Page and Scream: Horror with the written word

In the olden days, when pictures only spoke a thousand words instead of a million words as moving pictures. People got their thrills and chills from the written word. They gobbled up novels from Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley and weekly newspaper series like the Penny Dreadfuls. 

Even today, with the stories of Grady Hendrix and Stephen King earning spots on bestseller lists, the appetite for horror through the written word remains ravenous. But why? With all of the mediums available to us today to bring us the scares quicker and in technicolor brilliance, why do we still seek out scares in black and white type?

Maybe it’s because so often the pictures that the words conjure up in our heads, those plots and characters, are arguably richer and scarier than some of the fare we see landing on streaming services and in movie theaters every few weeks.

I think there is also something so chilling about holding in your hands something that has such terrifying stories to tell. When a movie gets too scary you can turn it off, remove it from the watchlist and go about your day. But how often do we put a book down, let it gather dust at its spot on the nightstand. How many of us are haunted by the books that scared us half to death?

Which Comes First?

There are also varying philosophies when it comes to which to consume first: book or movie. I grew up believing the ideal way to consume was always book first, movie second, even if it meant having to wait for the movie to come out on DVD (it was the 2000s…) to watch it after reading. The thought of reading the book after the movie was mind-blowing to me. 

Why would I want the story in my head to already be predetermined based on the actors and visuals dictated by the movie director to color my reading experience?!

There is also something to be said for the level of excitement one gets when it’s announced that a book we’ve read, loved even, is getting its own movie adaptation. It feels like we are on a level playing field with Hollywood since both you and them are in on the secret of just how awesome this book is and now you both get to share that secret with the world!

But, in my conversations with fellow horror book fans, that stance has softened a bit. I see the value in going in blind to a movie adapted from a book then reading the book, getting a deeper, richer lore that deeply informs the actions and characters you first saw on-screen. Or even reading novelizations of well-loved and often watched horror movies, adding new levels and layers to the stories we thought we knew so well on screen. I can see how reading a book after the movie would feel like an all encompassing backstage pass to the story. And that is a perk I can certainly get behind!

Page to Scream 101

Regardless of if you are a “book before” or “book after” kind of person, though, here are some fantastic horror films based on creepy page-turners sure to send chills down your spine!

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

• Book Publication - January 1, 1818
• Movie Premieres - 1910, 1914, 1920, 1931, 1935, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1948, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, and 1984

Yeah, this movie has had a lot of reimaginings over the years. With another on the way later this year (2025)! While each of the movies may lack originality at some points from its fellow reiterations, I think the volume of films created based on this single story demonstrates how incredible and important a story Frankenstein is to the world of horror on both page and screen.

• The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

• Book Publication - May 5, 1971
• Movie Premiere - December 26, 1973

One of the strengths going for this book to movie transition was the fact that the original author, William Peter Blatty, was also the film’s screenwriter, which opened the door for a more faithful adaptation.

Fun Fact: Unlike its movie counterpart, the novel did not enjoy immediate success upon its release. In fact, the book was far from a bestseller until William Peter Blatty caused a stir on the Dick Cavett Show debating with the TV host on the existence of the devil.

• Carrie by Stephen King

• Book Publication - April 5, 1974
• Movie Premieres - 1976, 2002, 2013

I am pretty sure I would be kicked right out of the horror fandom if I didn’t include at least one Stephen King story on this list. And there are plenty to choose from. So, let’s go with his first. The legend of this story is that King’s wife had seen the initial draft of Carrie tossed in a trash can, and upon reading it insisted that King get back to writing what would later become his debut novel and first of many horror adaptations based on his writing. 

This is a book that is actually fantastic to read after watching the De Palma (1976) movie as it adds multiple levels and a lot more destruction that is only enhanced by imagining a wide-eyed Sissy Spacek carry out such devastation to her hometown.

• 30 Days of Night by Steve Niles

• Book Publication - 2002
• Movie Premiere - 2007

This book very clearly differs from the rest of the list because it is a graphic novel, giving the reader a bit more guidance when forming the story in their heads. But, the interesting fact about this story is that the original concept of the story came from a failed film pitch. When no one picked up the pitch, Niles pivoted and brought on illustrator Ben Templesmith to create the graphic novel.

Which, ironically, became so popular that it was then turned into a movie starring the timeless Josh Hartnett.

So, what are your literary horror hot takes? Are you a staunch believer of when to read the books versus watch the movies? What are some of your favorite feel free to discuss amongst your fellow bloody bibliophiles in the Hack or Slash Discord in the Book Club discussion thread!