Books to Movies: Horror Chills Edition!

October 31, 2022

Many readers are drawn to the horror genre for its power to ignite intense, nail-biting emotions in imaginative and terrifying ways. Horror is a robust genre, but it isn’t the only genre that produces goosebumps or sends a chill down your spine. Others such as true crime, suspense, and psychological suspense also encompass this attraction.

What scares you? We all have something. Even horror writer extraordinaire Stephen King has a fear—Triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13! He has shared this phobia numerous times in articles and interviews, including this interview from CBC in 1986.

There are so many chilling movies out there, so if you’re not sure where to start, check out these popular book-to-movie adaptations:

The Black Phone – Based on The Black Phone: Stories by Joe Hill
Finney Shaw is being held captive in a soundproof basement by a masked killer. When a disconnected phone on the wall starts to ring, it’s the voices of the madman’s past victims reaching out.
Rings – Based on Rings by Kōji Suzuki
Julia is worried for her boyfriend, Holt, after he misses a Skype conversation. Determined to check on him, she travels to his college and discovers that he’s watched a cursed tape—a tape with an urban legend that anyone who watches it dies in seven days.
The Exorcist – Based on The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
When a young girl is possessed by an entity, two priests and her mother must battle to save her from evil.
IT – Based on IT by Stephen King
It’s hard to choose just one Stephen King adaptation! IT is about a creepy clown who inhabits a small town, scaring the children by bringing their fears to life.
The Amityville Horror – Based on The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson
Despite knowing that Ronald DeFeo murdered his entire family there one year prior, the Lutz Family buys the DeFeo property due to its desirable price. Twenty-eight days later, they flee in terror. This is based on the shocking true story.
Dracula – Based on Dracula by Bram Stoker
A vampire in search of blood—there are many adaptations of this classic story, and it is regarded as one of the most influential books ever written.
The Haunting – Based on The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Three subjects are lured to a mysterious mansion for an experiment, but as the secrets of Hill House begin to reveal themselves, it becomes a fight for survival.
The Birds – Based on The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne Du Maurier
Watchers either love or hate this creepy movie! The classic story of a farmhand, his family, and the community attacked and terrorized by flocks of birds.
Jaws – Jaws by Peter Benchley
A killer great white shark is causing havoc in a popular tourist town. The police chief, along with a biologist and fisherman, come together to hunt and kill the predator.