Hello chill and thrill seekers!
My name’s Jonathan Pongratz, and I’ve always adored horror. Growing up I was forbidden access to horror films, but the second my parents were out of the house I was drawn like a moth to the flame. Nowadays I write horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, so you could say not much has changed.
I live for Halloween and it doesn’t come around nearly enough, so this year I’m celebrating the halfway point to Halloween with some great reads and watches to get in the spooky spirit. Join me as we explore hidden gems in literature and cinema on the spookier side.
Books
1. Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel (YA/Ghosts)
Gabe works as a tour guide for a local lighthouse, but when he comes face to face with the spirit of a lightkeeper warning of an evil spirit on the move, he and his friends have to gather their wits if they’re going to stop the nefarious soul.
This was spooky, action-packed, and a total home run! If you love a nice ghostly theme, characters with heart, and lots of adventure you can’t go wrong with this one!
2. Shutter by Courtney Alameda (YA/Creature Feature)
This novel is a masterpiece in my eyes, and I’m always telling people to read it if they love monsters. Micheline is a young reaper who hunts the undead and spirits in the Helsing corps. However, when she and her small crew of reapers go in to a hospital to stop a rogue spirit, they find their world spinning out of control.
The plot was action packed, the worldbuilding was flawless, and Micheline is a tough and strong-willed woman. If you’re looking for a real showstopper of a book, this will give you all the chills and thrills your dark heart desires.
3. Slewfoot by Brom (Dark Fantasy/Spirits)
Set in the time of the Puritan colonies, young Abitha lives on a small farm outside of an oppressive town. When her goat and husband go missing her life is turned upside down as she finds herself haunted by a strange spirit.
This novel was a trifecta of greatness. Horrible Puritans really had me wishing them the most brutal of ends. The spirit that haunts Abitha was an enigma that I was desperate to figure out. Abitha herself was a breath of fresh air compared to her overly pious neighbors and I loved her sass, courage, and resiliency. Fans of dark fantasy will absolutely love this gem.
4. Bloodsucker County by Jeff Strand (Horror/Comedy/Vampires)
Horror and comedy can be great together, but it’s extremely hard to pull off effectively. Luckily, Jeff Strand is a master at his craft!
In this novel, Lance lives with his mother Connie in a tiny village away from the bloodsucker pandemic that has decimated the modern world. That peace shatters when Lance finds an injured man in the nearby forest. As he and his mother nurse Bill back to good health, they are set on a collision course with hybrids that control the bloodsuckers that want nothing more than to kill Bill and anyone who gets in their way.
The grim tone of this book was addictive, but Strand manages to keep things light and sarcastic with plenty of laughs between bloody battles. Lance had a lot of great progression in breaking from his mama’s boy mindset and his mom Connie was no-nonsense and kicked some serious butt! If you love creatures of the bloodsucking variety, this is the book for you.
5. Wolfland by Jonathan Janz (Werewolves/Slasher)
As a small town celebrates an upcoming high school reunion with a bonfire party, a strange character emerges and chaos breaks loose. Several are dead and many are injured, but that’s not all. Some of the injured begin to notice changes within them, changes of a bestial nature.
Jonathan Janz is a growing name in horror, and this novel was to die for (pun intended). The small town drama was great with lots of scandalous secrets, the characters felt three dimensional, and those affected by lycanthropy each had their own triggers that made them unique. Looking for a fresh take on werewolves? Then get your hands on this captivating book!
Films
- Companion (Slasher/Scifi)
I’m always reluctant to believe the hype of new horror movies, but Companion really knocked my socks off!
Iris and Josh have been together for a while and are reconnecting with some friends at a remote home rental. However, it soon becomes clear that there is more than meets the eye with one of the individuals present when chaos erupts that begins a bloody battle for survival.
Production value? Check. Realistic characters? Check. Chills and thrills? Check, check, check! This movie had a bit of everything. There were scattered laughs to go along with the scifi horror, and I really appreciated the themes of feminism, autonomy, and AI. This film goes a little outside of the box, but is well worth a watch.
2. The Blob (Horror/Scifi/Creature Feature)
Taking a little trip in our time machine, The Blob (1987) stands the test of time.
A small town is plagued by the presence of a growing amorphous entity with an insatiable appetite. As the horrifying creature reaches a monstrous size, a local cheerleader and bad boy team up together to end the threat to their hometown.
This movie is a hidden gem that is rarely talked about, and I can’t see why. The Blob is a terrifying creature that is fun to figure out, the citizens of this small town were interesting and engaging, and the quick pace and many action scenes make this a horror classic in my eyes.
3. Brightburn (Horror/Scifi)
Love a superhero theme with a dark twist? Then you’ll love Brightburn (2019)!
Resemblant of Superman’s origin story, a shuttle from another world crash lands on Earth containing a humanoid alien boy. A nearby couple adopts the boy as their own, but as the boy enters adolescence he struggles to cope with the dark urges within him, resulting in absolute carnage.
This film had everything I love: a nice buildup, superhuman abilities, and a chilling plot that takes you on a roller coaster ride of horror. If you think this kid is gonna save the world, you’ve got it dead wrong!
4. The Call (Psychological Horror/Scifi/Drama)
On the more thrilling side of horror, The Call is a well thought out film.
A woman named Seo-Yeon keeps getting calls from a stranger named Young-Sook, but when she gets involved in the young person’s troubled life she gets more than what she bargained for. There’s a lot to unpack with this film, from the time paradox involving the calls Seo-Yeon keeps getting to the butterfly effect of the changes that occur. Seo-Yoon was easy to root for, and every moment I was on the edge of my seat.
This film is truly memorable and well worth a watch.
5. Coraline (Dark Fantasy/Animation)
I’d be remiss if I didn’t include at least one kid-friendly film in this listing, and Coraline (2009) is a shoe in.
Frustrated young Coraline moves with her parents to a new home away from her friends. Seething at the changes she’s forced to accept, she unwittingly discovers a portal to another world, where alternates of her parents and neighbors exist. However, this world is darker than it seems, and Coraline must use all of her wit if she’s going to stop her Other Mother from sewing buttons into her eyes.
The animation of this film is astounding and iconic, the characters are quirky and loveable, and the horror is understated but effective. This film would be a great introduction to a younger audience or any adult looking for a different take on horror.
That’s a Wrap!
Well that’s it for this posting. Have you read or watched any of these books and films? What did you think about them? Feel free to comment, and have a fabulous day!
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