As exams have finally ended and students have a week off to unwind, The Woodstocker discovered 10 spooky recommendations for the best books and movies to get into the Halloween spirit.
Movies recommended:
- It
It, a 2017 supernatural horror, is a movie about a group of seven friends (The Loser’s Club) who are tormented by a child-eating entity who takes on the form of a killer clown, Pennywise (of course). He awakens every 27 years to feed on children. This story follows the Club as they spend the summer trying to find Georgie, their de facto leader Bill’s brother, who has been taken by Pennywise. This is a solid remake, covering all the necessary bases of a horror film and will take you back to non-IB days when your summers weren’t just about finishing IAs. Do us a favour and don’t watch IT 2 though.
Image from Netflix
- Hush
Hush, a 2016 slasher, follows a deaf and mute writer who has retreated into a remote cabin in the woods and tucks herself away from society in order to work on her next novel. Then ensues a fight for her life when a masked killer appears at her window. This is an incredibly suspenseful home invasion thriller, with tension continuously building and the deafening silences with the sudden jump-scares make this a ‘watch it in broad daylight’ kinda movie.
Image from Netflix
- Us
Us, a 2019 thriller follows a suburban family, who in order to get away from their busy lives, take a vacation to Santa Cruz. That night, four mysterious people break into the home where they’re staying. The family is shocked to find out that the intruders look like them and clumsily mimic their manners. This is a rollercoaster of a psychological horror with many twists and turns, a captivating story line and a shocking ending. We highly recommend this one.
Image from IMDb
- Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice is a horror comedy that came out in 1988. This is our pick if you don’t have a stomach for nightmare-inducing horror films. The movie follows the spirits of a recently deceased couple, Mr and Mrs Maitland, who are stuck haunting their country residence and are unable to leave their home. When a new incessantly obnoxious family moves into their house, the couple hires a spirit to drive the family away. It is an eccentric film and a great way to wind up this spooky weekend.
Image by IMDb
- Train to Busan
Train to Busan, a 2016 Horror thriller, follows Seok-woo and his estranged daughter on a train to Busan on the latter’s birthday to see his wife. However, the journey turns into a nightmare when they are trapped amidst a zombie outbreak in South Korea and must fight for their lives. Everything continuously gets darker from here as we are introduced to more characters and their untimely demise. Although a little generic, it is an intense and harrowing horror-thriller. It is a simple concept that is well-executed, dark and inherently violent. It might just be the best film in the zombie genre. A heart-wrenching film that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
Image from IMDb
Books recommended:
- “The Shining” by Stephen King
You can’t have a list of halloween recommendations without Stephen King, so to kick off this list we have a classic by the modern horror master himself. “The Shining ” is considered by many to be his best work to date.When Jack Torrance gets a job as the off-season caretaker of the Overlook Hotel he and his son quickly discover that the charming exterior hides a sinister and supernatural interior. You may need to sleep with the lights on after this one!
Image from Barnes and Nobles
- “And then there were none” by Agatha Christie
How can we not include a book by the queen of mystery Agatha Christie. A curious assortment of 10 strangers gather at a mansion off the coast of Devon after a mysterious invitation from an eccentric billionaire. The only thing they all have in common is that each one holds a dark secret and each one has been marked for murder. This is one of Christies’ most celebrated novels and for good reason so if you’re a fan of murder mysteries do yourself a favor and pay some homage to the original thriller by giving this Christie book a read!
Image from Agatha Christie
- “The Dinner” by Herman Koch
The darkly suspenseful, highly controversial tale of two families struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives – all over the course of one meal.
A gory and violent book with a snappy timeline. The subject matter is DARK and it drags morality and family bonds in kicking and screaming. The whole book takes place in a single evening, timed by the courses of a meal, so you can expect to read it very, very quickly. Be prepared to feel morally compromised by the end!
- “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson
A classic story of a haunted house and an eccentric group who decide to investigate. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own. This is the kind of book that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and would leave even the most devout horror fans scared. If you feel like procrastinating your work a little more we would suggest watching the series based on the book after reading it. You will be left crying and shaking in fear for a few days after but since we have a week off you have more than enough time to recover.
Image by Goodreads
- “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
With no idea of the bloody violence ahead of her, Noemi Taboada heads to Mexico to help her cousin in need. According to the Washington Post, this book is a “creepy, intoxicating mystery that’s almost impossible to put down.” We’d also recommend this one to people who are into the dark academia vibe and are looking for a fast read.
Warning: you may never want to eat mushrooms again and that’s all we’ll say.
Image by Goodreads
Dyumna contributed to this article
Kyra is a staff reporter
Edited by Ira
Featured image from GoodHousekeeping.com
thewoodstocker.com 
Definitely agree with your recommendations (Kyra Malhotra). I personally love good horror and nothing like a “safe scare” sitting on my couch near the fireplace sipping a hot coffee and watching a good movie or reading a thrilling book. Happy Halloween. – SBR.
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