We deviate from our normally scheduled programming to give you a brief look back at this year in Horror.
If you missed it, you can find our wrap up of Sci-Fi here.
The Year’s Horror Movies (For Reasons Both Good and Bad)
Well, it’s safe to say it’s been a better year for horror than it’s been for sci-fi. Not much better, but some!
IT was a movie I wasn’t precisely looking forward to, but ended up really enjoying. Get Out was full of social commentary and scary at the same time. Gerald’s Game was, for the most part, a fairly faithful adaptation although it went out of its way to make Gerald seem way worse in the movie than he was portrayed in the book. Cult of Chucky was much funnier than expected, I don’t know why it got the hate that it did. I loved The Dark Tower, but I’m pretty sure it got called a horror just ’cause Stephen King wrote it.
Slumber made me mad because it took some decent actors, a potentially great idea, and proceeded to blow it all to hell. Amityville: The Awakening was nothing special, but still loads better than what I had expected, given the Amityville series in general. Annabelle: Creation got way too much attention. (Hint: Just because its loads better than the first film still doesn’t mean it’s a good film.) Wish Upon was not nearly as ridiculous as I was hoping it was, and ended up just kind of bad instead of good-bad. Rings was not too bad, all things considered (though I definitely preferred Sadako Vs. Kayako.) The Mummy… well, they made that. That’s the nicest thing I can say. Death Note was…interesting? I mean, it kind of amused me. The Bye Bye Man should have never said hello.
Mother! has definitely polarized audiences, and I have no intention of ever watching it, due a friendly ‘trigger warning’ someone gave me. The Snowman got a sweeping acknowledgement for being the worst movie of the year, I believe. Jeepers Creepers 3 has had it’s share of negative attention, most of it revolving around the director’s penchant for diddling young kids. As I don’t support kid diddling, I’ve chosen not to see the film. (Side note: Most people who I’ve talked to who have seen the film have said that it sucks anyways.) . Happy Death Day got a lot of hype, but the only time I’ve ever liked the ‘Groundhog Day’ scenario was in Groundhog Day and Haunter. I think it’s been universally acknowledged that Jigsaw shouldn’t have been made. 47 Meters Down put two white chicks in diving gear, stuck them in a cage, and apparently people were supposed to pretend it was scary. Apparently they made a Leatherface origin story, ’cause we all know how necessary that was.
From the Indie Horror scene, we got The Ice Cream Truck, and Phoenix Forgotten.
There were a lot more horror movies, to be honest, but I think I hit the highest (and lowest) points.
I’m not talking about It Comes at Night because it wasn’t a horror film.
Horror Books
December:
Traditional: I…got nothing.
Indie: William Meikle released The Ghost Club and sent GracieKat into paroxysms of joy.
November:
Traditional: Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant released Into the Drowning Deep, and while it wasn’t as good as her Feed series, I still really enjoyed the book.
Indie: Mike Thorn released The Darkest Hours, and it was a strong (and sometimes disgusting) collection of short stories.
October:
Traditional: David L. Golemon released In the Still of the Night, which was, thankfully, better than The Supernaturals.
Indie: Michael McBride released Subhuman, which was an excellent read!
September:
Traditional: Sara Porter released When I Cast Your Shadow, which is a young adult horror I need to get my hands on.
Indie: Matt Powers released Ghosts of Manor House , which was a solid read for Gracie.
August:
Traditional: Jac Jemc released The Grip of It, which I might pick up at some point.
Indie: L.S. Johnson released Harkworth Hall, which won Gracie over with the characters in it.
July:
Traditional: Nicholas Sansbury Smith released Ghosts, book 2 of his Helldivers trilogy. I’m still made about the lack of X.
Indie: Corey J Popp released his sophomore novel Curse of the Black Eyed Kids.
June:
Traditional: Christopher Golden has his first entry on this list, with Bloodstained Wonderland, which is probably more up Gracie’s alley than mine.
Indie: Hunter Shea released Just Add Water which was delightfully nostalgic.
May:
Traditional: Corey J. White released Killing Gravity, which outright blew me away. Fantastic novella.
Indie: Michael Patrick Hicks released Black Site, which was a flippin’ head trip!
April:
Traditional:Christopher Golden released Ararat, which had some solidly creepy moments centered around Noah’s Ark!
Indie: Nada, sorry!
March:
Traditional: John Llewelllyn Probert released The Lovecraft Squad: All Hallows Horrorand it was an amazing read. Can’t wait for the next entry.
Indie: Danielle DeVor released the third book in her The Marker’s Chronicle series,Sorrow’s Turn , and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
February:
Traditional: Jake Bible released Stone Cold Bastards and…and.. it put me solidly into my happy spot with all the head squishing.
Indie: J.H. MonCrieff released Monsters in Our Wake, and it was a unique read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
January:
Traditional: Adam Neville released Under a Watchful Eye, which I want to tackle at some point.
Indie: We ended the year with William Meikle, and we began the year with him and his release of Fungoid which was fung-tastic.
Horrorific Trivia
Video Game Releases in 2017 – Horror
I know there are very few gamers here but I can’t help but throw a little love to the horror releases this year. We got some very good games out this year. We’ve got some new entries in some ongoing franchises and some great indie titles. Indie game developers deserve a little recognition, too. Just like authors an indie game can get buried in the avalanche, causing some very good games to go unnoticed. ‘Walking Sims’, which I realize sound boring as all get out, are usually story rich to make up for the lack of real action. They tell some very intriguing tales along with some beautiful visuals. Visual novels are on the rise as well, many of which are horror themed. Since the new format of Horrors! on Fridays will be changed up soon you might be seeing more reviews on the visual novels appearing. Here’s a quick list I worked out of the best of each month in the survival horror genre. Most of them are for the casual gamer so, if you’re at all interested, please give them a try!
January – Memoranda (PC, Mac, Linux)
February – A House of Many Doors (PC)
March – The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ (Switch)
April – Don’t Knock Twice (PC, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive), Calm Waters (PC, Mac), The Silver Case (PS4), Outlast II (PS4, Xbox One, PC), What Remains of Edith Finch (PC, PS4), Little Nightmares (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
May – Friday the 13th: The Game (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
June – Dead by Daylight (PS4, Xbox One), Get Even (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
July – Sundered (PS4, PC)
August – Night Trap: 25th Anniversary (PS4, PC), Observer (PS4, Xbox One, PC), White Day: A Labyrinth Named School (PS4, PC), Hello Neighbor (Xbox One, PC), Resident Evil: Revelations (PS4, Xbox One)
September – Doki Doki: Literature Club (Free on Steam, PC)
October – The Evil Within 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
November – Resident Evil: Revelations 1 & 2 (Switch)
December – Resident Evil: Biohazard – Gold Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
I was very happy to find that White Day: A Labyrinth Named School was available having heard so much about it. I’m also looking forward to playing Doki Doki: Literature Club as I’ve heard some good (and disturbing) things about it.
Horror on the Web
Apparently Wesley Snipes thinks he’s the one and only man to play Blade. What do you guys think? I can think of a few others who would probably be up for the role.
Since Jordan Peele’s movie ‘Get Out’ was bizarrely nominated at the Golden Globes in the ‘Comedy’ category they say might as well make it a Christmas movie! Check out Peele’s snarktastic view on it here.
Bloody Disgusting’s list of the best foreign horror of 2017 can be found here
Barnes & Noble says these are The Best Horror Books of 2017
Of course, Chicago Review of Books has their own opinion on The Best Horror Books of 2017. Which one is right?
And in keeping with the Holiday Spirit Bloody Disgusting also gives us their list of gruesome holiday horror kills
Horrornews.net has an awesome list of 12 Urban Legends made into movies
and (not quite horror related, but a good reference) ThisisWriting has The Ultimate List of Fiction Books You Should Read Once In Your Lifetime
Lilyn G is the founder of Sci-Fi & Scary, and leader of the Coolthulhu Crew. She does book and film reviews for both genres the site focuses on. Her tastes run towards creature features, hard science fiction, and lots and lots of action. She also has a soft spot for middle-grade fiction that rears its head frequently.
Though no longer involved with Ladies of Horror Fiction due to other responsibilities and a too-full plate, she was one of the original 4 co-founders.
Feel free to chat her up on Twitter as long as you aren’t hitting her up to review your book.
Damn, i had an idea for a horror story based around an ice cream man and his van… how very dare they!
I still daren’t watch the new IT film – the book and original film mean too much to me. Also, i’d need part 2 straight away, so.
I absolutely loved the first film, Wendle and I STILL really liked this one. I think you’ll find it’s just as good but just in a different way.
I want to see Idris Elba as Blade, but that’s probably me being selfish. I’d like to see Idris Elba in ANYTHING. I wasn’t aware of the director info regarding Jeepers Creepers 3 but yep, it sucked. I also haven’t watched Mother so I’m not aware of what it even is about. I keep saying to my husband “we could rent Mother” and he keeps ignoring me so I guess he isn’t thrilled to see it. I’m pretty sure I bought Harkworth Hall after seeing it but alas, I haven’t read it yet. Thanks for the gamer info. Hubby is a gamer and loves any horror recommendations so now I can give him a whole list!
Also, I haven’t forgotten about the guest post – it just got ate by the holidays. I’m pulling it out again 🙂
Idris Elba is one fine example of the male form!
I’ve found some great horror books and movies through your posts. Thanks for sharing. And Happy New Year to ya’ll!
Happy New Year to you too
And on a personal note, I’d been tempted to read “Paperbacks From Hell” and your review was the tipping point, so I went out and bought it. Did two follow-ups based on reading it.
One was “The House Next Door” (1978) by Anne Rivers Siddons, which is more Hill House than Hell House, if you know what I mean.
The other was a pair, which I’ll review on my own blog, 1824’s “The Private Memoirs and Confessions of Justified Sinner” by James Hogg, and “The Other” (1971) by Thomas Tryon, which are connected by the use of unreliable narrators.
So, thanks, and the new year be good to you both, GracieKat and Lilyn!
I hope your new year is good as well, Brian!
Thank you! It means a lot to get feedback like that on our reviews. What did you think of The House Next Door? There’s also a very terrible movie for it starring Lara Flynn Boyle and Zach Morrison from Saved by the Bell. I can never remember his real name but he plays Kim. I caught it on YT and it may still be there.
I liked THND, thought it was well done. Sometimes it seems there’s a great divide in horror between psychological horror and physical horror, hence my Hill House vs. Hell House distinction. I can go both ways, if the story’s good. There are “Turn of the Screw” mechanisms in THND that work well; for instance, it’s Kim the architect who begins the idea that there’s something wrong with the house, but Col who carries it forward. At first when reading, I felt Kim’s part was a bit forced, but it makes sense as framing for the rest of the story. Indeed, the house’s malevolence is a bit underplayed when it comes to how badly it destroys Col’s friend Claire and their friendship.
The story reminds me a great deal of Mary Wilkins Freeman’s “Luella Miller” (1903) (which you can find on Project Gutenberg and elsewhere in its parent volume “The Wind in the Rose-bush”), because the mechanisms are primarily psychological, even if the agencies and results are quite different, and LM being only a short story, it is simpler in its psychology.
The movie version of THND still seems to be on YT. I saw the reviews on IMDb, and debate whether I want to forever afterward visualize Col as Lara Flynn Boyle.