Scares are big on TV right now, with shows like “The Walking Dead,” “American Horror Story” and “Bates Motel” proving popular with viewers.
So with Halloween right around the corner, there’s no need to visit a haunted house to get your thrill on — here’s a roundup of nine themed TV specials, episodes, marathons and movies to get you in the spooky mood.
‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’
Thursday at 8 p.m. on ABC
It wouldn’t be Halloween without this classic special, which follows Linus’ annual quest to meet the Great Pumpkin — much to the frustration of the rest of the Peanuts gang — and also features the famous Charlie Brown and Lucy kick-the-football gag.
‘The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror’
Thursday at 8 p.m. on FXX
The network that’s bringing you all-things-“Simpsons” has been airing themed mini-marathons of all 24 of the Fox ’toon’s annual Halloween specials this week. The programming event concludes on Thursday night with the theme “Springfield Attacked!” featuring seven “Treehouse of Horror” episodes.
‘Blood Lake: The Lost Footage’
Thursday at 11 p.m. on Animal Planet
The network premieres a new version of its summer B-movie that starred Shannen Doherty being attacked by bloodthirsty lampreys.
‘Halloween’ franchise
Friday at 9 a.m. on AMC
Get your scare on by watching six of the slasher films (they’re not in order, though): “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers,” “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers,” “Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers,” “Halloween,” “Halloween II” and “Halloween III: Season of the Witch.”
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
Friday at 10 a.m. on Logo TV
Let’s the do the warp again . . . and again . . . and again. It’s an all-day marathon (through Saturday at 6 a.m.) of the 1975 camp classic featuring Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Janet, Brad and Riff Raff. Audience participation elements start during the midnight airing.
‘Cristela’
Friday at 8:30 p.m. on ABC
Cristela (Cristela Alonzo) plans a Halloween party while her mother Natalia (Terri Hoyos) voices her dislike for the holiday on this episode titled “Hall-Oates-Ween.”
‘Hawaii Five-0’
Friday at 9 p.m. on CBS
It’s Halloween on Oahu and the Five-0 team is investigating two murders where the suspect seems to be copying the killings depicted ina cult slasher film.
‘Penny Dreadful’
Friday at 9 p.m. on Showtime
Catch the first two episodes of Season 1 of this creepy drama set in Victorian London, which features the characters Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and figures from the novel “Dracula.” Non-Showtime subscribers can also watch the episodes on YouTube, Showtime’s Web site and app, or On Demand.
‘Sleepy Hollow’
Saturday on Fox, check local listings
Nurse your Halloween sugar hangover with a minimarathon of the latest three episodes of this drama that stars Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Episodes included offer up ghostly scorned lovers, deadly Pied Pipers and teeth-baring demons — oh my!