Emily has a PhD in English from the University of Southern Mississippi, MS, and she has an MFA in Creative Writing from GCSU in Milledgeville, GA, home of Flannery O’Connor. She spends her free time reading, watching horror movies and musicals, cuddling cats, Instagramming pictures of cats, and blogging/podcasting about books with the ladies over at #BookSquadGoals (www.booksquadgoals.com). She can be reached at emily.ecm@gmail.com.
Who is staying home and watching horror movies this Halloween? I know I am. In fact, I’ve been watching nothing but scary movies all October. If you’re like me and you love horror movies just as much as you love horror novels, here are some cool horror movies out this October and the books you should read with them.
Enjoy, scary movie fans!
Smile 2
Even if you never saw the blockbuster horror film Smile, you really don’t need to in order to understand what’s going on in Smile 2. This movie follows pop star Skye Riley as she’s harassed and tormented by a strange force that makes people smile in a really, really unsettling way. This one’s part supernatural and part slasher, so if you’re into that, you should also check out I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. You’d probably also love The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix. Smile 2 is out in theaters now!
It’s What’s Inside
It’s What’s Inside is available to stream on Netflix right now, and I was truly unprepared for what a wild ride this was. This is a sci-fi horror thriller that sees a bachelor party get out of hand when a group of friends play a twisted game that has them switching bodies with one other. I’m still thinking about this one. If you’re looking for more twisty sci-fi horror/thrillers, pick up The Need by Helen Phillips or Lakewood by Megan Giddings.
Salem’s Lot
Of course, you’ve heard of Salem’s Lot. It’s Stephen King’s take on a vampire story, and the novel is a classic. In 2024, we’ve gotten a new film adaptation, now streaming on Max. Are you looking for more books like Salem’s Lot? Read Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, another story about vampires taking over a town. For even more vampire-like creatures with similar Salem’s Lot vibes (no spoilers), you have to check out Nestlings by Nat Cassidy!
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Your Monster
Your Monster is a horror romance hitting theaters on October 25. The story follows actress Laura Franco as she finds her voice after falling for the monster hiding in her closet. If you love a little bit of romance with your horror (and you love furry monsters), Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen should be at the top of your TBR after you watch this movie. And if you love the idea of romance and horror as a genre mash-up, you should also read House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson.
What are your favorite scary movies to watch during spooky season? Feel free to hit me up over on Instagram at emandhercat to let me know. Sweet dreams, horror fans!
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