Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.
This Week’s Theme:
Books Added to TBR
Due to Recommendations
Initial Thoughts:
Today I am bringing you all things horror and spookiness from any fictional medium (e.g. books and television and movies). Because I can. I’ll try to stay as recent as I can with this list.
For your reference, when I think of “Spooky” I think of supernatural elements and more darkly atmospheric vibes than truly scary; “Horror” is all about scare tactics and unsettling scenes.
Books
A Monster Calls (Ness)
Feels Spooky. This is the Ness book I recommend everyone. The Monster will be your best friend full stop.
The Dead House (Kurtagich)
Unreliable Narrator Horror. If you’re scared of a person breathing on the other line of the phone, this is probably a hard pass for you. But this book really does
Vassa in the Night (Porter)
Confusing writing Spooky. A retelling of Vassalisa the Beautiful. The writing is a really big hit or miss though.
Bird Box (Malerman)
Can’t see the Horror, Horror. As much as I would like to say this book is more spooky than true horror, there’s this growing tension that looms in the shadows that makes this frightening — see: people have to wear blindfolds or else they’ll catch it.
Scythe (Shusterman)
All the death Spooky. If you’re familiar with Soul Eater, it’s kind of like that. If not, it’s about grim reapers-in-training and the moral ambiguity in taking lives.
Warm Bodies (Marion)
Ridiculously Spooky. You can probably defer to the film instead.
Television
Criminal Minds
People are cray cray Spooky/Horror. This really depends on which episode you watch. Some criminals are tame as a unicorn; others are terribly wtf-worthy.
Scream TV
Poor decision making Spooky. The film is probably better but this show can eat hours off your day.
Stranger Things
Retro Spooky. Eggs benedict.
iZombie
Hilariously spooky. Zombie satire is great fun.
Films
Cabin in the Woods / The Final Girls
Satire Spooky. Both films deconstruct horror tropes and openly makes fun of archetypes and narrative plot points.
Don’t Breathe
Thriller spooky. This film is unsettling and a clusterfuck of claustrophobia. Basic premise: hooligans attempt to rob home of blind man who is also retired army vet. Craziness ensues.
It Follows
Horror-lite. It’s the overall packaging of this film that works wonders.
The Babadook
Babadook gives zero fucks Spooky. I think if you’re a fan of A Monster Calls, this film is a must-watch for you. It tackles grief in a different light. Plus the child actor in this was amazing.
Sinister
Can’t trust children Horror. This film is another example as to why children should not be trusted.
Lights Out
Lights On Horror. Notwithstanding the child actor in this film being annoying as fuck, this was okay.
You’re Next
PETA Horror. I hate home invasions. You will too.
Oculus
Selfie Horror. If you ever wanted to be surprised by a film, this might very well be it.
Afterthoughts:
So I don’t know about you but I have this love/hate relationship with horror/spooky things. I’m fascinated by most concepts but I can get unsettled quite easily (especially if its gore and blood-heavy). Yikes.
Cheers,
Joey
connect:
afterthoughtAn // twitter
anotherafterthought // goodreads
picturevomit // instagram
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
A Monster Calls is the only “spooky” thing I’ve experienced on here. I don’t do spooky or horror. I like everything in my life sweet and gooey.
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I always recommend A Monster Calls too. An incredible book!
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My mission this Halloween is to have a Cabin in the Woods/ Final Girls double bill. That is all.
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I went through a phase of binge watching horror movies but now i can’t stand them. I think I fell asleep in the middle of watching Cabin in the Woods haha. I like the supernatural elements and that foreboding, haunting atmosphere, which is why Stranger Things has me hooked right now.
I love the cover to Vassa in the Night but I don’t actually know anything about the book haha.
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Hi Joey.
I usually do not like horror, but I LOVE the t.v. show ‘Scream Queens’.
It is one of the best arc shows ever. A murder mystery that takes an entire season to solve and it is hilarious.
Happy Halloween and Happy Reading!
~Icky. 🙂
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Criminals Minds freaked me out so much sometimes that I stopped watching it, I just couldn’t handle it haha
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Yes I think the only book I would read that is somewhat spooky is A Monster Calls. And OH I’m glad I have Scythe to read because I loved watching Soul Eater (or you know, the half that I watched. I never finished it. I will get back to it one day).
Hahahha I love that Vassa is on here. Definitely a confusing spooky. I NEED TO WATCH iZOMBIE. It’s funny how I’m all not about horror, but would pick up creepy TV shows anyday. I’m weird like that.
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iZombie, Cabin in the Woods, and The Finals Girls are all so much fun!
Lauren @ Always Me
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I adore Criminal Minds!
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Great Halloween inspired post. It is funny, I cannot watch a horror movie but I just love Criminal Minds. Probably because of the characters and interesting storylines. I think I’m more into the psychological stuff in that sense, rather than the gore and jump scares. I love to read so I’ll definitely be googling some of those suggestions.
Anyhow, I’m reaching out to ask if you’d be interested in sharing your thoughts and opinions on Creators. We’re all about helping writers increase their audiences, taking their writing to the next level and sharing their work with other enthusiasts. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail for more information, I’d love to hear from you. My contact details are on my blog.
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Lmao love your spookymeter. Want to pick up Scythe because I adore Shusterman’s dystology but have only heard so-so reviews. Also everyone keeps telling me to pick up Ness’s trilogy but I’m afraid of the feels??? I’ve heard it’s a lot of feels.
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