This 40-Episode Sci-Fi Mystery Series on Prime Video Is Peak Horror

Published Oct 15, 2026, 3:27 PM EDT

Jeffrey is a freelance features writer at Collider. He is an MPA-accredited entertainment journalist and a Tomatometer-approved critic based in the LA area. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Radio, TV, & Film and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater.

Since its 2022 debut on MGM+, the incredible horror series From has gradually built an epic story inside a greater unfolding mystery. The story follows a group of survivors who are trapped in a mysterious town with no escape. At night, they're stalked by deadly creatures that can take human form, while during the day, the terrors assume other forms to psychologically target the vulnerable. Alongside its homages to some of the best elements of Lost and Stephen King over its 40 episodes to date, From offers a peak horror viewing experience.

'From's Creatures Put a Terrifying New Spin on Classic Horror Tropes

From's nameless threats are present from the very first episode, which establishes that the survivors of the unnamed town take refuge by holing up in safehouses each night. Although the creatures pose an immediate threat to the townspeople, and their true forms are frightening and vicious, they are even more unsettling when they mimic human behavior — taunting, preying on sympathies, or pretending to be hurt, but always sporting a creepy smile. As From quickly confirms, these seemingly human visages are merely a way to trick unsuspecting victims into letting them inside, at which point they instantly strike, ripping anyone unlucky enough to encounter them to shreds within seconds.

In the beginning, the survivors' only defense is magical talismans previously discovered by the town's sheriff and de facto leader, Boyd Stevens (Harold Perrineau), which keep the creatures from entering any house as long as they're hanging in plain sight. However, these monsters don't mind waiting around for someone to slip up because they have all the time in the world, while the townspeople desperately struggle to ignore them. The creatures apparently answer to a higher power, revealed later in the series, so they're not even the biggest threat out there, but their presence automatically raises the stakes and establishes a state of perpetual horror throughout the series.

'From's Horrors Become More Psychological as the Story Progresses

The creatures in From already pose a consistent physical threat, but they only make up one aspect of the show's unsettling horror given their nocturnal existence. During the day, the show's terrors adopt more of a psychological approach. In the town's classic 1950s-style diner, the wallboxes will suddenly start playing music at random, even without a connection to electrical power. Characters receive strange phone calls from those claiming to be a deceased loved one, even impersonating their voice to a pitch-perfect degree.

As the sinister forces manipulating the town take pleasure in mentally torturing the survivors, feeding off their despair, later seasons introduce more apparitions who are capable of haunting the townspeople. Rather than having a bigger goal or conspiracy, the main intention seems to be a desire to watch the survivors tear each other apart solely out of fear — meaning that even the most seemingly unsuspecting character is as big a potential threat as any supernatural creature.

The Man in Yellow Is 'From's Most Terrifying Entity

Image via MGM+

From's Season 3 finale, "Revelations: Chapter Two," finally introduces the show's main villain, a malevolent entity known only as the Man in Yellow (Douglas E. Hughes). The character's impact has been teased since the first season, but as of Season 4, the Man in Yellow has taken a more active role in the story, disguising himself as a human survivor who works against the townspeople as they try to solve the greater mystery. The Man in Yellow's presence permeated the series before the character even made his first appearance, and he derives utter satisfaction from the survivors' pain and suffering. Despite his pure malice, his background and true nature remain unknown.

Another aspect that makes From’s horror and suspense so effective is how the series takes the time to develop its characters. Viewers are not only led to genuinely care about the survivors' well-being, but they're also rooting for these people to somehow make it out of this living nightmare. With a twisty story and compelling characters, the series progresses its overarching mystery with satisfying reveals that will keep you coming back for more. Over 40 episodes, From has set the stage for an epic final season poised to answer every lingering question when it finally drops on MGM+.