I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—I am not a fan of horror. And yet…there are definitely spooky stories out there that, despite my self-proclaimed scaredy cat status (I dare you to say that three times fast), I enjoy! I don’t seek them out, necessarily…but much like Wikipedia research rabbit holes, I get lured in by one thing or another and then I’m hooked before I know it.
Before we jump into a list of recommendations though, I was curious as to why we’re drawn to horror at all. According to this article by The Washington Post, “[horror offers] a combination of an adrenaline rush and an opportunity to learn about dealing with scary situations in a safe environment”. And according to this more recent article by Crime Reads, “[horror] provides us with a distraction from the terrors of the real world” but that “there’s something beyond distraction and catharsis that horror gives us. The gift of control.”
That makes sense to me, but I still like my scares to be slight, so I’ve put together a non-exhaustive list of movies, shows, and books that I can recommend if you, like me, are horrified by horror, grossed out by gore, and scared of suspense…and yet can’t help but be curious of the creepy.
(Can you tell I’m having a lot of fun with alliteration?)
Now, imagine my surprise when, as I started to putting this list together, I found that many of the spooky films I’ve enjoyed were by Guillermo Del Toro! I still need to check out Nightmare Alley, but I suspect I’ll like it just as much as The Shape of Water and Hellboy II, (which deal with monsters but aren’t necessarily meant to be frightening, and so didn’t make the cut). (Pun intended.) And now, a quick word on the Del Toro films that did make the cut!
Honestly, what’s not to like? Gorgeous cinematography, gorgeous costuming, gorgeous Tom Hiddleston being a poor little meow meow of a man, gorgeous Mia Wasikowska clashing with gorgeous Jessica Chastain, and a cameo with the very pretty Charlie Hunnam. Yes, I am not ashamed to admit that I do not watch Crimson Peak for the plot…though the plot is good! There’s gothic horror and deeply messed up characters and heartfelt tragedy and doomed romance!
This movie is, in a word, devastating, and far heavier on the horror both realistic and fantastical. It was also my first intro to Del Toro…and I have never rewatched it in full. It both frightened me and made me ugly-cry, and I’ve never been up to putting myself through that again. Although, to be fair, I watched it at like…nine years old, with no idea that this wasn’t a kid’s fantasy film until it was too late. It’s a very haunting movie, with moments of beauty that have stuck with me all these years later. I’d rate it as on the upper tier of horror & gore that I can handle.
This is half-murder mystery, half ghost-story, and overall fun. The spooky elements are more in the atmosphere and thriller aspects, but it’s also about hauntings: of memories, of hidden histories, of the lies we tell ourselves to cope. And of course, it’s a tragedy, as all murder-mysteries must be to some extent. I enjoyed it! If you’d like to read the book it was loosely adapted from, check out Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party.
As this Vox article put it, “Get Out is a horror film about benevolent racism.” I watched this while everyone was abuzz with it (for good reason) and everything about it—especially the ‘sunken place’—absolutely made my stomach drop. The twist (re: the so-called ‘benevolence’) still gives me chills every time I remember (spoiler warning) Rose’s bright, malicious smile in the face of Chris’s pleas for them both to get out.
This is horror that, fantastical elements aside, is horrific because it’s real. A sort of social horror, if you will. I recommend reading W. E. B. Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk, which the aforementioned article references in regards to the ‘double consciousness’ exemplified by the film: “In the essay, Du Bois identified the feeling of having an identity that’s been splintered into several parts — of “always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tale of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity.”
For more of director Jordan Peele’s horror, check out the sci-fi scare Nope, which is the only other movie by him that I’ve so far watched. And though I have not yet read it, I can suggest Out There Screaming for anyone interested in reading horror stories by Black authors, which was edited by Peele.
There are several other horror movies I’ve enjoyed: Ready or Not (gruesome social horror but with a fun silliness to it), Shutter Island (psychological horror), Sleepy Hollow (folklore horror), Doctor Sleep (sequel to The Shining, and which made me cry but not from fright), Flightplan (a psychological thriller), The VVitch (historical New England horror), and The Birds (my first ever horror movie, watched when I was about seven, which did terrify me into tears).
But fear not (or do?), I can also recommend some shows for those interested in serialized scares!
More specifically season one, as I’ve yet to catch up on the rest. (Back when I watched it, I had no idea it wasn’t going to be a self-contained miniseries.) True Detective is…hm. Genre defying? It’s a murder mystery, it’s a psychological horror, it’s a thriller, it’s a social commentary, and there’s suggestions of magical realism. I also have a fondness for Matthew McConaughey, and he and Woody Harrelson play brilliantly off one another. I like the non-linear narrative, I like the world-weary vibe, I like the very deliberately colour-corrected cinematography (a la Dune Part II), and I like the memeable lines.
Speaking of creepy psycho-social shows…Legion! Set in (spoilers) the X-Men Universe, featuring a man diagnosed with schizophrenia who is a mutant with psychological abilities. Main character David is our unreliable narrator, and the show reflects that by merging time periods (60s, 70s, and modern design elements), jarring music, disorienting camera angles and effects, and a non-linear narrative. It’s a surreal show, the villainous Shadow King is suitably creepy, and the acting is great. There is also some serious effort to handle mental illness in a nuanced and respectful manner.
I stopped watching this show after season one because I was worried it would drag on forever and never reach a satisfying conclusion, but I’ve since learned there are three seasons total and reviews say it ended in such a way as to appropriately reflect how it began, so now I’m excited to catch up!
Is this show a silly one? Yes. However, it was also one of my first horror (or…horror adjacent) shows, and I enjoyed it right up until season 5, after which I dropped it, because I know how to quit while the going’s good. Also, that was when the original writer left the show, and Season 5 is where he’d always intended for it all to end.
As for the show itself…well, the appeal for me (besides the attractiveness of the Winchesters) was in the tragic family dynamics rather than the family business, and I liked that it wrestled with the idea of inherent good vs. inherent evil and the disservice we do to ourselves and others by having such a rigid moral code, especially when you’re dealing with complex people (human or not).
If you like Supernatural, may I recommend Wynonna Earp? It’s like if Supernatural had Winchester sisters rather than brothers and hated their female characters less. I enjoyed it! It’s campy, spooky, surprisingly endearing, and overall fun! VPL doesn’t have it on DVD, but you can always suggest it as a title to purchase and, in the meantime, read the e-book companion novels.
Alrighty, so we’ve had movies and shows, but how about some (more) books? Well…to be honest, horror is a genre I generally avoid reading even more than watching. I find I get scared more easily and more deeply by text than I do by visual mediums, and not in an enjoyable way. So this will be short!
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
I’m not gonna lie, I was drawn to this first by the cover and then the title. (I do often judge books by their covers, sue me). But the summary was just as intriguing!
In horror movies, the final girls are the ones left standing when the credits roll. They made it through the worst night of their lives…but what happens after? Lynnette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre. For more than a decade, she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, working to put their lives back together. Then one woman misses a meeting, and their worst fears are realized—someone knows about the group and is determined to rip their lives apart again, piece by piece. But the thing about final girls is that no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.
Through the Woods by Emily Caroll
I’ve been seeing snippets and short comics of Emily Carrol’s delightfully disturbing works online for years, and I thoroughly enjoyed this read!
‘It came from the woods. Most strange things do.’ This graphic novel of five mysterious, spine-tingling stories follow journeys into (and out of?) the eerie abyss.
Never Whistle at Night – An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
This is another one that drew my notice with its pretty cover and the title; I was always told that whistling attracts djinn and should therefore be avoided, but I don’t know if that’s grounded in religious Muslim law, cultural belief, or folklore.
Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home. These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge.
Minor Prophets by Jimmy Cajoleas
…At the risk of sounding like a broken record…yes, I was attracted by the cover. But also the title! Which just goes to show how important effective marketing is! Anyway—I have a friend writing a story about a prophet who becomes possessed by a malevolent god-eating virus, which is a very cool concept. It tangentially reminded me of this book. If you’re a fan of Southern horror, unreality, and general bizarre creepiness, check it out!
After their mother’s death, Lee and his sister escape their horrible stepfather by fleeing to their grandmother’s farm, where Lee hopes to discover the truth behind his haunting visions.
The Bloody Chamber (and other stories) by Angela Carter
This is a collection of stories based on fairy tales (and I love fairy tales) with a more gruesome twist. Although ‘twist’ doesn’t seem like precisely the right word, considering there’s a lot of horror in fairy tales already. The titular Bloody Chamber is based on the tale of Bluebeard and his wives, which may or may not have been a satirical take on Henry VIII.
For some reason, whenever I think of The Bloody Chamber, I think of Erzsébet (Elizabeth) Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman who was rumoured to have bathed in virgin blood in her quest for eternal youth.
In real life, the Countess and some of her servants was accused of torturing and murdering women, and while the accusations may have been a conspiracy…they may not have been. Interested in the whole sordid tale? Then check out Blood Countess by Lana Popović, which is a fictionalized account of her crimes.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this frightening list of freaky fiction! (Ok, ok, I’ll stop with the alliteration.) Until next time, happy reading, watching, and haunting!