12 Most Haunting Episodes Matthew Gray Gubler Directed, Ranked By Spookiness

Matthew Gray Gubler’s directorial flair is as distinct and quirky as his iconic character, Dr. Spencer Reid. As of December 2025, while Gubler continues to explore new avenues in acting and writing, his legacy behind the camera remains firmly rooted in his 12 episodes of the long-running procedural drama, Criminal Minds. These episodes are not merely standard television; they are a masterclass in atmospheric horror and psychological tension, often injecting a surreal, almost Wes Anderson-esque spookiness into the show's dark narrative.

For fans and cinephiles alike, Gubler's directed episodes offer a unique visual and narrative departure from the show's norm. His work consistently stands out for its gothic aesthetic, use of unsettling imagery, and a signature balancing act between the macabre and the deeply emotional, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a truly singular vision.

Matthew Gray Gubler: Director and Artist Biography

Matthew Gray Gubler is an American actor, director, writer, painter, and former fashion model, whose multi-hyphenate career reflects a deep and varied artistic curiosity. His directorial work is a natural extension of his background in fine arts and filmmaking.

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• Full Name: Matthew Gray Gubler
• Born: March 9, 1980
• Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
• Education: Tisch School of the Arts, New York University (NYU)
• Known For: Playing Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds (2005–2020)
• Other Professions: Bestselling author-illustrator (Rumple Buttercup), painter, editor, photographer.
• Directorial Debut (Feature): TBD (He has numerous short films and mockumentaries)
• Directorial Debut (TV): Criminal Minds, "Mosley Lane" (Season 5, Episode 16)
• Notable Non-TV Directing: Music video for The Killers' "Don't Shoot Me Santa" (2007).

The Matthew Gray Gubler Directing Style: Gothic, Surreal, and Nuanced

Gubler is a graduate of NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, a background that informed his distinct cinematic approach. His work often feels less like a typical network procedural and more like a short psychological horror film. He frequently incorporates elements of gothic storytelling, a muted, desaturated color palette, and a focus on the UnSub’s psychological landscape rather than just the BAU’s investigation.

His signature directorial trademarks include:

• Visual Storytelling: A heavy reliance on visual metaphors and symbolic imagery, often drawn from his own unsettling sketches and paintings.
• The "Monster" Focus: Gubler has stated he prefers to focus on the UnSub's story, often humanizing or at least deeply exploring the trauma that created the "monster," adding layers of nuance to the darkness.
• Balancing Light and Dark: While his episodes are often the most visually creepy, they also contain moments of profound emotional depth for the main characters, a balance rarely achieved by other directors on the show.
• Horror Influences: He often cites classic horror directors as influences, leaning into a theatrical, almost fairytale-like horror aesthetic that sets his episodes apart.

This unique blend of the bizarre and the beautiful is what makes his 12 directed episodes a cult favorite among the Criminal Minds fanbase, earning him significant praise for his ability to transform the show's format.

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Every Criminal Minds Episode Matthew Gray Gubler Directed (12 Total)

Matthew Gray Gubler directed a total of 12 episodes across 10 seasons of Criminal Minds, from his debut in Season 5 to the show's final season in 2020. Here is a complete list, highlighting the most memorable and visually distinct entries that showcase his evolution as a director.

The following list is ordered chronologically by season, with a focus on their unique directorial elements and overall spookiness factor.

1. "Mosley Lane" (Season 5, Episode 16)

This was Gubler's directorial debut, and it immediately established his unique tone. The episode, which deals with long-term abductions, is marked by a pervasive sense of dread and features a chilling, almost storybook-like setting for the UnSub’s lair, introducing his signature gothic touch.

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2. "Lauren" (Season 6, Episode 18)

A highly emotional episode focusing on Prentiss's past, "Lauren" is more character-driven than visually spooky. Gubler’s direction here shines in handling intense dramatic performances and tight action sequences, proving his versatility beyond the macabre.

3. "Heathridge Manor" (Season 7, Episode 19)

Often cited as one of his creepiest, this episode is a full dive into gothic horror. It features a haunted-house setting, a killer obsessed with ancient folklore, and a visual style that is heavily saturated in shadow and atmosphere, utilizing his love for classic horror cinema.

4. "The Lesson" (Season 8, Episode 10)

This episode features a particularly bizarre UnSub who uses puppets and a strange form of performance art to stage his crimes. Gubler leans into the inherent creepiness of the puppetry, making it feel deeply unsettling and utilizing a surreal visual language to convey the UnSub's fractured reality.

5. "Gatekeeper" (Season 9, Episode 7)

"Gatekeeper" is a strong example of Gubler balancing the procedural elements with a distinct visual look. The plot involves a serial killer targeting people in a gated community, and the direction uses tight shots and a claustrophobic feel to heighten the tension.

6. "Mr. Scratch" (Season 10, Episode 21)

This highly memorable episode introduces the iconic recurring villain, Mr. Scratch. Gubler’s direction is key to establishing the villain's mind-altering, nightmarish tactics, using distorted visuals and psychological horror to make the audience question reality alongside the characters.

7. "A Beautiful Disaster" (Season 11, Episode 18)

A crucial, high-stakes episode involving the death of a major character. Gubler once again demonstrates his skill with emotionally charged content, directing the episode with a sense of tragic inevitability and raw, impactful drama.

8. "Elliott's Pond" (Season 12, Episode 6)

This episode returns to the gothic, fairytale-like horror that Gubler excels at. The setting is a remote, woodsy area reminiscent of classic folklore, and the visual style is deeply atmospheric, using natural light and shadow to create a sense of isolated dread.

9. "The Capilanos" (Season 13, Episode 17)

Perhaps his most polarizing and visually bizarre episode, "The Capilanos" features a killer obsessed with clowns and the circus. Gubler fully embraces the inherent fear of clowns, delivering a genuinely terrifying and surreal viewing experience that feels like a fever dream.

10. "Tall Man" (Season 14, Episode 5)

Another folklore-driven horror entry, this episode explores the legend of the "Tall Man." Gubler expertly builds suspense using the unseen and the psychological impact of the legend on a small town, creating a chilling, slow-burn mystery.

11. "Blood Relations" (Season 14, Episode 13)

Focusing on a family of killers, this episode delves into the twisted dynamics of a rural, isolated clan. Gubler’s direction highlights the claustrophobia and decay of the setting, making the environment itself feel like a character in the horror.

12. "Alchemy" (Season 15, Episode 6)

Serving as his final directorial effort for the series, "Alchemy" is a deeply personal episode for his character, Dr. Reid, dealing with grief and existential themes. Gubler masterfully uses the visual medium to explore Reid’s internal struggles, providing a nuanced and poignant conclusion to his directorial run on the show.

Beyond the BAU: Gubler’s Other Directorial Endeavors

Gubler's passion for directing began long before his time on Criminal Minds. His early career at NYU was marked by a series of self-produced short films and mockumentaries, which laid the groundwork for his unique visual style.

One of his most widely seen non-TV directorial projects is the music video for the rock band The Killers’ 2007 Christmas single, "Don't Shoot Me Santa." Gubler directed, edited, and co-produced the video, which features a playful yet dark narrative, perfectly aligning with his signature blend of the whimsical and the macabre.

While his most recent professional focus has been on his burgeoning career as a bestselling children's book author and his return to acting in projects like the upcoming procedural drama Einstein, fans remain eager for his next directorial project. His unique ability to infuse deep psychological horror with a distinct artistic sensibility ensures that any future film or television project he helms will be a must-watch event for those who appreciate the art of the unsettling.