The Hunger (1997)
TV series · Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Crime
Stream it, ifif you appreciate stylised, eroticised gothic horror and don't mind the hit-and-miss nature of anthologies.
A stylized and often eerie horror anthology that prioritizes atmosphere and visual flair over modern jump scares. Across two seasons, its episodic nature makes it easy to dip into, though the quality varies significantly between stories.
What it is about
The Hunger is a British/Canadian television horror anthology series, co-produced by Scott Free Productions, Telescene Film Group Productions and the Canadian pay-TV channel The Movie Network. Though it shares a title with the feature film The Hunger the series has no direct plot or character connection to the film, and was created by Jeff Fazio. Originally shown on the Sci Fi Channel in the UK, The Movie Network in Canada and Showtime in the US, the series was broadcast from 1997 to 2000, and is internally organized into two seasons. Each episode was based around an independent story introduced by the host; Terence Stamp hosted each episode for the first season, and was replaced in the second season by David Bowie. Stories tended to focus on themes of self-destructive desire and obsession, with a strong component of soft-core erotica; popular tropes for the stories included cannibalism, vampires, sex, and poison.
What The Hunger is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this series feels like stepping into a cold, neon-lit fever dream. The pace is deliberate, prioritising a brooding, seductive atmosphere over rapid-fire action. Each episode is a self-contained vignette of dread, saturated with late-nineties aesthetic choices and a pervasive sense of unease. It is more interested in the texture of a nightmare than the logic of a traditional thriller.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is for viewers who prefer high-concept visuals and a heavy dose of erotica with their horror. If you enjoy the unsettling charisma of hosts like Terence Stamp or David Bowie, the framing adds a certain sophisticated gravitas to the proceedings. However, those seeking jump scares or coherent world-building should skip it. The caveat is that the writing is frequently uneven, and some episodes lean too heavily into their soft-core trappings at the expense of the plot.
The right evening for it
It suits a late-night, solitary viewing session when you want something short, dark, and visually arresting without the commitment of a long-form narrative.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
How The Hunger leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
Expect to come away feeling slightly chilled and perhaps a bit disoriented. The series leaves a lingering residue of obsession and moral decay, focused on the darkness of human appetites.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
The Hitchhiker (1983)
the same blend of mystery, adult themes, and episodic morality tales
Perversions of Science (1997)
the same late-night, stylised aesthetic and adult-oriented anthology structure
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Questions people ask
- Is The Hunger a tense series?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Tense. A stylized and often eerie horror anthology that prioritizes atmosphere and visual flair over modern jump scares. Across two seasons, its episodic nature makes it easy to dip into, though the quality varies significantly between stories.
- How many seasons of The Hunger are there?
- 2 seasons and 44 episodes, at about 24 min an episode. It has finished, so you can watch the whole thing.
- Where can I watch The Hunger in the UK?
- In the UK it is not included with any subscription service at the moment. JustWatch lists rental and purchase options.
- Is The Hunger worth watching?
- It depends: if you appreciate stylised, eroticised gothic horror and don't mind the hit-and-miss nature of anthologies. IMDb users rate it 6.2 out of 10 from 1,198 votes and TMDB users 6.1.
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