If you loved
Penny Dreadful
John Logan · Series · 2014
You crave the way Penny Dreadful masterfully blends classic literary archetypes with the dark, lingering consequences of human trauma and moral decay.
Books on the same thread
Ghost Story
Peter Straub · Book · 1979
Shares 2 threads with Penny Dreadful: Supernatural Horror, Psychological Horror.
Like the tortured souls in Penny Dreadful, the men in this novel find themselves haunted by past sins and the inescapable weight of their collective moral ambiguity.
Doctor Sleep: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2013
Shares a thread with Penny Dreadful: Supernatural Horror.
Just as Penny Dreadful explores the struggle for redemption amidst supernatural horror, this story follows a damaged protagonist battling both internal demons and a predatory, otherworldly threat.
All the Colors of the Dark
Chris Whitaker · Book · 2024
Explores: Grief, Childhood Trauma, Vigilante Justice.
This narrative mirrors the deep psychological scars found in Penny Dreadful, focusing on how hidden secrets and past traumas manifest into a dark, unfolding mystery.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde · Book · 1908
Explores: Mortality, Vanity, Corruption.
Since you appreciated the character-driven descent into darkness in Penny Dreadful, you will find the source of its tragic inspiration in this classic exploration of vanity and corruption.
Films on the same thread
Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro · Film · 2025
Explores: Man playing God, The dangers of ambition, Creation and responsibility.
This film digs into the same hubris and isolation that defined the Frankenstein arc in Penny Dreadful, offering a visceral look at the dangers of playing God.
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Douglas Mackinnon · Film · 2016
Explores: Deductive Reasoning, Drug Use, Female Empowerment.
If you enjoyed the atmospheric Victorian setting of Penny Dreadful, this mystery provides a similarly immersive dive into the shadows of 1890s London through a darker lens.
It
Andy Muschietti · Film · 2017
Shares a thread with Penny Dreadful: Supernatural Horror.
Much like the ensemble dynamics in Penny Dreadful, this story centers on characters confronting a monstrous manifestation of their deepest fears while dealing with their own childhood trauma.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Kenneth Branagh · Film · 1994
Explores: Playing God, The Dangers of Science, Creation and Abandonment.
This adaptation captures the same tragic obsession and loneliness that made the Frankenstein storyline the emotional anchor of Penny Dreadful, emphasizing the consequences of unnatural creation.
Podcasts on the same thread
The White Vault
Fool and Scholar Productions · Podcast · 2026
The isolation and creeping dread found in this audio drama echo the supernatural tension of Penny Dreadful, where something ancient and terrible waits in the unforgiving cold.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Penny Dreadful: moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio stories mirror the moral ambiguity and psychological depth of Penny Dreadful, delivering high-stakes narratives that explore the darker sides of the human condition.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Penny Dreadful a psychological thriller?
Yes, Penny Dreadful is a frightening psychological thriller. The series weaves together classic horror origin stories, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and figures from the novel Dracula, into a new adult drama set within the darkest corners of Victorian London.
Which literary characters appear in Penny Dreadful?
Penny Dreadful features some of literature's most terrifying characters. The show includes Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula. These characters are woven together into a new adult drama that explores the darkest corners of Victorian London.
What is the setting of Penny Dreadful?
Penny Dreadful is set in Victorian London. The series explores the darkest corners of the city, where iconic literary figures like Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and characters from the novel Dracula lurk as part of a frightening psychological thriller and new adult drama.
Is Penny Dreadful considered an adult drama?
Yes, Penny Dreadful is a new adult drama. The series functions as a psychological thriller that incorporates classic horror origin stories and famous literary figures, such as Dr. Frankenstein and Dorian Gray, into its narrative set in the darkest corners of Victorian London.