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The Most Popular Book-to-Scream Adaptations
Hollywood has a long-standing tradition of adapting horror novels into frightening films. From 1930s classics like Dracula and Frankenstein to last year’s acclaimed remake of Stephen King’s IT, theatergoers won’t be facing a shortage of screams anytime soon.
Many adaptations have become just as iconic (if not more so) as their source material. Think Linda Blair’s hair-raising performance in The Exorcist, the blood-curdling shower scene in Psycho, or how the phrase “Hello, Clarice” instantly brings a certain cannibalistic dinner host to mind.
Because we’re all about reading the book before seeing the movie, we rounded up some of the most popular horror adaptations on Goodreads. For easy browsing, we sorted these titles into several spine-chilling themes. Which ones have kept you up at night, and which ones will you be adding to your Want to Read Shelf?
Many adaptations have become just as iconic (if not more so) as their source material. Think Linda Blair’s hair-raising performance in The Exorcist, the blood-curdling shower scene in Psycho, or how the phrase “Hello, Clarice” instantly brings a certain cannibalistic dinner host to mind.
Because we’re all about reading the book before seeing the movie, we rounded up some of the most popular horror adaptations on Goodreads. For easy browsing, we sorted these titles into several spine-chilling themes. Which ones have kept you up at night, and which ones will you be adding to your Want to Read Shelf?
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Which adapted horror novel would you recommend as a great read? Let us know in the comments!
Check out the complete coverage of Horror Week:
13 Terrifyingly True Tales
A Guide to the Ghastly Subgenres of Horror
50 Most Popular Horror Novels on Goodreads
Check out the complete coverage of Horror Week:
13 Terrifyingly True Tales
A Guide to the Ghastly Subgenres of Horror
50 Most Popular Horror Novels on Goodreads
Comments Showing 51-63 of 63 (63 new)
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Holly wrote: "Margaret Jones wrote: "Tanya wrote: "I dislike Kubrick's adaptation of the Shining. Doesn't do the novel justice at all."Yes, I say this all the time! If you've read the book you realize that the..."
HAHAH Same feelings about Wendy!
But I loved Jack Nicholson in this movie, so I can't completely disregard it!
book mist and movie mist has soo much difference especially in the end !!!
The book “Carrie,” was so much better than the movie.
Tanya wrote: "I dislike Kubrick's adaptation of the Shining. Doesn't do the novel justice at all."I didn't read the book myself, but as many tend to say so, I will agree with them. But, maybe we should try to leave the book aside and see Kubrick's movie as a creation on its own, since he made so many changes to the original story (I say this because most of the negative reviews of this movie are complaining about the huge gaps between it and the book - that is not a real reason if you ask me). I liked the movie a lot and consider it a masterpiece.
Kubrick is a perfectionist who knows how to shoot and there's a lot of symbolism added to the motion picture, I suggest reading an explanation of the movie, as I missed some of the hidden gems as well. Much like David Lynch, Kubrick knows how to send chills down your spine with mere images and eerie sounds.
Reader453 wrote: "I plan to check out Netflix's adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House."I hope it lives up to expectations. I know that it doesn't have the be a carbon copy of the book, but I also hope it doesn't stray too awful far from the source material. One way or another, I'm excited to check it out too!
The Shining, the book was 10x better than the movie
Guin wrote: "I think Stephen King's "CUJO" needs a remake was totally disappointed with film. Yes, I read the book before seeing the movie."I agree! The movie sucked in comparison with the novel. I found the novel actually scary because it was more realistic than a lot of horror. I'm not a big King reader, but I loved this one.
Tanya wrote: "I dislike Kubrick's adaptation of the Shining. Doesn't do the novel justice at all."I completely agree. I appreciate the technical awesomeness of the movie - the innovative shots, the music, the great Jack Nicholson's performance, for example - but I couldn't find in it the atmosphere created by King in the book.
Ovidiu wrote: "Tanya wrote: "I dislike Kubrick's adaptation of the Shining. Doesn't do the novel justice at all."I didn't read the book myself, but as many tend to say so, I will agree with them. But, maybe we ..."
Hello Ovidiu, thanks to your words. I agree with them. I've seen the film and read the book. Both are in there own way great. Kubrick is a genius when it comes to films and King when it comes to books.
Kubrick's movie based on The Shining is one of the most claustrophobic movies ever. Is more about how a man becomes a mad-man than about the gift or the curse of the shining. Kubrick was an artist. He took out of the book was for him was the essential and made from it the movie. He did the same with Arthur C. Clarke's novel 2001: A Space Odyssey. So you should not compare his movies with the books they are based on.
So true. The Shining is the scariest book I ever read! The movie is a cartoon in comparison.