Tag: horror recommendations

18 Spooky Season Media Recommendations

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It’s spooky season once again! My favourite time of year. I return bestow upon you 18 media suggestions, so you can get the vibes right this autumn.

Books

Ghosted
By Alice Vernon
(2025)

A nonfiction book looking at the history of ghost hunting and the reasons why humans continue to search for evidence of life after death.

Delve into ghost hunting methods and stories across the years and the wider context that brought about the rise of spiritualism. Why have humans across time tried to prove the existence of ghosts?

Bat Eater
by Kylie Lee Baker
(2025)

As COVID sweeps the nation, Cora Zeng is forced to find work as a crime scene cleaner.

In the wake of her sister’s murder, Cora begins to spot a strange trend in the crimes her team are tasked with cleaning. Why are bodies dropping all over Chinatown, with a very specific calling card left behind?

Make Me a Monster
by Kalynn Bayron
(2025)

Meka is a excellent employee at her family’s funeral home…eerily excellent.

A tradegy sparks the discovery of dark family secrets and dangerous villains lurking shadows. Can Meka put everything right without losing the ones she loves?

Films

Slay
Directed by Jem Garrard
(2024)

Comedy horror about drag queens, a small town bar, and vampires.

When four drag artists find that their latest booking is actually a rural bar in the middle of nowhere, they expect the bigorty–the undead attempting to suck their blood, not so much. Can everyone put their differences aside long enough to survive until dawn?

Ghostwatch
Directed by Lesley Manning
(1992)

Britain’s famous nationwide television prank that terrified the public.

Presented as a legitimate live investigative special about the paranormal hosted by chat-show icon Michael Parkinson, Ghostwatch follows the supernatual phenomena allegedly occuring inside a regular British household. Can they convince the viewers that it’s all real?

His House
Directed by Remi Weekes
(2020)

Eerie folk horror about trauma, grief, and assimilation.

Two Sudanese refugees struggle to settle into their new English house, which appears to be infested evil entities. Can they both come to terms with their past and move on with the new lives they fought for?

Shows

Interview with the Vampire
Created by Rolin Jones
Based on the books by Anne Rice
(2022-)

A gothic horror series following a vampire recounting his life to a journalist.

Filled with toxic realtionships and unhealthy behaviours, this vampiric life makes for excellent entertainment. But there’s more than one side to every story–is he telling the whole truth?

The Fall of the House of Usher
Created by Mike Flanagan
Based on the stories of Edgar Allan Poe
(2023)

A amalgamation of various Poe tales told in the modern day, the series follows the fall of the Usher family.

A dark deal leads to great things for siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher, but only for so long. How much blood will be spilled when the raven comes to collect what is owed?

The Doomies
Created by Andrés Fernandez, Henry Gifford, Rémi “Pozla” Zaarour
(2026-)

An animated comedy horror series following two best friends as they investigate the supernatural occurences happening in their small seaside town.

Romy and Bobby accidentally discover and open the portal to the underworld hidden in their hometown and shenanigans ensue. Can they work together with some new-found friends to keep everyone safe from the forces of evil?

Games

Fran Bow
Developed by Killmonday Games
(2015)

A psychological horror adventure puzzle game, Fran Bow follows a small girl into a terrifying reality.

Using pills to swtich realities, the mentally ill Fran escapes the asylum in search of her cat Mr Midnight and yearning to return home. Can you help her solve all the puzzles and find her way?

Rusty Lake Hotel
Developed by Rusty Lake
(2015)

A mysterious and surreal puzzle game about murdering hotel guests.

Five unwitting guests have been invited to a meal at the hotel, except they are the meal. Can you enter their rooms and figure out how to kill them?

Neverending Nightmares
Developed by Infintap Games
(2014)

A bleak horror game that draw inspiration from the lead designer’s personal stuggles with OCD and depression.

Play as Thomas as you wake up within a series of nightmares that feature gruesome acts of self harm and terrifying monsters. Can you find a path through the horror and wake Thomas up?

Comics and Graphic Novels

Confetti Realms
By Nadia Shammas
(2023)

An eerie surreal fantasy graphic novel about a group of teens travelling to a new realm on Halloween night.

Upon discovering themselves in a bizarre dimension, a group of friends have to come together and figure out how to get back home before they become trapped. Will they gather what they need to leave, or will something stop them?

Batman: The Cult
By Jim Starlin
(1988)

A broken Batman goes down a dark path when the mysterious Deacon Blackfire brainwashes him into his violent cult.

While investigating the odd disappearance of Gotham’s homeless population, Batman become trapped inside the Deacon’s secret underground cult. Can he successful de-programme himself and uncover the villain’s hidden agenda before Gotham is lost?

Swamp Thing
By Alan Moore
(1985)

A body horror comic following DC’s Swamp Thing.

Transformed into a monster, Alec Holland is faced with the duty of protecting the Green. With people out ot hurt him, is he up to the task?

YouTube Videos

The Worm
Created by Don’t Walk Home Alone After Dark
(2023)

A short animated story about a girl and her mysterious case of psychosis.

Dr Merrick tries to find the truth behind his patient Sparrow, disregarding medical rules and boundaries. Will he ever get the answer he seeks?

Who’s Hungry?
By David Ochs
(2009)

A short animated horror tale about two kids who are kidnapped by an icecream man.

Having been lured in by a man offering icecream, two children have to figure out how to escape his clutches. Can they use what’s around them to make it out alive?

Are You Scared?
By Watcher
(2020-)

A horror series where two men tell each other scary stories submitted by their viewers.

Accompanied by creepy illustrations and interjected with light-hearted jokes, the series includes a variety of terrifying tales. Can the boys discern which are real, and which are fake?

I hope you like this selection! Happy Halloween!

PRE-ORDER: ‘Sore Thumb’

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The pre-orders are now open for copies of the Suffering the Other anthology from Dim Shores.

A new benefit anthology of dark weird fiction based on the concept of othering — the process of perceiving or portraying someone or something as fundamentally different or alien, often leading to discrimination and persecution. Othering and dehumanization have long been tools of oppressors and is a tactic being currently embraced with zeal.

While all marginalized groups are under increased attack, two communities seem to have been singled out for especially harsh treatment — all migrants regardless of legal status, and transgender folks. As such, this book will be a benefit for two organizations doing boots-on-the-ground work: National Immigration Project, and Transgender Law Center. All proceeds after production costs will be split between these two crucial orgs. Folks involved are taking small token payments for their work so we can raise as much money as possible.

‘Sore Thumb’ is a short body horror story about trying to fit into a sick society, the fickle nature of trends, and the death of individuality. It’s one of the grossest tales I’ve ever written, and probably one of the most depressing. Fun for the whole family!

Both the US and UK are really festering with vile transphobia, xenophobia, and racism, stoked by the rise in far-right ideology. It’s sickening to see so many people blindly fall for the oldest trick in the book: scapegoating. I’m happy that my disgusting little story can help raise money for those across the pond.

The pre-order is for the limited, hand-numbered paperback edition available through the Dim Shores online shop. A mass-market paperback edition will soon be available through Bookshop.org and most other online booksellers. An e-book edition will follow after print publication.

ACCEPTANCE: ‘Spiteful Little Creatures’

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I’m delighted to announce my short story ‘Spiteful Little Creatures’ has been accepted to appear in A Midnight Kind of Place’s Wasps anthology.

With uncanny body horror and sadistic trauma, this is a short little tale about cruelty and comeuppance. ‘Spiteful Little Creatures’ asks the reader to empathise with a much despised being, putting the audience in a vulnerable position full of fire and pain.

A Midnight Kind Of Place is a UK-based publisher specialising in short horror fiction, celebrating voices from the past and present. A new home for up-and-coming voices in the horror community, they focus on dreadful yet emotional tales that will creep you out and break your heart.

The release date for the anthology has yet to be definitively decided, but it should be out sometime next year. Follow this blog for updates!

LIST: 13 Spooky Season Media Recommendations

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Need a book/movie/show/game to occupy your time this Halloween? Here’s 13 suggestions!

Books

Woodworm
By Layla Martínez
(2021)

A short ghost story about class, family, and justice.

After a young boy goes missing in a small Spanish town, one local family comes under scrutiny. What’s the story behind this strange family and their unsettling home?

The Last Girl
By Goldie Moldavsky
(2021)

Rachel Chavez joins a secret horror club at her new school, but their terrifying pranks begin to get a bit too real.

Who is the mysterious masked figure sabotaging the fear tests?

They Bloom at Night
By Trang Thanh Tran
(2025)

A bizarre red algae blooms across Noon’s hometown and odd mutants roam the streets.

Can she hunt down the monster abducting the missing people?

Movies

The Ugly Stepsister
Directed by Emilie Blichfeldt
(2025)

A girl and her mother go to horrifying lengths to catch the eye of the prince.

Will she get her happily ever after?

Sinners
Directed by Ryan Coogler
(2025)

Two brothers return to their home town to start their business, only for a band of vampires to ruin the opening.

Can they make it through the night and get out alive?

Bring Her Back
Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou
(2025)

After the death of their father, two children are fostered by a greving mother.

Does this strange woman truly have their best interests at heart?

Shows

Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld
Created by Echo Wu
(2024)

Chinese-American Jentry has hidden supernatural powers that a demon king is intent on taking.

Can Jentry juggle her ordinary life with the imposing dark forces that threaten to tear it apart?

Lockwood & Co
Developed by Joe Cornish
Based on books by Jonathan Stroud
(2023)

In a world where ghosts plague the living, sensitive child ghost hunters investigate hauntings.

Can Lucy really make a difference working at this small-time ghost investigation team?

Video Nasty
Screenplay by Hugh Travers
(2025)

In the 1980s, three teens embark on a mission from Ireland to England to retrieve a coveted VHS tape to add to their video nasty collection.

Can they survive the journey and the bizarre people they meet along the way?

Games

Limbo
Developed by Playdead
(2010)

A 2D puzzle-platform game about a boy searching for his sister in a creepy greyscale world.

Can he navigate his way through the world and find her?

Little Misfortune
Developed by Killmonday Games
(2019)

In this horror-adventure game, a young girl with love of glitter and a mysterious narrator make their way through a dark world of abuse, death and demons.

Who is the odd fox that follows at a distance, and what does he want?

Killer Frequency
Developed by Team17
(2023)

Horror-adventure game where a radio host and his assitant at a small town station are forced to become 911 dispatchers when a vengeful killer murders the sheriff and cuts the town off from the outside world.

Can they save the resisdents and figure out who the killer is?

Graphic Novel

Boys Weekend
By Mattie Lubchansky
(2023)

Transfem Mattie is invited to her college best friend’s bachelor party at a remote island known for its wild debauchery.

What are the strange group who are holding a conference at the same hotel really about?

I hope you find something you like on this list!

Happy Spooky Season!

LIST: 26 Horror Stories I Love

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It’s my 26th birthday today! Here’s some horror stories that I love to celebrate the occasion. We’ve got a variety of media.

Night in the Woods
Developed by Infinite Fall
(2017)

My absolute favourite video game! It take a real emotional toll on me every single time that I play it.

College dropout Mae returns to her small dying home town and uncovers a dark secret. Will her and her friends be able to find the truth?

Bob’s Burgers: ‘The Hauntening’ (6×3)

My favourite Belcher Halloween special! The first time watching this was genuinely creepy, and subsequent watches remain really fun!

The family hold their own haunted house to try and scare Louise, but things begin to seem a little too real…

Don’t Fear the Reaper
By Stephen Graham Jones
(2023)

My favourite instalment of the Indian Lake trilogy!

Jade Daniels returns to Proofrock the same day as a serial killer. Can she survive the snowy landscape and save the town?

The Reformatory
By Tananarive Due
(2023)

One of the most emotional books that I have ever read.

Young Robbie Stephens is wrongfully sent to a dangerous and haunted reformatory. Can his sister Gloria find a way to free him before it takes his life?

The Haunting of Hill House
Directed by Mike Flanagan
(2018)

This gave me nightmares, I love it so much!

A tragic event brings a family together to examine the bizarre event of their mother years before. Can they survive Hill House?

Over the Garden Wall
Created by Patrick McHale and Katie Krentz
(2015)

Pure autumn Halloween energy in a beautiful package.

Wirt and Greg find themselves wandering the Unknown. Can they foil the Beast and return home?

The Invisible Man
Directed by Leigh Whannell
(2020)

This is one of the most stressful movies I’ve ever seen. The opening scene makes my skin crawl!

Cecelia abusive, tech-genius ex-boyfriend suddenly dies, but strange things begin to happen around her. Will ever be able to escape him?

Scream
Directed by Wes Craven
(1996)

One of my comfort horror movies, I could watch this a million times.

Somebody in a mask is gutting Woodsboro residents like they’re fish. Can Sidney Prescott survive?

The Haunting of Hill House
By Shirley Jackson
(1959)

Absolutely iconic gothic horror novel.

Eleanor joins a group of people at Hill House to investigate its supposed haunting, only to become attached to the building. Will they be able to convince her to leave in time?

Cabin in the Woods
Directed by Drew Goddard
(2012)

I just love this goofy movie, its so fun.

A group of friends travel to a cabin in the woods and set off a series of events that result in death and destruction. Can they save the world?

My Best Friend’s Exorcism
By Grady Hendrix
(2016)

I love the power of friendship! Also, awesome cover.

Abby’s best friend Gretchen starts acting strange after an accident at their lake house, but nobody is listening. Can Abby save her friend from the darkness infecting her?

Ready or Not
Directed by Radio Silence
(2019)

I have watched this movie multiple times in one day.

Grace’s wedding night goes awry when a family ritual leads her to be hunted down by her new in-laws. Can she escape this bizarre family?

The Lockwood & Co Series
By Jonathan Stroud
(2013-2017)

This is a really fun series! (The TV should never have been cancelled.)

Lucy joins the Lockwood & Co ghost hunting company and enters a world of dark conspiracy. Can she use her gifts to help?

Death Becomes Her
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
(1992)

Absolutely hilarious film and I wish I’d seen it sooner.

Both Helen and Madeline drink a potion of eternal youth and beauty, but their rivalry leads to things going wrong. Will they ever be able to fix things?

The Fall of the House of Usher
Directed by Mike Flanagan
(2023)

My second favourite Flanagan show.

A deal with the devil begins to bite the Usher family in the ass as they all begin to die in bizarre ways. Will their patriarch finally tell the truth about their fortune?

Spree
Directed by Eugene Kotlyarenko
(2020)

My favourite social media based horror by far.

Failing online personality Kurt Kunkle uses his job as a rideshare driver to going on a killing spree and rack up the views. How long will he get away with this?

Killer Frequency
Developed by Team17
(2023)

Do not think too hard about the radio mechanic in this because its not historically accurate, but its still very fun!

A late night radio show presenter is forced to become the 911 responder when a small town is cut off from the rest of the world and a killing spree begins. Can Forrest Nash save the inhabitants?

Nope
Directed by Jordan Peele
(2022)

I used to think that I wasn’t really into alien movies, and then I watched this.

A pair of grieving siblings and their new-found allies investigate the strange UFO presence hovering above their horse ranch. Can they figure out what this creature is and how to stop its hunger?

How to Sell a Haunted House
By Grady Hendrix
(2023)

Creepy and emotional is equal measure.

After their parents die, Louise and her brother return to their childhood home. Can they put aside their differences and survive the presence inside the home?

The Craft
Directed by Andrew Fleming
(1996)

Another comfort horror movie.

Four teen witches become power-hungry and things begin to go sour. Will they learn the error of their ways?

I Was A Teenage Slasher
By Grady Hendrix
(2024)

I love meta slashers, have you noticed?

Tolly Driver begins his very own slasher transformation after a high school prank goes wrong. Can he figure out the way to stop the bloodlust?

The Autopsy of Jane Doe
Directed by André Øvredal
(2017)

Underrated film.

A father-son team of coroners inspect a mysterious dead body. What really happened to this woman and why are their symbols carved under her skin?

They Bloom at Night
By Trang Thanh Tran
(2025)

A recent read that I really enjoyed!

Noon’s hometown is covered with a strange red algae after a hurricane and people are going missing. Can they find the truth behind the disappearances in time to escape before the next storm?

Lisa Frankenstein
Directed by Zelda Williams
(2024)

This movie just understands me.

Lisa find herself the object of a zombie affection after a lightning storm. Will they fall in love as they murder they way through the people who wrong her?

Trick ‘r Treat
Directed by Michael Dougherty
(2007)

Love a spooky story anthology movie.

Across town, Halloween hijinks are underway, being watched by the spirit of the season, little sack-headed Sam. Who will embrace the rules of Halloween and survive the night?

Hereditary
Directed by Ari Aster
(2018)

Thinking about this movie creeps me out to this day.

A family begins to fall apart after the deaths of the grandma and granddaughter. Does it all serve a greater purpose?

This is an absolutely tiny amount of things that I enjoy.