Some of the best horror films ever made were adapted from books: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty (who also wrote the screenplay!), The Shining by Stephen King, and — my personal favorite — Psycho by Robert Bloch to name a few.
So what aspect of these stories made them such a great fit for the silver screen?
At risk of stating the obvious, they’re all, well, scary. Any horror novel worth its salt should make the heart race and the spine tingle, as if a great, hairy spider was skittering along each vertebrae. It should discomfit and unsettle, disturb and unnerve regardless of subgenre — and horror has plenty to choose from: gothic, psychological, supernatural, post-apocalyptic. Of course, each category has its own unique characteristics: a slasher story must include a slasher; a ghost story must include a ghost. But setting these distinctions aside, the foundation of any good horror story — and subsequent film adaptation — consists of three key elements.
A spectacularly spooky setting for one thing. A mysterious, gruesome, and/or violent antagonist — human, monster or what-have-you — for another. And perhaps most importantly, a tight, suspenseful plot: The story should evoke a rising sense of dread, luring the reader into a world where danger lurks around every corner and suffering skulks in the shadows. Bonus points if the narrative blurs the lines between what is real and what is imagined, prompting the audience to question their own realities.
This spooky season has no shortage of creepy, eerie and thrilling tales. Here’s my take on which ones would be just as brilliant on the silver screen as they are on the page.
‘Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel’ by Kiersten White
Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel by Kiersten White is a queer, gothic saga filled with monsters and romance aplenty, exploring the untold story of one of Dracula’s earliest victims. On the run from her creator-cum-stalker for hundreds of years, Lucy yearns for a love of her own — and seemingly finds it in 21st century London with the charming Iris, an heiress with secrets of her own.
This would appeal to fans — including me! — of Deborah Harkness’ All Souls trilogy, with similarly witchy vibes and a journey of self-discovery.
‘The Last House on Needless Street’ by Catriona Ward
An unreliable narrator who just might be a murderer. A nosy neighbor determined to unravel the truth about her sister’s disappearance. And a talking cat who knows more than she’s letting on. This superbly structured story focuses on the everyday horrors people inflict upon one another — and the fallout which inevitably follows.
This one makes the list purely because of how unique it is: It’s like getting lost inside a deep, dark maze from which there’s no escape. But fair warning, this is not a tale for the faint of heart.
‘The Taking of Jake Livingston’ by Ryan Douglas
I see dead people – or at least, 16-year-old Jake Livingston does. He’s a teenaged medium who’s forced to watch the dead relive their last moments on an endless loop. Throw in a few racist teachers and one vengeful ghost, and Jake’s got his hands full.
Viewers who like their horror films with a dose of social commentary a la Jordan Peele’s Get Out will be hooked on this twisty young adult story.
‘The Book of Accidents’ by Chuck Wendig
Del Rey
A modern ghost story where things go bump in the night — and nothing is as it seems. A family with sinister secrets returns to their hometown in rural Pennsylvania, only for history to repeat itself when their teenaged son encounters a strange boy with a taste for dark magic
A delicious blend of slash horror and domestic drama, Wendig’s writing, irresistibly reminiscent of Stephen King, is so cinematic that it practically begs to be translated into film — one which is bound to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
‘Mexican Gothic’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Del Rey
In 1950s Mexico City, Noemi Taboada, a beautiful socialite, receives a letter from her cousin stating that her husband is trying to murder her. Determined to get to the truth of the matter, Noemi journeys to her cousin’s home, where an insidious secret threatens to destroy all who encounter it.
Eerie. Atmospheric. Evocative. I love a period piece, and this one has the potential to be visually stunning — like Anna Karenina for horror fans!
‘The Quarry Girls’ by Jess Lourey
Thomas & Mercer
A piece of fiction based on chilling true events: In 1977 Minnesota, two friends witness something they shouldn’t, swearing to never speak of it again. But when two girls go missing in the span of a week — and with the authorities refusing to investigate — the duo begin searching for answers, only to discover that nothing (and no one) is as it appears.
This would appeal to true crime aficionados who prefer their horror light on the jump scares and heavy on the thrills.
‘Phantasma’ by Kalie Smith
Forever
When her sister disappears, Ophelia must enter a haunted mansion and face nine trials to claim its prize: a single wish. There, she encounters a dangerous, seductive stranger who offers his assistance in exchange for 10 years of her life.
Caraval meets Basic Instinct in this dark fantasy filled with steamy – and morally grey – romance and twists the audience won’t see coming.
‘The Troop’ by Nick Cutter
Gallery Books
Scoutmaster Tim Riggs leads his Boy Scout troop into the woods for a three-day camping trip, only to encounter a murderous, bioengineered intruder with a taste for human flesh. Now, the troop must battle the trespasser, the elements and each other in this harrowing tale of survival. Old-school horror at its best!
I can picture The Troop being done in the same dark-yet-campy style of Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? — in fact, this could have been one of its storylines back in the day.
‘Come Closer’ by Sarah Gran
Faber Faber
Amanda, a successful architect, finds her life unravelling by degrees as a series of strange occurrences threaten her marriage, her career and her sanity. She’s either on the verge of a psychotic break or, you know, possessed by the demon Naamah, (the biblical) Adam’s lesser-known second wife. A taut, twisty black comedy with heaps of horror.
I love a thriller with an unreliable narrator — Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train were recent favorites — and this one has the added chill factor of supernatural elements to boot!
‘The Night Sister’ by Jennifer McMahon
Doubleday
Literally anything by Jennifer McMahon, the queen of the discomfiting, the unsettling, and the downright creepy would work well onscreen, but especially The Night Sister. A creepy, abandoned hotel. A sinister secret which ruined the relationship between two sisters, each of whom believes the other to be something truly monstrous. The lines between fantasy and reality blur in this suspenseful thriller which will stay with viewers long after the final credits have rolled.
Jordan Kopy’s Theodora Hendrix series is on sale now, wherever books are sold. The next installment in the series, Theodora Hendrix and the Snare of the Shadowmongers, comes out Jan. 21, 2025 and is now available for preorder.
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