I LOVE horror as a genre. The thing is, I am so picky about (everything) horror that I’m really struggling to find books to read in the genre.
I despise Stephen King. (Not a writer, but also m night Shyamalan. They’re one and the same to me). I don’t consider true crime to be horror (if it’s just some guy killing people *yawn* just being gruesome doesn’t make it horror).
If it’s latent with animal abuse/killing that serves no purpose but shock value, or sexual assaults with the same shtick, I’m not interested either.
I’m not interested in Grady Hendrix or the one about human livestock. Funny horror I’m overall neutral to, and in terms of the latter, I just felt it was on the nose and while the ending was cruel, it wasn’t really scary or distressing to me. I’ve read The Companions, and it was decent albeit not very scary.
I like weird horror. Stuff that’s atmospheric is great too. I don’t have a lot of experience with horror novels, but some movies I like a lot are:
It follows, Opossum, Hereditary, Skinamarink, Mama, Sinister (just the first one), The VVitch, Lamb, Silent Hill (more conceptually, but the storyline is okay)
and I like horror games, so some of those I enjoy from a story standpoint are:
The Evil Within, Visage, and Outlast (first one)
If you think of anything that sounds potentially up my alley, please suggest! 🙏
by snaughtydog
8 Comments
Borges and Lovecraft are my first recommendations. There is a great compilation called {{The Weird}} that might net you a few more authors to rabbit hole yourself.
[We Have Always Lived in the Castle](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89724.We_Have_Always_Lived_in_the_Castle) has a bit of that *Hereditary* vibe mixed with a pinch of *VVitch*, is the best way I can think to describe it going by your list.
[The Bone Mother](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54328598-the-bone-mother) is Eastern European folksy weird.
[The Grownup](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26025580-the-grownup) is darkly funny in a way that might appeal to you. And if not, it’s short.
For dark, atmospheric and weird you could try some [Victor LaValle](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1762294.Victor_LaValle).
For a classic, there’s [Dracula](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17245.Dracula).
And continuing with the Dracula-theme, [The Historian](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30236962-the-historian), if you’d be into something atmospheric that isn’t hardcore horror.
The Drowning Girl
The Haunting of Hill House by S. Jackson
The Fisherman by J. Langan
North American Lake Monsters by N. Ballingrud
You want real horror?
Ultra-Processed People
Why We Can’t Stop Eating Food That Isn’t Food
by Chris van Tulleken
If you want to go on a wild ride, Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s body horror, social horror, apocalypse, satirical, funny, super dark, and has plenty of gruesome/gory stuff for the gross out side.
I personally feel a lot of horror is overhyped as to how scary it is but then, it’s so personal what will strike a chord with someone, so it’s hard to recommend specifically horror. Like The Ruins messed me UP hard–it left me feeling empty and bleak, but people might not think it is that bad.
A single line–a rather tossed-off line too!– in Sister Maiden Monster grossed me out, shook me up, and won’t leave my head, but it’s very specific to women/the experience of being a het woman. I still recommend it, but I doubt others will feel the same.
I keep going back to and checking out “Tell Me I’m Worthless” but it’s pricey for an unknown Kindle author. I’d love it if someone can weigh in on that one!
Another by Ayatsuji Yukito, maybe?
If you don’t mind reading manga give the author Junji Ito’s works a shot! The Tomie collection or Uzumaki is a great place to start. He definitely is a perfect fit if you like weird/absurd horror.