4 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episodes That Are Actually Scary, And They Might Give You Nightmares

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Many people find *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* to be a fun and reassuring show, making it one that viewers enjoy revisiting. As a hugely popular series from the 1990s, it understandably impacted a large audience. While some episodes inspire viewers to wish they *were* vampire slayers, others are so frightening they make us glad we don’t live in that world. These scary episodes feature truly terrifying villains and ideas. *Buffy* demonstrates that a show can be both comforting and deeply unsettling-but rarely in the same hour.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was innovative in blending various genres and ideas. It successfully combined elements of teen dramas, coming-of-age stories, comedy, philosophical themes, and supernatural horror. A key to its success was how surprisingly relatable the horror aspects were, often appearing when viewers least expected them.

4) Season 2, Episode 18 – “Killed By Death”

“Killed By Death” taps into classic childhood fears, which is why it’s a standout episode. It starts with Buffy getting very sick and needing to go to the hospital, and it turns out the hospital is the ideal location for her to confront a brand new, terrifying creature.

Der Kindestod is a monster that preys on children, particularly those who are already sick – which is where its name comes from. What makes it truly frightening is that only children can see it. The horror is amplified by the fact that it specifically targets the most vulnerable – the weak and helpless.

The episode “Killed By Death” intensifies this fear by making it deeply personal. Earlier, the episode “Der Kinderstod” showed the death of a young cousin of Buffy’s. This event directly caused Buffy’s fear of hospitals, which feels understandable given the circumstances.

3) Season 6, Episode 19 – “Seeing Red”

As a huge fan of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, I always appreciated how the show could be scary on multiple levels – it wasn’t just about monsters. But the episode “Seeing Red” really stands out as genuinely terrifying. It’s widely considered one of the scariest *Buffy* ever did, and apparently, it affected the actor James Marters, who played Spike, so much that he needed therapy after filming it!

The episode “Seeing Red” represents a significant turning point, primarily ending the relationship between Buffy and Spike. Their split is particularly painful, featuring a deeply disturbing bathroom scene where Buffy experiences mental, physical, and sexual violation at the hands of someone she once loved and trusted.

The second possible ending focuses on Tara. Many fans were deeply affected by Tara’s unexpected death, which felt particularly realistic. In this version of events, Warren abandons his typical methods – magic and deception – and simply uses a gun. He aims for Buffy, but accidentally shoots and kills Tara instead.

Many viewers will likely find both scenes very relatable, so it’s best to approach “Seeing Red” with a little bit of caution.

2) Season 7, Episode 3 – “Same Time, Same Place”

By Season 7, Willow has experienced significant hardship, including falling in love and then losing that person – as shown in the episode “Seeing Red.” When she returns to Sunnydale in “Same Time, Same Place,” she finds herself facing bizarre and frightening events.

The story starts with Willow discovering her friends can’t see or hear her, and she can’t interact with them either. Then comes the Gnarl, a frightening demon that’s incredibly resistant to magic. Separating Willow from her friends and facing her with such a powerful enemy wasn’t a helpful thing to do, to put it mildly.

The situation escalates when the Gnarl starts literally skinning its victims. Buffy and her friends were initially terrified it was Willow who was responsible for the killings, but they soon realized Willow was actually one of the Gnarl’s targets. A harrowing scene unfolds where the Gnarl nearly succeeds in killing Willow, even taunting her while attacking. Thankfully, the group arrives just in time to rescue her.

As a critic, I have to say ‘Same Time, Same Place’ really drove home what makes Buffy’s job so terrifying. It’s a strong episode because it doesn’t shy away from showing just how truly *inhuman* these creatures are – they’re not just monsters, they’re deeply unsettling and, crucially, they just don’t *die*. It’s a chilling reminder of the stakes for Buffy and her friends.

1) Season 4, Episode 10 – “Hush”

As a huge *Buffy* fan, I think most of us agree there’s one demon group that really stands out as the scariest, and that’s why their episode is number one on my list. These are the Gentlemen, who showed up in Season 4, and what makes them so creepy is how they move – completely silently! They do this by taking away people’s voices, and in their episode, they basically silenced the entire town of Sunnydale. It’s terrifying!

It seems like everyone in Sunnydale has suddenly lost their voice, which makes you think it’s just a widespread illness. But the truth is much more dangerous: the Gentlemen are about to start taking people’s hearts – and we mean that literally.

There’s just something profoundly scary about the “Hush” episode. Whether it’s the way the monsters force people into silence, or the overall feeling of dread, it tapped into a deep, primal fear for many viewers – and it’s a feeling that’s stayed with them ever since.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Tubi, Hulu, and Disney+.

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2025-09-14 19:11