Loved ‘Carrie’? These four dark teen dramas should be next
Loved ‘Carrie’? These four dark teen dramas should be next
From haunted mansions to psychic teenagers and a terrifying clown, these four shows take childhood trauma to some very dark places.
I started 2026 reading all of Stephen King’s biggest novels, from “The Shining” to “Pet Sematary” (one of my favorite books of all time). The irony is that I never got to “Carrie.” Now, I see it as a blessing because I could experience Mike Flanagan’s modern take on King’s first published novel totally fresh… and it’s not what most people expected. More teen drama than dark horror, it takes bullying, isolation, cruelty, and teenage trauma to the ultimate, supernatural climax. I loved the modern update, using documentary-style interviews to get different perspectives on what happened in Chamberlain. All episodes dropped at once, so if you’re already finished (and loved it), you need a new show. And I’m here to help. Here’s what to watch next if you loved “Carrie” on Prime Video.
Carrie
After her father’s sudden, untimely death thrusts her into the unforgiving ecosystem of public high school, Carrie is forced to navigate a viral bullying scandal that tears through her community, the relentless pressure and casual cruelty of the social‑media age, and the awakening of mysterious telekinetic powers that rise alongside her adolescence.
Loved ‘Carrie’? Watch: ‘The Haunting of Hill House’
This is the most obvious next stop if you’ve never watched it. “The Haunting of Hill House” is another Mike Flanagan show, adapted from Shirley Jackson’s novel before he took on “Carrie.” It follows five siblings who grew up in a haunted mansion, and when one of them dies by suicide years later, the rest are forced to confront the trauma they experienced as children. There’s that word again: trauma. You see it in flashbacks at Hill House in the 1990s and also as adults in the present day.
Just like “Carrie,” this show is as much about emotional suffering as it is about terrifying spirits going bump in the night. But instead of teenage bullying, you get a look at family trauma, suicide, secrets, addiction, and ultimately a broken family trying to reconcile what they’ve been through. You’ll see some familiar faces too, as Kate Siegel (who plays Theo) and Samantha Sloyan (who plays Leigh Crain) both appear in “Carrie.”
The Haunting of Hill House
Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.
Check out: ‘Yellowjackets’
You’re never quite sure if what you’re seeing in “Yellowjackets” is supernatural or just a manifestation of a specific character’s disturbed point of view. And that’s part of the (spooky) fun. The show follows a high school girls’ soccer team whose plane crashes deep in the Canadian wilderness. With no help on the way and no way out, the girls slowly turn on each other to try and stay alive — and that includes cannibalism. For me, this is the most entertaining part of the show. But you also get a look at how the survivors are coping 25 years later… and the answer is not well.
The connection to “Carrie” is that you get a close look at just how cruel teenage girls can be, especially when pushed to the absolute edge. Themes of popularity, jealousy, isolation and psychological trauma are in both shows, though “Yellowjackets” is darker and more ensemble-driven. There’s also a mystery element as it ever-so-slowly shows you what really happened out there in the woods. With the final season on the way, it’s the perfect time to jump in.
Yellowjackets
This equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama tells the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later.
Watch next: ‘The Institute’
This was kind of an underrated show. Another Stephen King adaptation, “The Institute” tells the story of a teenage genius, Luke Ellis, who’s kidnapped and wakes up in what seems like a facility for kids with psychic abilities. It turns out whoever is running this place is doing experiments on them, and it’s up to Luke and the rest of the kidnapped supernatural kids to figure out what’s happening and how to get the heck out of there.
There’s obviously a supernatural connection to “Carrie” with kids who have telepathy and telekinesis powers. But the deeper connection is how kids are controlled by the adults who fear them or want to take advantage of their power. Now, this one leans more into the conspiracy thriller space than a dark teen drama, but there are enough similarities here to keep “Carrie” fans intrigued.
The Institute
When 14 year old genius Luke Ellis is kidnapped, he awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did, and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won’t last, as his story and Luke’s are destined to collide.
Wildcard pick: ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’
“It” is one of the books I reread this year (I read it back in high school), and I loved it as much as I did as a kid. It’s scary as hell but captures that really specific coming-of-age energy of the kids at the center of this horror story. Now, “IT: Welcome to Derry” expands on the mythology introduced in the book, where you’re back in Derry, Maine, but this time it’s decades before the events in the “It” movies. The basic premise is that children start disappearing, and a group of 13-year-olds try to figure out what’s happening… eventually running into Pennywise, the supernatural clown who makes your nightmares come true.
Obviously, both “Carrie” and “IT: Welcome to Derry” come from the mind of Stephen King. And they both carry this theme of outsiders being bullied and disregarded by the people around them (the character of Lilly in particular resembles Carrie in more ways than one). But be warned, the horror is a lot more extreme. Pennywise preys on children’s fears, bringing to life that which terrifies them most. It’s darker, more violent and gory, but if you want to go deeper into King’s deranged world, this is the show to do it.
IT: Welcome to Derry
In 1962, amid a spate of unexplained disappearances of local children, a group of misfit friends begin to suspect a long-buried ancient evil lurking. As the kids set out to determine what’s really going on, a rising unease prompts several townspeople to work together to restore peace – all while a U.S. military operation seeks to exploit Derry for its own objectives.
More to watch after finishing ‘Carrie’
‘The Midnight Club’ | Netflix
The Midnight Club
Inside a hospice for terminally ill teens, members of an exclusive club make a chilling pact: The first to die must send a sign from beyond the grave.
‘I Am Not Okay with This’ | Netflix
I Am Not Okay with This
Angsty Syd navigates high school awkwardness, family drama and an unrequited crush on her best friend while trying to rein in her budding superpowers.
‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ | Netflix
The Haunting of Bly Manor
After an au pair’s tragic death, Henry Wingrave hires a young American nanny to care for his orphaned niece and nephew who reside at Bly Manor with the estate’s chef Owen, groundskeeper Jamie and housekeeper, Mrs. Grose. But all is not as it seems at the manor, and centuries of dark secrets of love and loss are waiting to be unearthed in this chilling tale.
‘Adolescence’ | Netflix
Adolescence
When a 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate, his family, the psychological expert and the detective in charge are all left asking: what really happened?