine Nightmares is a deep dive into nine uncategorizable films that push the boundaries of horror. Great films that entertain us and provoke us. Films that put society under a microscope, making us question not just what we fear, but why we fear it.

Home is where the heart is, unless one lives in a house of hell. Whether they're filled with specters or psychos, every house of hell pokes at illusions of comfort and safety.

From Frankenstein to Frank N. Furter, mad scientists smash the barriers of polite society; featuring "Frankenstein," "Ex Machina," "The Invisible Man," "The Fly," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "Altered States" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."