TV show · 2020 · Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy · AR
Curator score: 5.2/10 (76.1K ratings)
Overview
Set in the 1960s; Paranormal follows the adventures of Dr. Refaat Ismail, a professor of hematology, as he comes up against various supernatural events with the help of his Scottish old flame, Maggie.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.2/10
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
TMDB: 7.1/10
Created by
Amr Salama
Production
Netflix
Cast
Ahmed Amin, Razane Jammal, Aya Samaha, Reem Abdel Qader, Samaa Ibrahem, Rushdi Al-Shami, Ahmed Dash, Adam Wahdan, Abdel Samee Abdel Allah, Hesham Kadry, Heba ElDessouqy, Sherif Desouqy, Ahmed Talaat, Huda ElMufti, Fatima Al-Banawi, Sulafa Ghanem, Amgad ElHaggar, Ibram Saed
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A stylish, atmospheric supernatural mystery with a distinctive Egyptian setting and a dry, skeptical lead. It’s strongest as a one-season binge: moody, inventive, and more interested in eerie casework and character chemistry than big-budget spectacle.
Best for
Viewers who like occult investigations and monster-of-the-week structure
Fans of period-set genre shows with a strong sense of place
People looking for a short, self-contained binge
Audiences open to international genre TV with a literary feel
Skip if
You want fast-paced action or heavy visual effects
You prefer tightly plotted mythology over episodic supernatural cases
You’re not in the mood for a slow-burn, atmospheric tone
Overview
Paranormal stands out by doing something rare: it brings classic supernatural mystery storytelling into 1960s Egypt with confidence and texture. The result is less a glossy horror series than a moody detective drama where the uncanny keeps intruding on a world grounded in history, medicine, and skepticism. That blend gives the show its personality and makes the setting feel essential rather than decorative.
Worth noting
The series works best when it leans into Refaat’s dry wit, the uneasy romance with Maggie, and the procedural rhythm of each strange encounter. It has a restrained, literary quality that will appeal to viewers who like their genre shows to feel a little old-fashioned in structure but fresh in setting. The atmosphere is a major asset: smoky, haunted, and often more unsettling than flashy.
Bottom line
As a single-season story, it’s easy to recommend for a weekend watch. It may not satisfy viewers looking for elaborate mythology or high-intensity horror, but for anyone who enjoys supernatural investigations with character and cultural specificity, it’s a memorable and worthwhile pick.