Dark Horror Tales

  VERITY by Colleen Hoover is Horror Book of the Week!  This Psychological Thriller/Romance novel was published in October, 2021 but is still on the bestsellers list. Reviewers have been stating that reading this book has been a riveting experience. 

  Plot: Eight people wake up in separate cells and are instructed to harm themselves and get more online likes if they want to survive. Here's a question: when someone is forced to harm themselves by their captor and their survival depends on people's online likes, who is the real sicko here?

  Get ready to play! Or...pray? Chucky is back but he’s not the only one we are going to see. As previously mentioned, Chucky’s child will also make an appearance. 

  PLOT SUMMARY: Gla and Wee, two doctors, set to prove ghosts exist after encountering one in the hospital where they work. Ghosts, you either believe in them or you don't. It's just an idea of what happens to souls after death. Do they wander about? And if they do, what makes them stay in one place and visit only some people but not others? Two doctors, Wee and Gla, set about to find the answers.

  The Horror Book of the week title goes to WILDWOOD WHISPERS.  This horror novel is written by Will Reece and has already found its way on the bestsellers list for both Occult Horror Fiction and Magical Realism.  So what is it about? 

  PLOT SUMMARY: After Finney is abducted by The Grabber, he is aided by the kidnapper's previous victims who communicate with him using a black phone. What is it about the ring of a phone that makes us stop whatever we are doing and reach for the call? Before mobile phones and before there was called ID, there were phones which had such a loud ring that it could be heard all over the house.

  Fans of the Fear Street series are in for a treat. Netflix is reportedly planning a return to Shadyside with brand new movies.  Fear Street was based on the popular book series written by R.L. Stine although the movies weren't based on any particular book. The trilogy was released in 2021 by Netflix and was well-received by audiences and critics. 

  PLOT SUMMARY: A man finds a picture frame that let's him see in another dimension. Except there's a faceless woman in this dimension. A piece of the past can be so captivating. It can catapult you in a time that holds dear to your heart or fills you with the warmth of its memory. Things can get quite disturbing if that memory isn't yours and the things you see ambush you. These things happen only in horror movies, of course...

  This week’s Horror Book of the Week is The Inmate .  The book is written by Freida McFadden and is featured in the bestsellers list for Psychological Fiction. 

  PLOT SUMMARY: Shawna, who has self-esteem issues, is bitten by a vampire. When her mother too is bitten and dies, Shawna makes it her mission to take down all the vampires with the help of her best friend, her crush, and a new friend.  If you find yourself thinking of a theme for horror, chances are you'll be thinking about ghosts, vampires, and zombies. It's always one of these, isn't it? Take another minute or two and you will come up with other themes like demonic possessions, curses, exorcisms, monsters, and aliens. So when another anthology of Welcome to the Blumhouse was announced, it is no surprise that this time a vampire story was included. And this time too there are teens involved although the protagonist has self-esteem issues instead of being the center of attention to every supernatural creature. There are no extremely good-looking vampires who anyone lusts after. This time the vampires are the true villains that must be defeated.

  In 1983, Stephen King’s novel Christine came out. The story was about a car that was possessed and wrecked havoc in the lives of the owner and his loved ones.  That very year, a movie based on the novel came out.  Stephen King’s novels were so well-loved that the movie went into production before the novel was even released. 

  There's something wrong with Esther.  The tagline of the movie Orphan generated a lot of curiosity as to what exactly could be wrong with a young girl.  Released in 2009, Orphan had a surprise twist towards the end where we finally learn what is wrong with Esther.

  PLOT SUMMARY: A hospital orderly is kidnapped. He wakes up to find himself facing a difficult choice, one he has to make if he wants to get out alive.  Before the Saw franchise became a huge hit and generated a vast cult following, there was a time when filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell had trouble finding studios. Eventually the duo shot a short movie, travelled to Los Angeles and pitched the movie to studios. The pitch proved to be successful and the movie picked up.

 This week’s Horror Book of the Week is The Children on the Hill. The book is written by Jennifer McMahon. The book is featured in the bestsellers list for both Ghost Fiction and Witch & Wizard Thrillers. 

  PLOT SUMMARY: Diana and Beto are expecting their first child. They move into a community and a new house where Diana begins to have terrifying visions of the woman who lived there before.  There's nothing more horrific than realizing that there is an ugliness in the world that is not contained and one that grows continuously. With all the movements taking place, one would think that there would be more tolerance and acceptance. Sadly, that is still not the case. Until recently, there have been cases of people being forcefully sterilized and all to improve the genetic quality of the human population.  Till today, the victims of this forceful sterilization have not received justice. That's the ugliness of this society that many of us would be unaware of. And then a movie comes along and points out the heinous crimes committed in a world we thought was safe and progressive.

  Anya Taylor-Joy stars in an upcoming thriller titled The Menu . The trailer shows Anya’s character at a restaurant with her date Nicholas Hoult. The rest of the guests are all enjoying the food and there is probably a food critic present too. 

Jordan Peele's new movie is coming out and that is enough for any horror fan to get excited.  After all, why not?  Once Jordan Peele is in the director's chair, we get amazing movies like Get Out and Us . These two movies have amazing stories and the perfect plot twist. Both movies have been received well by critics and the audience and most importantly, they are unforgettable. 

  PLOT SUMMARY: 50 Strangers awaken to find themselves in a strange room. They soon discover they must choose who gets to live and who doesn't. As kids, we are taught to distinguish between right and wrong. We learn that helping other is good. We learn to respect elders. We learn that kids shouldn't be harmed. We learn to value human life. Then we grow up, face the world,  go through difficulties and suddenly our perspective changes. Yes, it is wrong to harm others but ethics go for a toss when you stand to benefit from something bad that happens to someone else.

 PLOT SUMMARY: A normal ballet practice takes a horrifying turn for a Ballerina. If we paid attention and counted, how many times in a day do you suppose we see our reflection in the mirror? Our reflection is pretty much the first thing we see, don't we? While brushing our teeth, running a comb through the hair, dressing up, and one last look before leaving home. And then if you are taking the elevator, how can we resist taking that one more look?

  This week’s HORROR BOOK OF THE WEEK is… Flowers in Her Bones: A Troubled Spirits Novel.  Written by J.R. Erickson, this horror book has climbed the bestsellers list in both Metaphysical fiction and Ghost Fiction. 

PLOT SUMMARY: When Mahi finds an antique box and brings it into her home, the dybbuk inside it begins to haunt her and her husband Sam.   For some reason, it has become important to be vigilant when purchasing antiques. Chances are, the chest with engravings that looks good may actually be a vessel for a trapped evil soul. That's what happens to a couple, Mahi and Sam when the wife buys a chest on one of her shopping sprees.

  In 2018, when the movie Bird Box was released on Netflix, it became an instant hit. Bird Box became Netflix’s most-watched movie, 28 days into its release.