Just got up to date with the manga, The Creepy and Freaky. It’s an unexpected masterpiece. The manga starts as an anthology, and gradually builds its world though it’s fascinating reoccurring characters. It’s genuinely scary and always sharp, nuanced, and unexpected. It’s also free on manga plus.
has anyone read stagtown? it's a horror/thriller webtoon and i just recently read it, absolutely LOVED it but now there's a void in my heart from finishing it 😭😭 i need a new fix so if anyone has any recommendations similar to that pls drop them!!
Each row is curated around a theme or idea, designed to give you An Experience™ when you read/watch/play all five from left to right.
Places That Awaken Us: Halloween (1978), Little Nightmares (2017), The Lighthouse (2019), The Shining (1980), Silent Hill 2 (2001)
Trials of Possession: The Exorcist (1971) and Legion (1983), The Exorcist III (1990), Faith: The Unholy Trinity (2022), The Babadook (2014), When Evil Lurks (2023)
Fractured Self, Tortured Self: The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner (1824), Perfect Blue (1997), Father of Lies (1998), Inside Mari (2012-2016), Slay the Princess (2023-2024)
The Dark Feminine: Carmilla (1872), The Witch (2015), The Bloody Chamber (1979), Ringu (1998), Rule of Rose (2006)
Now is the Time of Monsters: De Bello Civili, or Pharsalia (61-65 AD), Dracula (1897), Between Two Fires (2012), Fear & Hunger (2018), Fear & Hunger 2: Termina (2022)
Witness the Unspeakable: The Three Impostors (1895), The Great God Pan (1894) and The Hill of Dreams (1907), The King in Yellow (1895), "The Color Out of Space" (1927), Bloodborne (2015)
Family, Love, Obsession: "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839), Crimson Peak (2015), Saltburn (2023), The Gift (2015), Creep (2014)
"Have You Read Devilman? Trick Question.": Devilman (1972-1973), Berserk (1989- ), Demon's Souls (2009), Death Note (2006-2007), Chainsaw Man (2018- )
Several of these categories have some crossover. Rule of Rose definitely also belongs in "Places That Awaken Us," and Devilman belongs in "Now is the Time of Monsters," as does Demon's Souls.
I could go on and on, but I won't list them all. Draw your own connections, if you like, and please recommend more texts to go in these categories!
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PLEASE LOOK UP CONTENT WARNINGS FOR EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON THESE LISTS. THERE ARE TOO MANY FOR ME TO LIST INDIVIDUALLY.
So it turns out that the deeper you get into watching horror, the harder it becomes to find deep cuts that you'd actually recommend. I gave it some time, built up a list, and here we are AGAIN. Here are the previous entries if you're interested: one, two, three, and four.
Witch Story : I am often guilty of loving a stupid movie full of fun chaos and wild kills. This is definitely one of those times. With the added bonus of witchcraft!
Hauntedween : Some college kids need to raise money, so they put together a haunted house for Halloween. And then HE comes home. No, not Michael, but you can still imagine how it goes wrong based on that description.
Don’t Say Its Name : Indigenous peoples horror! The kind of thing the genre needs way more of. An invisible creature is running around gutting people in the woods, and despite the low budget, it looks very damn cool.
The Furies : A couple of young women are kidnapped off the street and wake up in the middle of nowhere. It's a twist on the slasher genre combined with The Most Dangerous Game. And trust me when I say this movie goes places.
Craving : The whole "monsters as addiction" has been done, but I was surprised at how well handled it was with such a low budget movie. Very solid story, imo. Plus, the monster looks incredible. Pretty sure all the money went into that and paying Felissa Rose.
Ragdoll : Full Moon went through a short phase where they attempted to appeal to a black audience, and this so-bad-it's-good extravaganza is the result. I cannot recommend this for a cackle-filled evening highly enough. Treat yourself.
Obsession: A Taste For Fear : Severely 80s giallo that... might be set in the future? It's not entirely clear what's going on there. But if you love lighting gels, nudity, and murder, then this is for you.
Hunter’s Blood : I'll save you the 5,000 word essay on how much I love Clu Gulager, but he's a huge highlight here. A group of middle-aged dudes go for a romp in the woods and encounter some backwoods trouble.
The Possession of Michael King : It's rare to find a film where the protagonist being possessed is his own fault. A staunch atheist films his own journey to prove there is nothing spiritual in the world by... playing with fire. The results are intense.
Coven of the Black Cube : This is an Oops, All Vibes! kind of movie. If you want to watch a bunch of intensely goth/punk people wander around and do some vague magic while homegrown metal plays in the background, then right this way.
Gags The Clown : Felt pretty inspired by all those clown sightings, but went the extra mile into Pennywise territory. This is not your average evil clown, and the havoc he unleashes make this highly entertaining. Bonus points for all the hilarious takedowns of the alt-right podcaster character.
Ferat Vampire : We've seen killer cars, sure. Have you seen a vampire car? Come on, you're intrigued. Admit it.
Chopper Chicks in Zombietown : The title kinda covers the description. And I dare you to resist how very Z-grade and hilarious it sounds.
Maniacts : Jeff Fahey stars as a homicidal maniac who falls in love while being held in a mental facility. So it's a dark comedy, romance, horror... thing that really wasn't interested in being predictable.
Husk : Horror rule number 1,398: never let your car have a breakdown right next to a cornfield. I mean, it's pretty basic stuff. And when you break down, don't walk into the cornfield and enter the house there. You really can't imagine what the hell you'll find. But it's not help, I'll tell you that much.
Sauna : A Danish horror movie set roughly Back In The Day during a time when borders were being redrawn. The men doing the redrawing find a cozy little town with a sauna, how nice! Or... not. At all. Even remotely.
Dial: Help : Killer phone! Ruggero Deodato strikes again with this absolutely insane movie about a supernatural force that kills via telephone. It kills weirdly and wildly, but that should go without saying.
Egg : A Japanese film about a young woman who starts seeing an egg when she closes her eyes. That's weird enough, but then the egg hatches.
Road Train : Remember that blood drinking car movie up there? Again but with a truck. I promise they're not identical! This one gets even more trippy and wild. Comes off more satanic, too, if that's appealing. I mean, I think it is.
Cinderella’s Curse : I love a twisted fairy tale, and this one is so twisted. It gets super violent and fucked. It also does a surprising lot with a little. We love to see someone who can stretch a budget.
Altered (2006) : It starts almost comedic. A group of guys beat down and kidnap an alien. But then the story unfolds about their abductions as children, and it gets so very fucked up and moves in a direction I didn't expect. Happily.
Monolith : A mindfuck SF horror about a podcaster trying to rebuild a name for herself after destroying her career as a journalist. She starts covering a strange urban legend and loses control of the narrative. Did I say mindfuck? I meant it.
Inner Demons : For once, a movie actually illustrates how difficult it is to discern something like possession from real life mental illness. While also discussing addiction and how destructive it can be. I'm always a little shocked when something that feels thoughtful and well done like this gets virtually ignored. Goes to some messed up places, so be aware.
Monster In The Closet : A horror comedy about what it says right in the title. My favorite part is when the lead hero gets captured by the monster, is being carried around damsel-style, and keeps fainting every time he wakes up. It's that kind of comedy.
Lily C.A.T. : SF horror anime that feels equal parts Alien and The Thing. Meaning insane body horror. The animated kind, which means they aren't limited by what effects can manage. Wee!
Hellbender : Let this be a blanket recommendation of the entire filmography from The Adams Family. This just so happens to be my favorite, because it's a very unique witch horror. But everything they touch is different and strange and great.
Rumpelstiltskin : Everyone remembers Leprechaun. No one remembers this absolute fuckery from the same director. And they should. It's that very fairy tale in a modern setting that gives Rumpelstiltskin a comedy upgrade. Fucketh me, indeed.
Black Circle : One of those movies I love for being ultra psychedelic. It's about hypnosis and the realms of the mind! Doppelgangers and trying to cling to a sense of self. Some real Timothy Leary shit.
Blood Creek : Zombie horse. I mean, it also feels a lot like Supernatural, if you like that show, and it has a Nazi zombie getting his ass kicked, and it was directed by Joel Schumacher. But zombie horse tho. I'll never get over that.
Patchwork : Three women are murdered and sewn together, which makes it so they're all alive within the same body. Now they have to find who did this to them and get revenge. If you love Frankenhooker and Reanimator, this is an easy win for you.
Death Screams : Slasher squad goals at a carnival. And then at a cemetery. Aggressively early 80s. It's that easy. That's simply all you need.
Deadly Lessons : A made-for-TV movie with a cast that blows my mind, but I especially want to draw attention to a young Bill Paxton. Murder runs rampant at an all-girls school. Murder mystery/slasher lite that kept me glued.
Painted in Blood : A horror about the price of fame. A young painter takes a security guard job at a local art museum, and one of the paintings starts talking to him. It can help him become famous, sure. And possible infamous.
Bloodspell : It's "The Thing on the Doorstep" but at an orphanage full of hilariously shitty teenagers. Mind you this falls squarely in the "I laughed really hard at all of it" category. Especially the ending, holy shit.
The Devil’s Nightmare : French giallo, oui oui. It has satanism, a succubus, lesbians, a huge castle, fun kills, and a tragic ending. What more do you want?
The Ex : Yancy Butler blows the damn doors off as a bunny boiler that makes Glenn Close look safe. Watching her be ten steps ahead was an absolute delight. Supporting women's wrongs, all the way.
Wolfkin : Fantastic werewolf film. It follows a single mother trying to deal with her son's sudden behavioral issues. She's forced to go to his late father's family for help and uncovers just how twisted they truly are.
The House of the Yellow Carpet : Slow burn giallo about a couple trying to sell a carpet. And exactly why, when you sell something, you meet them, like, at a Walmart parking lot or whatever. Don't let them come into your house.
Jack Be Nimble : Alexis Arquette absolutely kills it in this movie. If you don't watch for any other reason, please experience her performance here. It's about a young man named Jack trying to run from an abusive home and find his estranged sister. While carrying a homemade hypnosis machine. Strange in a very good way.
Dark Nuns : Korean exorcism film where two nuns take the lead on casting out some demons. I love how nunsploitation is getting a revival, and foreign films are joining in on the fun!
The Paranormal : An adorable shot-on-video flick about paranormal investigators at a local, haunted theater. With an adorable zombie movie (that seems a lot like Day of the Dead) within the movie. I love a homemade film with heart and gumption, and this has that in spades.
The Barn : Destined to become a Halloween classic if given enough time and more people putting eyes on it. Full to bursting with creatures that have "iconic" written all over them. Also has a fun sequel. And they're making a third.
Thesis : A Spanish thriller about a college student writing her thesis about violence in media. Then finding a snuff film. It's all about the nature of violence and how it effects people, while also being an amazing game of cat and mouse. Includes a character that made me go, "hey, look, it's me." You'll know him when you see him.
The Breed : Killer dogs! These aren't your ordinary doggos though. These are GENETICALLY EHANCED doggos. The amount of outsmarting and outrunning and getting utterly destroyed that goes on definitely makes this a fun, edge-of-your-seat type of ride.
Here For Blood : A horror comedy about a local wrestler turned babysitter with the best possible timing. When the bad guys show up and expect a skinny young woman and get THIS GUY, it's so satisfying.
The Mask of Satan : A remake of Black Sunday, directed by Mario Bava's very own son. More 80s, which means more fun and excess and gore and dumb shit that's highly entertaining. I especially loved the weird demon dance scene.
The Bloodstained Shadow : I admit to being pretty basic here, because this is simply put a wonderful giallo. It's a great story to follow with characters you care about and a shocking ending. If this gets someone else into watching these movies, then it has done its job.
Night Harvest (2024) : It feels like someone said what if Pumpkinhead fought Carrie, and then made a whole movie about it. But only had five dollars. And it turned out great in spite of that.
Dracula’s Widow : One more aggressively 80s title for the road. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola's nephew? It follows a female vampire and her Renfield. Especially fun if you like seeing the gender tables turned.
The Last Video Store : What a great one to end on. A love letter to all things video store. A tape gets played that causes all the other tapes played in that same VCR to come to life! My favorite being the Jason knock-off who turns out to be friend shaped.
And there we are! Let's hope for a part six, because it means I've found more weird movies to love!
For any conclave fans who also love horror and are looking for stuff beyond the usual, may I recommend 30 Coins (30 Mondedas) on HBO. It's a Spanish series, language and country, and focuses on a small village dealing with the horrors with the larger plot being about the 30 coins received by Judas after betraying Christ, which are all cursed and evil.
It features a very buff and haunted priest:
And also stars Miguel Ángel Silvestre, who I think most people would know from Sense8 (i didn't watch but any fans of Spanish dramas might know him from Velvet)
It has two seasons and the status of the third is currently up in the air, so fair warning on that. I'm also not very well caught up on it so I can't speak to more thorough content warnings or cliffhangers, but I will say it's very good from what I've seen.
I also will say it's not exactly a show for the faint of heart, it really goes above and beyond with the horror and is geniunely scary. But very worth the watch, especially for those of us trying to inject a little horror into our fics and want some inspiration.
