Netflix is planning to unleash over 700 original series in 2026 alone, but there was a time when the streaming giant's lineup was small enough to count on one hand. Back in 2013, Netflix launched three flagship shows: the political thriller House of Cards, the prison dramedy Orange Is the New Black, and a bizarre horror series you might have forgotten: Hemlock Grove. Today, you won't find it on Netflix—it was removed in 2022—but it's quietly found a new home and a new audience on the Apple TV Store.
If you've never seen it, Hemlock Grove is a wild, gothic horror show that throws werewolves, vampires, conspiracy theories, and family melodrama into a blender. After Netflix dropped all three seasons in October 2022, the series was picked up by distributor FilmRise and made available for purchase on PVOD platforms. It's now one of the most-watched shows on the Apple TV Store, proving that even a forgotten Netflix original can have surprising staying power.
A Bizarre Blend of Horror and Melodrama
Set in the fictional Pennsylvania town of Hemlock Grove, the story kicks off with the brutal murders of two teenage girls. Suspicion falls on Peter Rumancek (Landon Liboiron), a mysterious newcomer rumored to be a werewolf. He forms an uneasy alliance with Roman Godfrey (Bill Skarsgård), the troubled heir to the town's wealthiest family, who harbors supernatural secrets of his own. Together, they investigate the killings while navigating a town full of hidden monsters, unethical experiments, and dark family secrets.
The show was adapted from Brian McGreevy's 2012 novel and executive produced by horror filmmaker Eli Roth. What made it stand out wasn't originality—it borrowed heavily from gothic fiction, creature features, teen dramas, and mystery thrillers—but its willingness to embrace all those influences at once. One episode might focus on gruesome body horror, while the next dives into family dysfunction, occult mythology, or psychological mystery. The result was often uneven, but rarely boring.
A Groundbreaking Moment in TV History
Premiering on April 19, 2013—after House of Cards but before Orange Is the New Black—Hemlock Grove arrived at a pivotal moment. Netflix was still proving that original streaming programming could compete with traditional TV. The service believed in the project early on, and for good reason: it actually drew more viewers during its opening weekend than House of Cards did in its first season. Netflix quickly renewed it for a second season, but a third and final season followed the next year. As other originals surged, support for Hemlock Grove waned.
Critics were harsh, with some calling it one of the worst horror TV shows ever. But that didn't stop it from building a devoted cult following. Fans embraced its dreamlike atmosphere, unapologetic gore, and creative swings—even when those swings occasionally missed. Horror rewards excess, and Hemlock Grove had plenty of it.
What Its Disappearance Says About Streaming Today
Seven years after its final season, Netflix announced that all three seasons would leave the service in October 2022. Streaming rights were later acquired by FilmRise, and today the show lives on through the Apple TV Store instead of its original home. There, it's become one of the most-watched shows on the platform. As studios continue licensing, removing, and reshuffling content across competing platforms, don't be surprised to see more of this happening. Audiences have realized that digital exclusivity doesn't mean true exclusivity at all. If you don't have a subscription to this platform or that, just wait a little bit for it to show up somewhere else—'original' or otherwise.
For more on how streaming rights are reshaping horror, check out our list of the scariest horror movies since 2000. And if you're looking for another underrated gem, John Carpenter's The Thing still has horror's best ending.
