Michelle Scott's Blog, page 3

Family-Friendly Horror Movies

A lot of children want to watch scary movies, but frightening scenes can easily overwhelm younger viewers. So how can parents balance their children’s desire for horror with something that won’t scar them for life? I’m happy to help with that! Here’s a list of family-friendly horror movies perfect for younger viewers. (Warning: children still might find these milder films a little too intense. Don’t be afraid to turn off the video if your youngster is hiding under their blanket!)

The Nightmare Before Christmas—1993

The Nightmare Before Christmas is more than a holiday classic. It balances fun and fright with a wonderful cast of fantastic characters. The musical movie includes a lot of catchy tunes compliments of composer Danny Elfman. Yes, there are a few frightening scenes (namely the ones with the Oogie Boogie), but the happy ending is sure to ease those nightmares.

The Addams Family—1991

Although the 1991 version of the Addams Family is rated PG-13, it is a mild movie that’s full of fun. The excellent cast includes Anjelica Huston as Morticia and Christina Ricci as Wednesday. It’s a hilarious romp with a family who loves the darker side of life.

Monster House – 2006

This PG-rated movie might seem tame, but believe me when I tell you that the haunted, monster house is scary! At the same time, this movie offers a lot of laughs. The story revolves around 13-year-old DJ who discovers that the grouchy old man across the street lives in a monster house. It’s a whole new take on haunted houses.

The Haunted Mansion – 2003

This one is another of Disney’s ride-based movies (some others being Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise). The premise is simple: a career-driven father and his family is summoned to a crumbling, old mansion. However, Eddie Murphy brings plenty of laughs to this light-hearted ‘horror’ movie.

Tremors – 1990

I’ve saved the scariest for last! This PG13-rated movie is a great way to introduce tweens and teens to adult horror. It’s funny enough to draw laughs, but gross enough to qualify as genuine horror. It involves a small town in the middle of the desert that finds itself attacked by a strange, worm-like creature. It’s definitely frightening, but in a campy way that makes it a very fun movie.

There are many more family-friendly horror movies, but these are my favorites. Have fun introducing your family to horror with a scary movie night! What about you? What are your favorite family-friendly horror movies? Let me know in the comments.

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There’s a vampire war on, and it’s time to choose sides. Cassie doesn’t know why she fainted on stage, or why she woke up with a two-hour hole in her memory. She doesn’t understand the twin puncture marks on her neck, and can’t comprehend why she’s suddenly terrified of being in the dark. All she knows is that her ordinary life has completely changed…for the worse. Then she meets Isaiah, a mysterious man with a dark past. He has answers to her questions, but he’s reluctant to give them and put her in more danger. Only when Cassie proves herself does he trust her with what he knows: there’s a vampire war in Detroit, and those who don’t take sides will be caught in the crossfire. Now, it’s up to Cassie and Isaiah to put a stop to things before the warring vampires claim more victims. Falling in love isn’t part of the plan, of course, but some things can’t be helped.

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Skinamarink – Boring or Scary?

When Kyle Edward Ball’s indie horror film Skinamarink hit theaters in late 2022, it already had a fan following. The buzz stemmed largely from its pirated release. Before long, there were dozens of Reddit threads devoted to this movie. But for all the hype, Skinamarink remains controversial. Is it a really a frightening movie, or simply a stylistically impressive snooze fest?

To answer the question, it’s important to understand that this isn’t your average horror movie. Unlike fast-paced thrillers, Skinamarink is the slowest of all burns. The plot couldn’t be more basic. Two children find themselves alone in their house and unable to escape. However, while the movie lacks complex storytelling, it makes up for with its nightmarish atmosphere. Unlike other found footage films, Skinamarink feels like it was filmed by a child holding an old-fashioned VHS camcorder. Off-kilter camera angles give viewers shots of toys scattered across the floors, a television playing an endless stream of old cartoons, and the ceiling. Sometimes, it’s not even clear what the focus of the shot is.

Cinematographically speaking, the movie’s a mess. Yet, this bewildering patchwork of images haunts its viewers like nightmare by turning the ordinary into the surreal. A shot of Legos on the floor isn’t frightening, but the lack of a soundtrack, the fact that no faces are shown, and the low-quality video combine into a strangely realistic movie which, of course, makes Skinamarink that much more frightening.

Ultimately though, Skinamarink’s success is in making viewers question what is real and what isn’t. At the beginning of the movie, viewers overhear Kyle’s father telling someone that Kyle fell down the stairs and hit his head while sleepwalking. This brings up an important question: are these events really happening, or is it little Kevin’s personal nightmare brought on by a closed-head injury? As the plot spools out, one childish nightmare after another unfolds. The first comes when Kevin and his sister can’t find their father. From there, young Kevin’s world shrinks until, eventually, he’s left with nothing but the television, which is as sinister of a presence as the monster. Although it’s never clear whether the events are really happening, it’s clear that this is real to the only person who matters: Kyle. It’s his reality, and it’s terrifying.

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Fridge Horror

My son introduced me to the website TV Tropes, and it is probably the most addictive site I’ve found (barring Reddit, my favorite). TV Tropes calls itself the, “All devouring pop-culture wiki”. If you ever wanted to waste a few hours exploring how the Slender Man lore fits in with H.P. Lovecraft, then this is your website. There are so many rabbit holes to fall through…and keep falling through endlessly. Which is what led me to fridge horror.

Today, I decided to pick a popular trope, in this case ‘fridge horror’ and apply it to a few horror movies. I have used examples from TV Tropes; although, I know I’ll be coming up with my own examples throughout the day as I continue thinking about this post. (Which, strangely, is what fridge horror is all about.)

So what is fridge horror? According to the wiki, it has nothing to do with refrigerators. Instead, it means that something becomes terrifying after the fact. That is, it’s only after you start thinking about something that it becomes truly horrible. Let me give some examples.

Have you seen Sam Raimi’s Drag me to Hell? Once you finish the rollicking ride that is the movie, the message starts to sink in. Can you imagine how terrible it would be if someone could lay a curse on you for something minor, and you’d be literally dragged to hell for all eternity? Well, that’s Christine’s fate when she’s cursed by an old woman. It’s a terrifying concept.

The Purge has multiple examples of fridge horror. For example, think of how generations of kids will normalize this event. After all, they grew up living it. Also, what would this event mean for college campuses? Students wouldn’t the only ones doing the killing. Imagine meeting up with your professor on the night of the purge. You’d better be in his good graces!

My own example of this is the movie Triangle (2009) which is actually a movie that really freaked me out. In the story, a woman named Jess gets stuck in a time loop and cannot escape. The loop itself is scary, but there are some in-your-face clues as to how long she’s been stuck in it. (Hint: a very long time). After watching that movie, the real horror of Jess’s situation sunk in, leaving me more uncomfortable than ever.

If you have time to spare, I really recommend the TV Tropes website to you. And if you have examples of your own ‘fridge horror’ movies, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

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The World’s No. 1 Horror Movie

My Google search history is full of the most random things. Last week, I was writing about a witch who was growing a poison garden, so I had a search devoted to deadly plants. Then there are my countless searches for ‘evil’ and ‘evil spirits’ and ‘séances’. I guess that’s why Google decided to show me what the world’s no. 1 horror movie is.

The answer, in case you’re wondering, is The Exorcist (1973) (according to Rotten Tomatoes). I don’t find this surprising. After all, this movie is a classic, and it was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Plus, I’m a huge fan of Max von Sydow. However, is it really number one?

I was nine when the movie came out, and the commercials for the movie terrified me. I had no idea what it was about, but watching a screaming Linda Blair in a shaking bed was enough to give me nightmares. Likewise, I overheard my parents’ conversations about their friends who had seen the movie. All of this filled me with a horrible fascination for the film.

So imagine my disappointment when I finally saw it. I was in my thirties by that time, and quite the horror connoisseur. I had been expecting a rollicking ride with demon possession, but the movie moved so slowly! Yes, there were intense moments. (I’ll never forget the famous pea soup vomiting scene), but by today’s standards it all seems quite tame. In fact, when I watched it with my daughter a few years ago, she told me it was too boring. We ended up watching something else.

I guess the reason The Exorcist made such an impact was because it was so graphic for its time. According to Wikipedia, some viewers suffered from “cinematic neurosis” triggered by the movie. There were reports of audience members fainting or having heart attacks and miscarriages. (Only once in my movie career have I seen someone run from a theater due to the gore, and that was in Sweeney Todd.) Then there was the lore behind the movie. Apparently, the director thought the movie was cursed since there were so many deaths and injuries surrounding the filming.

I think that putting the movie into its historical context makes a huge difference in how it’s viewed. Things were much different in 1973. There weren’t the streaming services we have today, so horror was kind of outside the norm. And if it sounds like I’m hating on this movie, I’m not. I’ve watched it several times, and I appreciate it more with every viewing. It’s so moody and bleak. It definitely sets a mood.

But is it the no. 1 horror movie? I don’t think so. I’d put it in my top ten, but a lot of horror has come out since 1973, and I believe it would be unfair to say that there hasn’t been another, better horror movie made since then. It sets a high standard for movies, but I think others have met—and even exceeded—that mark.

What do you think? Does The Exorcist deserve its spot as the no. 1 horror movie? Let me know what you think in the comments.

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Book Review – The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Of all the types of horror that exist, I think that Gothic horror is my favorite. Whether it’s movies like The Cursed (which I recently reviewed) or classics like Bram Stoker’s Dracula, there is something about creepy mansions, bleak countrysides, and family curses that appeal to me. That is why I loved The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters.

I’ve read a lot of Sarah Waters’ books. She mostly writes about Victorian or WWII England. Her descriptions pull no punches. If I’d ever wanted to live in Victorian England, her novels make me think again. Waters’ grim writing depicts life as it must have been for the poor, widows and orphans. She describes how rough life was for those in the margins.

The Little Stranger tells the story of a post WWII family who is desperately trying to get their lives back on track. The family owns a huge manor, The Hundreds, which is a shadow of its former, glorious self. Money is tight, and there’s not enough of it for the family to live as it once had back in the manor’s heyday. Waters’ fantastic descriptions of the moldering, old mansion set the scene for a slow-burning ghost story.

Although the story itself is a slow burn, I found myself immersed in the pages. Compared to other horror novels and movies, the ghost in The Little Stranger starts off very low-key. In fact, the main character—Dr. Faraday—doesn’t believe the mansion is haunted at all. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure, either. Was there really a ghost, or was the ‘haunting’ brought on by stress and mental illness? Some reviewers of this book have called it ‘vague’ and ‘frustrating’, but I love the ambiguity. It somehow makes the situation more real. Yes, there are a lot of loose ends, but that’s one of the things I liked about this book.

I love the book and give it a four out of five stars since it isn’t my favorite Waters book (that award goes to Fingersmith). But I highly recommend The Little Stranger to those who love Gothic mystery and horror. I hope to see the movie soon, so I can do a movie-to-book comparison.

Have you tried any Gothic horror lately? Let me know in the comments!

If you like Gothic-style horror, why not try my novel, The Demon in the Tower? It’s FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

The clock tower at Westerdale College is forbidden for a reason.
Rumor has it that Westerdale’s bell tower is haunted, but only psychic Nigel Smyth knows the truth. On a dark, October night five years before, he climbed up to meet his lover and discovered Thomas’ ravaged body at the foot of a demonic altar. Only luck saved Nigel from a similar fate.
Now, as Nigel reluctantly returns to Westerdale, he worries the demon will hunt him down again. This time, however, he’s not the only one in the crosshairs. Other Westerdale students are meeting their own terrible fates as well. As Nigel forges a plan to kill the monster, he worries that his earth magic skills won’t be strong enough to conquer it. Then he meets Jack Lewis, and his desperation turns to hope.
Although Jack is too practical to believe in the paranormal, he can’t explain why he was savagely bitten while in the tower. Nor can he account for the terrifying shadow that haunts him wherever he goes. It’s only when he meets Nigel that he finds an ally against the dark forces surrounding him.
Though billionaire Nigel and reluctant criminal Jack have little in common, together they make a formidable team of demon hunters, and an unlikely pair of lovers.

Buy Now

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My Weekend Watch List – Reviews

Last week, I gave you my weekend watch list. Watching all four of them was quite a ride! I had a great time with each of the movies, but they were all very diverse. So let’s dig into my weekend watch list reviews.

The Wrestler

I’d seen this movie before, but once I got into it for the second time, I realized how much I loved Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei’s performances. It’s a heartbreaking story of two people who are trying to live out their dreams. Director Darren Aronofsky has an amazing ability to make the viewers care about the characters (which makes his other movies like Mother! so difficult to watch). I felt everything in this movie on a gut level. Randy “The Ram” Robinson had been a successful wrestler in his heyday, but at the time of the movie, he’s a has-been. Unfortunately, as much as he tries to lead a normal life, he finds that he can’t function. Randy is a complex character. He’s not really a good guy, but he’s certainly not evil. He’s just very self-centered. I give this movie a five out of five stars, just as I did back when it came out. A side note is that I’d forgotten how bloody this movie is. I can handle body horror pretty well, but watching Randy and his opponent roll in broken glass and barbed wire made me cringe. For some reason, the blood in this movie seemed much more real than the same thing might be in a horror movie. I’m not sure why.

Resurrection

I went into this movie blind, and I’m glad I did. I had no idea what was in store, which made it even scarier. The story line is pretty simple: a mother keeps running into an old ‘friend’ that she hasn’t seen in thirty years. The more the mother sees her ‘friend’, the more she goes into a downward spiral and becomes more and more unhinged. Rebecca Hall’s acting is amazing. It is painful to watch her lose herself over her obsession with her friend. At first, it’s impossible to understand why she’s so upset at seeing this man again, but then she gives a remarkable monologue about their relationship. The horror in this movie is subtle at first because it starts out with personal relationships. As the movie progresses, a supernatural element comes into play. By the end of the movie, Resurrection becomes out-and-out horror. This was a great movie, and I’m sorry to have waited so long to see it. I give it four out of five stars. (Content warning: the movie deals with grooming and predatory relationships with teens.)

The Cursed

This is not your ordinary werewolf movie! I had heard that it was similar to VVitch by Robert Eggers, and while that’s true, there is a chest-bursting scene that I swear came straight from Alien. Although the plot is fairly basic, the movie was so tense! I loved every minute of it. The movie begins during WWI, which is a time period that isn’t often used in horror (although it should be). Then the story goes 30 years backward in time to a manor house in rural England. The cinematography is wonderful. I don’t know much at all about movie making, but the filter they used made everything so dull and gloomy—a perfect backdrop for what was happening. There might not be any surprises in this movie, but if werewolves are your thing, I highly recommend it. Four out of five stars.

Pearl

I saw this movie last, and it was my least favorite. Even though it was a good movie, I found Pearl herself to be very annoying. Don’t get me wrong; I loved Mia Goth’s performance. But Pearl is such a brat! Which I guess is the point. What I did like about it was its crazy cheerfulness. Everything in this movie was larger than life, including Pearl herself. I think my favorite part of the movie was the end credits in which Mia Goth grins at the camera for an outlandishly amount of time. As her smile becomes more and more unhinged, tears squeeze from her eyes. It’s like she’s trying so hard to be normal which, when you see the movie you’ll realize, she isn’t. I give this movie three out of five stars.

So there it is! My review from my weekend watch. I’ll be doing another weekend watch soon, so stay tuned. If you like my commentary on horror, give my blog a follow. I’d also appreciate a follow on my Bookbub page!

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My Weekend Watch List

In the winter, I love spending my weekends watching movies. In the past, I generally plan out what I’m going to read (I love those Bingo card challenges), so I thought I’d start 2023 by planning out what I want to watch. This is my weekend watch list.

This week, I have a variety of movies to view. I generally watch 1-2 movies a day (on the weekends). I want to mix up genres a bit, so I won’t be watching all horror. However, there are plenty of scary movies in my future.

Pearl (2022)

Until last week, I didn’t realize that Pearl was a prequel to one of my favorite movies in 2022: X. I hadn’t really wanted to watch this movie at first. I’m not sure why. I guess the trailer didn’t appeal to me. However, now that I know it’s connection to X, I’m eager to check it out.

The Wrestler (2008)

This was another reveal: This movie was directed by one of my favorites, Darren Aronofsky. Aronofsky also directed a 2022 movie that I’m eager to see: The Whale. In addition to The Whale, Aronofsky has directed a few hard-hitting movies such as Requiem for a Dream and Mother! I’ve seen The Wrestler before (it gutted me!) but it deserves another view.

The Cursed (2021)

I heard about this werewolf movie a few days ago from one of my favorite horror YouTubers. I believe that it is similar in tone to one of my all-time favorite horror movies, VVitch (or it is Witch?) It appears to be very atmospheric, and it was compared to Robert Eggers work (he’s another of my favorite directors).

Resurrection (2022)

The last movie in my weekend watch list is Resurrection. This one escaped my notice in 2022, but since then it’s been on my radar. It’s supposed to be crazy ride, even though the plot summary seems pretty tame. The summary: Haunted by harrowing memories of abuse, emotionally scarred Margaret, a doting single mother and dynamic executive on top of her game, now seems to have it all together. And with her 17-year-old daughter Abbie about to spread her wings and leave home for college, Margaret’s life finally goes according to plan. However, trouble is brewing. When unsuspecting Margaret catches a glimpse of her toxic past at a conference, suddenly, she must summon every last ounce of courage to face the ghastly figure yearning to re-enter her life two long decades later. Has the ugly past returned to settle old scores with a vengeance? —Nick Riganas

I’ll probably watch a few more movies on top of these, but this will be my base. I’m excited to see them, and I can’t wait to find out what the hype is. I’ll be back next week to give you my opinions of each of these.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Let me know what your plans are in the comments box!

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Are You Ever too Old for Horror?

Is the love of horror something you grow out of?

I sometimes have my college-aged students read Stephen King’s famous treatise on horror called “Why We Crave Horror Movies”. It’s a great essay, and spawns a lot of discussion. Generally, the class is split between horror lovers and those who hate the genre. I have students read King’s essay in order to foster a debate on whether horror has a place in literature. This is one of my favorite discussions of the semester, since you never know what the students will say.

I re-read the essay recently, and suddenly picked up on a line that I had passed over before. King is comparing horror to roller coasters, and he says, “And horror movies, like roller coasters, have always been the special
province of the young; by the time one turns 40 or 50, one’s appetite for double twists or
360-degree loops may be considerably depleted.” That sentence stopped me in my tracks!

I’m nearly a decade past 50, and I’ve never enjoyed horror more than I do now. In fact, the deeper I dig into the genre, the more I discover. Last year, I started watching at least four horror movies a week and have not gotten sick of the genre yet. And there are plenty of horror novels on my shelves and on my Kindle.

I’m not sure why someone would age out of the horror genre. While it’s true that I don’t get as scared as I used to as a teenager, I definitely enjoy most of the movies I watch, even the silly ones with improbable plots. However, many times after watching them, I find myself thinking about the themes they present. For instance, I recently watched Funny Games, a particularly brutal movie with an interesting take on horror. It haunted me, both on an emotional and intellectual level. Immediately after watching it, I jumped on Reddit to see what others had to say about it. It made for a fascinating debate.

And maybe that’s what I love most about the genre: the community. I’ve usually found the horror community to be an accepting and thoughtful bunch. When you love something, it’s nice to be able to share your thoughts with other like-minded people. It’s the same way I feel when presenting my students with the King article. It’s a chance to discuss something that many people enjoy but seldom get to talk about.

What do you think? Will you ever grow out of something you love? Let me know in the comments.

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The Green Comet and Comet Movies

I love star gazing, but it was always difficult back when I lived in the city. Those city lights really bleach the night sky, making my pastime difficult. (Light pollution is a thing, y’all!) I had to get my night sky fix when I was camping, or the rare times I would drive out of the city to watch a meteor shower. Now that I live in the country, I have more opportunity for studying the night sky. So when I heard about the green comet, I got excited. I may finally get a chance to see something cool without driving an hour to do so.

This, of course, made me think of all the comet-related horror I know. Are you are a lover of celestial bodies? If so, this list of movies may appeal to you.

Night of the Comet (1984)

My sister introduced this comet movie to me, and I had no idea what I was getting into. But if you like 80s kitch, then this story of two valley girls facing off against an army of carnivorous zombies, then this movie is for you. Bonus, it’s rated PG-13, so it’s not as gruesome as some of the others. It’s a funny movie, and perfectly encapsulates the 80s of my youth.

Maximum Overdrive (1986)

What happens when the earth passes through the tail of a comet? Apparently, all machines come to life. Yes, I know. This movie isn’t exactly cinema magic. (How can Stephen King write such engaging books, yet have so many book-to-movie flops?) I remember when this came out. King promised that it would be a horror movie made the way horror movies were meant to be made. Hmm. It wasn’t scary, but it was entertaining. And it does fit my theme today. One of the more interesting things about the movie is that Yeardley Smith (aka Lisa Simpson) was a part of the cast. I also have always liked Emilio Estevez who starred in this hilarious wreck of a movie.

Coherence (2013)

Of all the comet movies, this one is the most serious. This comet movie revolves around a dinner party that takes place on a night where the earth passes through a comet. This isn’t listed as a horror movie, but believe me—it is tense. Coherence is more of a character study of the guests at the party. If you like dark, slow-moving thrillers, then this is the movie for you.

I have another list of movies that involve meteors, but these three stick out in my mind as a few of my favorite comet movies. Can you add anything to this list? If so, drop a comet, erm comment, below.

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Horror Novels I’m Excited for in 2023

2022 was a great year for horror novels. I enjoyed quite a few amazing titles, but I’m looking ahead to 2023 and can’t wait to see what’s in store.

Grady Hendrix

It’s no secret that I really grew to love Grady Hendrix novels in 2022. His quirky sense of humor and his thrilling plots made me a real fan. Last year, I read quite a few of his books, including my favorite: Horrorstor. This year, he has a new one coming out, How to Sell a Haunted House, and I can’t wait to read it.

Synopsis

When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world.

Mostly, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. But she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market.

Some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…

Stephen Graham Jones

Jones is another author who falls under the ‘if he writes it, I read it’ umbrella. All the Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw were two that I wanted to re-read the minute I finished them. In 2023, Jones has two new ones coming out. The first is a sequel to My Heart is a Chainsaw and book two of the Lake Witch trilogy.

Synopsis

Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock. Convicted Serial Killer, Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for thirty-eight Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock, Idaho.

Dark Mill South’s Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday.

Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over.

T. Kingfisher

I read Kingfisher’s book The Hollow Places in a horror novels club I belong to, and I found it both charming and terrifying. Kingfisher has a real skill for characterization and world building. My favorite part of The Hollow Places was the delightful, little museum that took center stage in the story. I’m hoping for more of that quirky, charm in A House with Good Bones.

Synopsis

A haunting Southern Gothic from an award-winning master of suspense, A House With Good Bones explores the dark, twisted roots lurking just beneath the veneer of a perfect home and family. “Mom seems off.” Her brother’s words echo in Sam Montgomery’s ear as she turns onto the quiet North Carolina street where their mother lives alone. She brushes the thought away as she climbs the front steps. Sam’s excited for this rare extended visit, and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine, watching murder mystery shows, and guessing who the killer is long before the characters figure it out. But stepping inside, she quickly realizes home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above. To find out what’s got her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried.

A Few New Faces in Horror Novels

She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran has been compared to one of my favorite reads from last year, Mexican Gothic. I’m eager to give this one a try.

Synopsis

A House with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic. When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised. But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves cryptic warnings: Don’t eat. Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house–the home they have always wanted–will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.

There are a lot of great horror novels coming out in 2023. You can read a more comprehensive list at BookRiot.

Mariana Enriquez

This one seems very interesting. It received enthusiastic praise from Kazuo Ishiguro and Silvia Moreno-Garcia, two of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to try it!

Synopsis

A young father and son set out on a road trip, devastated by the death of the wife and mother they both loved. United in grief, the pair travel to her ancestral home, where they must confront the terrifying legacy she has bequeathed: a family called the Order that commits unspeakable acts in search of immortality. For Gaspar, the son, this maniacal cult is his destiny. As the Order tries to pull him into their evil, he and his father take flight, attempting to outrun a powerful clan that will do anything to ensure its own survival. But how far will Gaspar’s father go to protect his child? And can anyone escape their fate? Moving back and forth in time, from London in the swinging 1960s to the brutal years of Argentina’s military dictatorship and its turbulent aftermath, Our Share of Night is a novel like no other: a family story, a ghost story, a story of the occult and the supernatural, a book about the complexities of love and longing with queer subplots and themes. This is the masterwork of one of Latin America’s most original novelists, “a mesmerizing writer,” says Dave Eggers, “who demands to be read.”

There you have it! There are so many horror novels to look forward to, and I just know that I’ll find plenty of others along the way. What books are you anticipating for 2023? Let me know in the comments!

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