Category: Horror movies, books and podcasts
Hello, fellow fans of horrors. Are you ready to be horrified while making some bank? Good, because today we are going to give you the five most thrilling online slots inspired by our favorite horror movies.
It’s always better to find a slot whose theme you like, because it makes the gameplay much more enjoyable. This is why we decided to write this article, in case there are any slot players within our fan base. So go ahead and check out these five fantastic slots featured on the best online slot sites.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a classic slasher film from 1984. Who can forget Freddy Krueger and his menacing quotes? Did you also know that the film is in fact loosely based on a true story, like many other famous horrors? Well, if you’re not afraid of any nightmares that could follow, then go ahead and play A Nightmare on Elm Street slot.
It’s an online slot by provider 888 Gaming and it’s actually based on the 2010 remake of the classic film. The slot is not for the faint of heart with its creepy music and visuals, even going as far as to contain clips when you land on a particular combination.
There are great bonus features like Expanding Wilds and Pick-Me (you pick a symbol and get a cash prize). There’s also the Never Sleep Again bonus game and you can land between 10-30 free spins as well. Last, but not least, there’s a progressive jackpot and a few minor jackpots.
Halloween
Halloween is yet another classic slasher film from 1978, which despite its very modest budget became a blockbuster and shot its leading actress Jamie Lee Curtis into the celebrity stratosphere. If you want to experience the thrills of the movie again, you can try playing Halloween online slot by Microgaming.
The slot is based on the original movie and it borrows iconic imagery from it, meaning you’ll see your favorite characters, while playing this fun slot. There are many creative features that come with it like Wandering Reels with Jumbo Blocks, allowing for extra winning combinations.
In addition, there’s the Trick or Treat bonus game that gives out many rewards. You can also trigger the Boogeyman bonus game, which has you turning leaves, each one carrying a cash prize until you hit the Boogeyman that ends the game. Of course, there are also free spins.
Psycho
Psycho (1960) is one of the two horrors Hitchcock made, and it’s no wonder that there’s a slot based on it; we still get chills when we see Bates on screen, whether be it in the film or in this great Next-Gen slot.
The gameplay starts with a bit from the film as Marion pulls into Bates Motel. Creepy music starts playing and you can see the film characters made into payable symbols. When you see a hand carrying a knife, a wild symbol appears, and any winning combination with it will be multiplied. You can also score between 10 and 20 free spins that can be retriggered.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein (1931), (sort of loosely) based on the eponymous novel by Mary Shelley, is a pre-code science fiction horror that tells the tragic story of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster. It’s one of the first classic horrors, and so it deserves an appropriate game to commemorate it.
NetEnt did just that by basing their Frankenstein slot on the 1931 hit movie, again borrowing imagery from it. Similar to the way the monster came alive in the film, the slot has the Lightning Wilds Bonus feature, which has the wilds cover reels and reveal more bonus symbols.
There are also free spins that feature Sticky Wilds, which increase your chances of winning.
Bloodsuckers
Bloodsuckers (2005) is a movie you’ve probably never heard of which features vampires and… space cowboys? Sure, it was not a critically-acclaimed movie featuring impressive details like any of Ari Aster’s gems, but it provided for some fun entertainment, so you can give it a watch.
It’s funny because its slot counterpart is actually one of the most famous games in the industry. NetEnt’s Blood Suckers slot has a high RTP rate of 98%, it awards free spins, and it has a great bonus game – the Vampire Hunt Bonus Game.
In the bonus game, you’ll have to open coffins and look for vampires, winning coins for each one. If you find a bat, the game ends.
This question is often asked and you can see countless lists online that swear they are the definite ones, the final verdict that would once and for all settle this matter of great importance. This is what this article is. Just kidding, are you insane?
Nobody can say for certain which film based on a Stephen King novel or story is the best or even makes up the top 10. After all, there have been 44 Stephen King film adaptations, and by the look of it.
They are only going to grow in the next few decades as the author is still publishing one or two novels a year! So far, King has published 64 novels, 19 screenplays, and over two hundred short stories, so the competition is fierce. He is the styled king (pun not intended) of horror.
Below you can find the 6 Stephen King horror movies we think are the best. The only thing our list pertains to are our own personal tastes, not even Stephen King’s (we’ll talk more about that later), so make what you want from it.
Cujo
If your kids are constantly nagging you about getting them a puppy, show them Cujo (1983). Just beware the therapist bills later. Cujo is a classic 1980’s horror that shows the gruelling fate of a mother and a son trapped in a car as they’re being attacked by a rabid dog.
The film was not critically appraised at the time, and that was mostly due to the divergences it made to King’s novel, which made the characters less human whose motives were less understandable. However, the film is still very effective in scaring the living hell out of us and its simplicity is another bonus.
Children of the Corn
It doesn’t take long to realise that something is rotten in the state of Nebraska. Children of the Corn (1984) is terrifying from the very start, and we partially blame the kids for that. Creepy kids in horrors are enough to make everyone’s skin crawl.
The film is based on King’s short story of the same name and the author even penned the original script, which gave more background to the cult and the revolution, but it was subsequently changed to make the film read more as a slasher.
Firestarter
Firestarter (1984) is another kid-centred work of King, but with a much less creepy kid. Charlie and her parents all have supernatural abilities (Charlie – control of heat and fire, Vicky – mind reading, Andy – controlling people’s behaviour) as a result of a secret government experiment gone wrong. What ensues is a David vs Goliath story, but we’re not sure which is which.
King was likely inspired by the declassification of documents relating to MKUltra, a secret project that had participants take hallucinogens (sometimes unknowingly) to test the powers and limits of the mind. This 1984 adaptation truthfully captures the spirit of the original.
The Shining
The Shining (1980) is Stanley Kubrick at his best, but is it Stephen King at his best? Not according to the author. King’s dissatisfaction with the adaptation of his novel is so notorious that it deserves its own adaptation. He even said that it was the only adaptation he truly hated.
King disliked the casting of Jack Nicholson and his acting, because they revealed the plot twist at the very beginning. He also disliked Wendy in the film and how she seemed to be helpless. Nevertheless, he praised Kubrick and his artistry, just not his adaptation skills.
Misery
Let’s do a complete 180 and talk about one of King’s favourite adaptations of his work – Misery (1990). Misery is a cautionary tale for writers of romance novels and any novels really. It’s probably a nightmare King has had in the past. The film is classified as thriller, not horror, but we’re not sure we can fully agree.
Misery is a two-people-in-a-room novel and film and it does brilliantly with less. The acting is superb and the tension leaves you on the edge of the seat. It still is the only Stephen King adaptation to win an Oscar (Kathy Bates, Best Actress, 1991).
Carrie
It’s only natural to end this list with the first Stephen King adaptation based on his very first novel – Carrie (1976). Brian De Palma’s take on the novel is inspiring and perhaps exactly how most of us imagine a Stephen King adaptation on screen.
The characters are fleshed out, the narrative is gradually enfolded until the climax that none of us are ready for each time we rewatch it. We can write a whole article about the acting performances that won nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
King was also pleased with the adaptation and thought that despite the fact that the film is dated now, it is still a pretty good film. “De Palma 1, Kubrick 0” – Stephen King, probably.
Those of you who are fans of true crime videos and podcasts probably already know who we’re going to talk about.
Kendall Rae is one of the most famous true crime YouTubers with over 3.2 million subscribers and videos detailing horrific crimes, as well as famous horror stories and conspiracy theories. She and her husband Josh also run the Mile Higher Podcast, which features similarly themed videos, but also discusses strange phenomena.
In this article, we will talk a little bit more about the videos on Kendall Rae’s eponymous channel that detail famous (true crime or not) stories that went on to inspire films and TV shows. We recommend you watch these videos after seeing the dramatised adaptations to get a better grasp of the story they were based on.
All we can say is that often reality is even more horrific than fiction.
Stanley Hotel
Let’s start with the most notorious example on this list or the story of the Stanley Hotel. The Stanley Hotel is a Colonial Revival hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, but behind its beautiful façade the paranormal takes shelter. Or so the paranormal experts say.
The hotel inspired Stephen King to write his bestselling horror novel The Shining, which was later adapted for screen by Stanley Kubrick.
King says it was the empty halls and eerie music that inspired him, but after the success of the book and the film adaptation, people began thinking the hotel was haunted, and in particular Room 217 where King stayed and had his nightmare about the hotel.
Kendall Rae and her husband Josh recounted the story of the hotel after their stay there. You can watch the videos on Kendall’s channel and the Mile Higher Podcast to learn more.
Robert the Doll and Raggedy Ann
If you have an irrational fear of dolls, we might have a video for you that could totally rationalise it. In a 2019 video, Kendall Rae told the story of Robert the Doll, a very real doll that’s supposedly very possessed, and its female counterpart Riggedy Ann. Both stories read like a horror film, so it’s not surprising that they inspired the blockbuster horror film Annabelle.
The Dee Dee Blanchard Case
In one of the most shocking and tragic cases to have ever grabbed the attention of the whole nation, Dee Dee Blanchard, a heroic mother who singlehandedly raised her severely disabled daughter (Gypsy Rose), was found dead. Gypsy Rose was missing and everyone feared the worst.
Nobody, however, expected to find out that Gypsy Rose was in fact the person who arranged for her mother to be killed. Not only that but it was revealed she had no health conditions at all, let alone such that require her to use a wheelchair and to feed through a tube.
The bizarre and very tragic case of Gypsy Rose and her mother Dee Dee was covered by Kendall Rae in a 2017 video, that explains the harrowing tale in detail. The case also went to aspire the hit Hulu mini-series The Act and the Lifetime film Love You to Death.
Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy
The death of Conrad Roy created one of the most infamous constitutional debates in the United States. Conrad Roy was not murdered; he committed suicide in his car. However, investigators soon revealed the text messages sent by his girlfriend Michelle Carter who not only told him it was okay to kill himself, but actively encouraged him to do so.
The question that the jury had to respond to in the Conrad Roy trial is whether Michelle was protected by her First Amendment rights to say what she did, no matter how incredibly sick it was.
Kendall Rae and Josh discuss this tragic case with their viewers on their podcast and as always, they include various viewpoints and intricate details about the relationship between Michelle and Conrad.
As we are speaking, Hulu had just released the miniseries that depicts the events preceding Conrad’s suicide. The show is titled The Girl from Plainville.
The Zodiac Killer
It’s only fitting to end this article by bringing up the perhaps most famous unsolved case of all – that of the Zodiac Killer. The Zodiac is known to have murdered five people in the Bay Area of Northern California in the late 1960’s, although he claims to have killed 37 people in total.
It’s not only the fact that these murders remain unsolved that interests people, but also the mysterious ciphers the Zodiac Killer produced and sent to various police stations and newspapers. Out of the four ciphers, only two were cracked, one of which fairly recently.
Much like other YouTubers in her sphere, Kendall Rae has discussed the Zodiac murder, his ciphers and various theories concerning his identity. She first talked about this case in 2018, then she followed up with another video in 2021 when the second Zodiac cipher was solved, and a third one where she discussed all this in length in her podcast with Josh.
We recommend watching all of these videos if you want to learn everything about this sick and mysterious killer. Later, you can watch the sleeper movie about this case called Zodiac.
We are all here because we love a good horror, no matter how much it scares the living hell out of us. Some scholars attribute our interest in horrors as a desire to be stimulated, both positively (adrenaline rush) and negatively (anxiety). Others note that watching a scary movie where someone (or many people) get killed makes us feel good, because we’re not at their place.
Despite all this, we are still very much human and we have our fight or flight instinct that might be triggered when we watch a particularly scary horror movie. So today, we will be talking about the flight response, and in particular the horrors that most people find too unbearable to finish.
The films on our list are not in any particular order; they are just really, really scary.
A Serbian Film
We’re starting out with the big guns, mostly because we want to get this film out of our system ASAP. A Serbian Film (2010, dir.by Srđan Spasojević) is honestly horrific. There are no words to describe the sickening plot that explores the hidden snuff film industry.
It’s one of the most, if not the most, famous example of a horror so petrifying that you just have to hit the pause button and take a hot contemplative shower.
Caligula
If you know your history, you’ve definitely heard of Emperor Caligula, the depraved tyrant who despite having been dead for two millennia, still sends chills down our spine. Well, someone thought that film should truly capture the horrors enacted by the blood-thirsty emperor and that’s how Caligula (1979, dir.by Tinto Brass) was born.
While the movie is not technically a horror, it features a lot of graphic scenes depicting extreme violence, along with the very R-rated sex scenes (some of which unsimulated and included as extras). Many people left the theatres when it came out and the film was banned in lots of countries.
The Human Centipede and The Human Centipede 2
We believe each one of these films, The Human Centipede (2009, dir.by Tom Six) The Human Centipede (2011, dir.by Tom Six) deserves its own article, but we decided to group them together, because the feelings they aroused in us are quite similar and the plot is of course centred around a maniac creating a human centipede.
The depiction of the process is so graphic and the idea itself so utterly disgusting. We personally could barely make it through either of them, but we have to admit that the second one is somehow even “worse”; an opinion shared by many people online.
Ju-On
The Ju-On trilogy (Katasumi and 4444444444, Ju-On: The Curse, Ju-On: The Curse 2, dir. by Takashi Shimizu) will make you think twice before you buy a house. The captivating plot and the terrifying visuals make us still sleep with the light on sometimes.
This successful Japanese franchise spawned an American version (The Grudge films), as well as a few reboots, TV shows, novels, and games. Still, nothing really compares to the original, and we recommend you start with it, if you dare.
Ring & The Ring
While we gave props to the original Japanese films in the previous section, we can’t do the same for Ring (1998, dir. by Hideo Nakata) and The Ring (2002, dir. by Gore Verbinski); they are equally terrifying and brilliant. In fact, the American version was the reason we decided to write this article in the first place.
Once we watched the original Japanese film, we realised that the girl in the well causes nightmares in each language and setting. It might take some mental preparation, but we actually suggest you watch both films and try to indulge in their cinematic artistry.
Mother!
When we heard that our favourite Darren Aronofsky had made a new film, we were thrilled as we expected to watch another mind-blowing thriller with impeccable characterisation. What we didn’t expect was Mother! (2017). A lot of people say they can’t finish Requiem for a Dream (2000), but we bet they changed our tune after seeing Mother!.
Similar to other Aronofsky films, the tension builds up gradually until it climaxes in the last 5-10 minutes leaving us begging for more. We certainly didn’t beg for more when we watched Mother!. The biblical psychological horror is still a masterpiece, but one that not many people can sit through.
Teeth
There are few words to describe Teeth (2007, dir.by Mitchell Lichtenstein) and its gory and uncomfortable scenes, but we are quite impressed that the writer-director managed to find a fear so irrational, yet so potent, to make so many viewers squirm in their seats and perhaps to even begin practicing abstinence.
Raw
The rest of the films on this list have a great deal of notoriety about them, but we decided to end this article with a lesser-known film that has a notorious viewership story. When Raw (2016, dir. by Julia Ducournau) premiered, many viewers left the theatres before the real bad parts had even begun; other less lucky patrons even lost consciousness. Proceed at your own risk!
If you’re familiar with the up-and-coming art house director Ari Aster, you most likely have some very strong opinions about his creations. Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t deny that they are unique, even in their own genre of psychological horror.
This is why we decided to discuss Aster’s films Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019) and more specifically how they relate to each other and achieve their horror. As much as we would have liked to do that, we could not keep this discussion spoiler-free and if you’re an Aster fan, you already know why.
Comparisons Between the Films
Let’s start off by mentioning the most obvious similarities of the two films contained in their plots. One, we have two female protagonists, Annie (Hereditary) and Dani (Midsommar), even their names rhyme! Second, both films deal with cults; while Hereditary builds up the tension and only reveals this in its climax, Midsommar is framed around it from the very beginning.
Last, and most important, once you strip both films off their pomp and circumstance, you’re left with the bare structure and driving force, that of the exploration of human relationships. Hereditary deals with family tragedies, while Midsommar is literally described by Aster as a break-up movie (we can’t imagine how Ari’s ex-girlfriend feels about that).
Not only that, but we believe that the horror of these horror movies is precisely the result of various familial, romantic, and social (cultish) relationships.
Hereditary starts by exploring the relationship Annie had with her recently deceased mother, Ellen. It’s revealed that they weren’t on good terms for most of Annie’s life, but she made concessions once her own daughter was born.
In a shocking twist, we find out that was Annie’s mistake; Ellen only used Charlie as a vessel for Paimon, thus sentencing her to death as the demon sought a male physical form, so he killed Charlie to get to her brother Peter.
Midsommar depicts another tragic familial relation, that of Dani and her sister Terri. While Hereditary punishes Annie for keeping her mother close, Midsommar punishes Dani for the opposite. Assured by Christian that Terri’s messages are innocuous, Dani doesn’t go to their familial home to check on her.
It’s shown in the first scene that her parents were still breathing when she called them the first time, so she could have prevented the tragedy. Both Annie and Dani could have avoided losing everyone they love.
However, despite all this, both films are deeply entrenched in predeterminism. One of Hereditary’s first shots depicts the tree that decapitates Charlie; it bears the symbol of Paimon, implying that he’s also probably the one to influence Annie’s decision to patch things up with her mother.
In a similar symbolic fashion, Midsommar’s first shot is a beautiful painted mural that depicts everything from the murder-suicide to the May Queen dance. Although Dani could have possibly prevented the events back home, everything is carefully mapped out in the Swedish commune.
Horrors usually don’t work that way; they always leave a glimmer of hope that our protagonist would somehow survive and defeat the external threat. Apparently, Aster has never heard of that.
Let’s talk a bit how that works in both films. Hereditary has a more familiar horror movie structure. It starts with death and the reaction to it, then Ellen’s body mysteriously disappears. While we’re busy trying to figure that out, Charlie dies in a freakish accident. The cycle repeats and we see Annie trying to cope with another loss.
Then, we get to the supernatural as our heroine attempts to speak to her deceased daughter, and appears to have succeeded. Only then do we find out the underbelly or the cult of Paimon that Ellen belonged to.
Annie does everything in her power to prevent further deaths. She burns Charlie’s diary to do that, but it counter-acts as her husband is engulfed by flames and Annie becomes possessed, thus later leading to the death of her son as well. The message is clear – nothing could have stopped the events set in motion.
Midsommar, on the other hand, portrays predeterminism through cultural practices. The Hårga abide to the rules set by their ancestors centuries if not millennia ago. Their whole lives are mapped out in a similar way to the mural we see in the opening; what they do in certain life periods and even how they die.
The same applies to the foreign guests brought in. There’s an illusion that you can leave and sometimes you even feel bad for judging this new culture, but it’s just that, an illusion. Simon and Connie were both killed when they tried to leave, and they were soon followed by everyone else but Dani. After all, the Hårga have seats to fill in the yellow house.
Even Dani’s predetermined fate as the sole survivor is hinted throughout. In the first scene, one can see Dani’s picture on her parents’ bedside cabinet covered in flowers. The Hårga also explain that they sometimes take foreign partners to avoid inbreeding. We think they hint at Maja and Christian, but it was Dani and Pelle all along; he was the one inviting her in the first place.
So, how can you feel excited and suspenseful watching a horror if everything is already determined? We would have probably avoided such films in the past, but Ari shows us the raw potential of the ambitious predetermined horror.
We extend our warmest welcome to our dear readers. We are very happy to present you with our newest creation – a blog that aims to explore various horror books, movies, and podcasts to satisfy your natural curiousity about the genre. We will aim to deliver on your expectations by giving you well-researched articles that are comprehensible and maybe even a little fun.
We were wondering what to dedicate our welcome post to, and after some thinking we realised we should talk about the horror genre, duh! We will specifically talk about the horror genre of literature and cinema, so you know the history of your favourite books and films. Enjoy reading!
Literature and Horror
It’s hard to pinpoint the moment the horror genre emerged in literature. Scholars would say that it did with the advent of the Gothic novel with the release of Horace Walpole’s book The Castle of Otranto in 1765. Still, the horror story has existed for much longer when you look at myths, legends, and even medieval horror stories belonging to different cultures all around the world.
Also, did everyone forget Dante’s Divine Comedy (1307)? The picture he painted, along with the tone and feeling of dread are nothing short of horrific. Then there is The Hammer of Witches (1486), a supposed guidebook, which, however, codified the belief in the supernatural, in this case – witchcraft.
This topic was, of course, always viewed in religious context and it wouldn’t be until the 18th century when literature became more “secularized” perhaps under the influence of the blossoming Enlightenment. After the success of The Castle of Otranto, other writers followed Walpole’s lead and created works with similar setting and themes like A Sicilian Romance (1790) and The Italian (1796) by Ann Radcliffe.
Another female writer that came two decades later, Mary Shelley, went on to further define the Gothic genre with Frankenstein (1818), which is also the first science fiction novel. Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (1820) brought the Gothic horror to the new world, which was later perfected by the brilliant Edgar Allan Poe.
Cinema and Horror
Cinema, on the other hand, has always had horror on its mind. Since its very inception, when cinema was used as a visual trick rather than a storytelling medium, directors such as George Melies used it to conjure up supernatural beings to the amaze of the audience. In fact, the first horror movie, Le Manoir du diable (House of the Devil), is credited to him.
While looking for the distinctive cinematic language of expression, early film directors were also preoccupied with adapting popular 19th century novels on screen. Most of these novels were in fact horror novels like Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and naturally – Frankenstein and Dracula.
The horror genre experienced both sudden increases and decreases in interest over the next few decades. It arguably found its ground with the contributions of Alfred Hitchcock, namely Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963). Especially the former presented a new type of horror – that of the serial killer; a seemingly regular Joe who could strike at any time.
The two previous waves of horror movies usually dealt with the supernatural, but Hitchcock heightened the fear of the viewers who realised this could happen to them. The next decade saw serial killers like Ted Bundy and the Zodiac, which brought a sense of terrifying realism to horror movies.
Podcasts and Horror
This is where so-called horror podcasts come along. Many of them discuss real-life horror stories, some of which inspired various films and TV shows. Others though take a more creative approach and mask themselves as reality while relying on fiction.
Creepypastas became increasingly popular in the early 2010’s, for example, with their realistic portrayal of horror that left many people wonder if they aren’t actually non-fictional. There are podcasts dedicated to them, and others dedicated to folklore, thus exploring how the tradition of horror developed across the world.
The horror genre would likely continue to evolve in new and interesting ways and we can’t wait to follow its natural progression.
