Summerween Day 5: Horror that Horrifies
This is part of the Summerween 2024 recommendations. See the masterpost here.
These are stories that worked their way under my skin. Heed any warnings!
Maeve Fly | C.J. Leede: American Psycho, if Patrick Bateman worked at a Disney-adjacent place. I also had the pleasure of reading American Rapture as an ARC and holy shit it's good.
The Long Walk | Stephen King: 100 boys compete in a walking competition and the winner gets anything they want. But that's too easy, if you walk too slow or take too long a break, you buy your ticket.
Hypnagogia | Michael F. Simpson: This one doesn't have a traditional plot but is a nasty exploration of the self, identity, and the body.
The Reformatory | Tananarive Due: Horror based in fact on the 'schools' where Black boys were sent during Jim Crowe times. Ghosts abound, but even death doesn't let you escape.
The Indian Lake Trilogy | Stephen Graham Jones: An absolute love letter to slasher movies of the 80s/90s. Jade is an amazing final girl.
The Ruins | Scott Smith: Don't bother with the movie, it doesn't capture how vile and fun the slasher turns out.