Thriller

Thriller has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in the US on Darkroom. The 2-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Boris Karloff's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Darkroom — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Thriller is worth clearing space for. At its heart, Thriller understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. Thriller is an American anthology television series that aired during the 1960–61 and 1961–62 seasons on NBC. The show featured host Boris Karloff introducing a mix of self-contained, macabre weird-horror and morbid, hitchockian crime stories, in some of which he also starred. Boris Karloff leads a cast that gives the tension real weight. It ran for 2 seasons (1960–1962), and the writing holds up across every one of them. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Thriller passes that test consistently. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Thriller will keep you hooked. If you have already watched The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Thriller is a natural next step. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Boris Karloff carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.

Thriller wrapped up in 1962 — and 2 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.