Locke and Key is just one of the many fantastic TV shows that has taken inspiration from books and comics. This show is based on the comic book written by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. The series opens with Nina Locke and her children Bode, Kinsey, and Tyler moving into their family home, Key House, following the death of her husband. There, the siblings find a set of magical keys that, at first glance, look like a joyful addition to their lives as they get settled in the new home.
The story paces up when the siblings unintentionally release the mysterious creature from Rendell’s past that was imprisoned in the house. After that, they united to find the reason behind their father’s death while evading the threats linked to the keys.
If you have watched the show and missing the vibe of it, here are the lists of 8 TV series that are similar to Locke and Key that you should watch if you’re looking for horror, fantasy, and familial tension together.
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1. The Witcher (2019 – Present)
Stream on Netflix
The Witcher is based on the highly successful video game that came after the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski, much like Locke and Key. The story portrays the deeds of Geralt of Rivia, a monster-hunter with unique and supernatural abilities who kills demons for cash because he is a mutant.
Following the terrible invasion of Cintra by the Nilfgaardian Empire, Geralt’s fate is now linked with a young princess named Ciri and a powerful and impressive witch named Yennefer. The story further proceeds as they make their way across a region devastated by a conflict that is full of sinister. This show has received praise for its amazing action scenes, nuanced characters, and vividly imagined setting. You will love the series and the vibe it will create.
2. The Society (2019)
Stream on Netflix
The Society deals with a world in which all of the adults have vanished and the kids are left on their own. The finest young adult shows have characters who are unsure of who to trust. On one hand, the Locke brothers occasionally behave so that they must face the bad guys by themselves although they have a loving and committed mother Nina Locke. A similar thing has been shown in The Society.
Allie and Cassandra Pressman, siblings in The Society, are an example of this; they want to guide their classmates but run into problems because some people don’t desire peace.
3. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Stream on Netflix
A bit more mature than the majority of the selections on our list is The Haunting of the Hill House. The director Mike Flanagan’s excellent adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s book is a must-watch for fans of paranormal family drama. Examining the Crain family and their relationships as they deal with the evil that hides beyond the Hill House which is their childhood home.
The series is divided into two timelines, one focusing on the children’s memories from childhood in the house and the other on how those events are still affecting them today. The show is a masterpiece in horror filmmaking, and Flanagan makes excellent use of the Netflix budget and talented cast to create one of the most recognizable horror series ever.
4. Dark (2017 – 2020)
Stream on Netflix
Dark is a critically praised German science fiction series created by Baran Bo Odar and Jantje Friese. Similar to Locke & Key, this series uses several timelines to explore familial tragedies. One significant resemblance Dark has with Locke & Key is the employment of the Timeshift Key in the latter season. Furthermore, Dark uses time travel and parallel universes to examine the existential consequences of time and how they affect human nature.
The protagonists are constantly traveling through time and the things they do have a lasting impact on the lives of their ancestors and future selves. In the first episode of the show, a youngster goes missing in the fictional German town of Winden. It centers on four separated families attempting to connect the dots of a dreadful multigenerational time travel conspiracy.
5. Shadowhunters (2016 – 2019)
Stream on Netflix and Hulu
Shadowhunters, like Locke and Key, is based on a young adult novel series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. Before this Netflix series was turned into a television show, there was a film version that was a box office failure. This is much like the Locke and Key movie (2017), which was a flop too.
This drama revolves around Clary Fray, a young woman drawn into a fantastical and mysterious world while searching for her mother. Along the way, she learns that she is a member of a long line of Shadowhunters—a human-angel hybrid group that hunts demons. While exploring family secrets and battling evil powers, Clary navigates to the dangerous Shadow World. This is a highly recommended series to watch if you like Locke and Key
6. The Magicians (2015 – 2020)
Stream on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Vudu
For lovers of magic, conspiracy, and adventure who are drawn to the works of Locke and Key, you must watch The Magicians, at least once. Based on Lev Grossman’s novel, The Magicians is a fantasy television series. A gifted young man named Quentin Coldwater is the protagonist of the tale. He enrolls in Brakebills University, a secret establishment where he and his fellow pupils study magic and uncover a magical realm filled with mythical creatures and spells.
The Magicians’ blend of magic, adventure, and fantasy is similar to Locke and Key. This is a must-watch if the use of strong supernatural powers is your favorite element of Locke & Key.
7. Stranger Things (2016 – Present)
Stream on Netflix
In case you like Locke and Key and haven’t watched Stranger Things yet, you should prioritize watching it right away! Stranger Things is regarded as the crown jewel of the Netflix streaming service. In the fantasy, science-fiction horror series, Will Byers has mysteriously vanished, and his 3 friends are determined to find out about it and find a mysterious girl named Eleven.
They seek him out to the fullest extent possible, working with his family and the authorities. They also unravel a mystery involving terrifying supernatural forces and government operations. Following this, they discovered that the incident was not accidental.
8. October Faction (2020)
Stream on Netflix
October Faction is a family-oriented supernatural mystery that has similarities to its comic book roots. October Faction is based on an eerie comic series by Steve Niles and Damien Worm. It focuses on Fred and Deloris Allen, a husband-and-wife team that goes around the world hunting and murdering monsters.
After learning about Fred’s father, they move back to their homeland with their teenage twins, Geoff and Viv. The Netflix series only lasted 1 season, but in every episode, more and more of the monsters inhabit their new town. This eventually reveals the terrible mysteries of the Allen family. If you’re seeking a show like Locke and Key, you have to watch this.
