Creepy & Scary Stories That Have Stuck With Me

This blog accompanies & compliments the podcast I do; Alchemy of Genres.
Here is the link

https://anchor.fm/alchemyofgenres/episodes/Scary--Creepy-Stories-that-Have-Stuck-With-Me-egor7f

As you can see from the title, we're focused in on creepy & scary stuff, and since making this list I realized that I need to update my horror reading a bit (though perhaps after the pandemic is over as that is scary enough right now)......I will be focusing on the part of the story that stuck with me or creeped me out the most; I will synopsize the story if it needs it (i.e...if it isn't a story that everyone knows from major media exposure).

So, I grabbed this randomly off the shelf at my house when I was a teen (purchased at a thrift store so no cover on it or I would have been prepared)....it was scary & good and ruined the ocean forever.  Yes, I know my chances of being eaten by a shark are small, it still haunted my dreams ....yes, literally....had nightmares for weeks.  I like the movie, but nothing gets into your head like a scary book.

Here I get to make a confession......I never finished this book......I was already so creeped out from the tv movie (a little hokey but Tim Curry makes a truly creepy clown)....so creepy that I still haven't watched the remake.  However, I am putting this book here because with all the hype, it needed to be.....and also....CREEPY CLOWNS.....

This is a YA book, but the concept was so cool yet creepy that it stuck with me....and this cover!  Right?
Ok, so the story is that two sisters (Kit & Fancy) are the daughters of the serial killer the Bonesaw Killer.  They aren't ashamed of their father, more trying to learn from his mistakes so they can go on their own killing spree without being caught.  Then, one day, they stumble across a door to another world...and they decide that it is the answer to all their prayers.  Now all they had to do was grab someone, take them through the door, and they can do whatever they like, and the body will be where no one will ever find it.  This is not a perfect book, but I just loved the concept and the creepy serial killer girls.  You should try it.

This is one of my favorite King novels.  I love a good haunted house story.  I didn't really like the movie, but there was a mini-series that was amazing.....and if you haven't read this, you should....because really only in a book can you get inside everyone's head.....and it is ultra creepy in there.

This is an old and not well known story....but I love this author and the central concept of this book has stayed with me always, which is the ultimate compliment for a scary book.  So basic premise is that some demonic spirits, called shetani, have come to our dimension.  They can hide in small places or in plain site as anything black......so, random pieces of tires on side of road; small pieces of dark space.....so many places to hide.  Of course 3 heroes have to save the day; Olkeluki, an elder of the Maasai; Joshua Oak, government agent; and Merry Shadow, random woman caught up in the mess.  The black bits of rubber on the side of the road attacking someone is something I think of every time I see tires on the side of the road.  The scene that gave me nightmares was when a demon crawled up from the inside of a toilet; and dragged someone down INTO the toilet (the bloody handprints trailing the inside of the bowl is an image that sticks with me 20 years later).   Yup, not a perfect book, but a really fun creepy read if you can find it.

I love this comic series....and want to watch the Netflix series, (but am scared it will be horrid).  If you are unfamiliar the story involves the Locke family who inherit a home that has magical keys.....which sounds cool, except it all starts with a murder, continues with a demonic serial killer and may end up with the end of the world.......and the concept of the keys is just amazing.  My favorite key is simultaneously amazing and horrible.  The key allows you to open your brain (literally) and either insert or remove anything you want.  So, I could add a text book to pass a test or remove the memory of something or even remove an emotion I don't want to feel.....of course the consequences of any of those actions are yet to be determined (yeah...those things all happen).  You should read it, and if you watch it, let me know if it's good.

I did bring this up on my "Books that make me LOL" list; but it also belongs here....because the concept of being stuck inside a psychopath's mind is terrifying......you couldn't leave, you can't die for real but could be tortured unendingly.....god....so creepy.
Warning for those who need it, some of the humor is a bit crass; and also there is M/M sex happening; but still.  This book stuck in my brain so much.

Battle Royale is a violent but cool movie, and I started reading this book; but got distracted and needed to stop (Covid makes horror stories a bit too real).
If you are unfamiliar, basically this story revolves around a class of students in Japan sent to an island and told that either they all kill each other and one of them survives or they all die anyway.  The reason this is happening is that Japan passed a law due to high unemployment and issues with adolescent violence/delinquent behavior; and in the law it allows for a way to cull the population via these battles.  The law also presupposes that either the survivor will be so traumatized they will end up in an institution or will be a model citizen so it never happens again (because they will know how violent the government can be).  I do hope to finish this book, but the movie is on Netflix; again, very violent....but a terrifying concept and an interesting movie.  The character studies of all the students in the battle, even the brief glimpses of them are really well done....and the story is sort of a cross of Hunger Games and Running Man with the idea of games and violence for the masses fueling the government.

This is a YA book that is also half Graphic Novel; and it is awesome.  The central concept is that kids are being kidnapped into a parallel universe called Malice, and everyone can watch their perilous situations in an underground comic.  A couple students decide to try and rescue those taken but it means they have to first GO to Malice and face Tall Jake and his inhuman minions.  I love a good creepy alternate universe story.  Wooding does a great job.

Gaiman writes some amazingly creepy stories into the Sandman universe....and if you haven't read it, you need to, go....right now!
The story that has always stuck in my head was his Serial Killer Convention that happens in "A Doll's House".  I am sure it was one of those "everyone has professional conventions, what if killers did too?" author moments, but he did it so well; combining the boring part of conventions "don't forget your badges" the panels "which should I attend, there are so many choices" and issues with speakers "what do you mean they aren't here, I need a speaker!" with the actualities of killers and the headspace they live in.  This is one of those things that the further you delve into the concept, the more horrible it is....because what if it is real?  Could it be real?  Oh god.......what if they do talk and get tips from each other?    On another note, the new Sandman Audible audio of the first 3 books is amazing...and I really hope they finish.

This is a classic creepy story, and hopefully you know it....but just in case; it's about a creepy carnival coming to town bringing danger to all in the town.  What's not to love?  Also, creepy carnivals became a thing......not as much as clowns, but still.

I have to confess, I included this one even though I couldn't finish....and I know they are making a movie; but not sure I can watch it.  Not because this was awful but because it was just SO creepy I had to stop.....and every time I wanted to finish, I would think about the story, and then shudder and say....later......what is the image?  Basically, the idea is that some people possess the power to find alternate universes.  One of those people is a serial killer, who is also a pedophile....he kidnaps the kids and freezes them into his perfect illusion of a moment....and keeps them....forever......like living dolls in his own personal storybook that he can open (molest/hurt/etc) whenever he wants.......*shudders*.......I really want to finish so I can see someone take him down, but wow......so intense.  Joe Hill is definitely good at this horror stuff (not really a surprise given his pedigree, I mean Stephen King IS his dad). 

This shouldn't be a surprise, because everyone who enjoys a good creepy story should always think of E.A. Poe.  I can't pick just one, because all of his stories are visual and stick with you.  So, just because it's a list.....I'll say the images that stick with me; the Pit and the Pendulum (seen in many a movie); the crazy image of the person sneaking up on the old lady to kill her for in the Telltale Heart; being walled up alive in Murders in the Rue Morgue. 
Yeah.  So Good.

This is another classic, and more evidence that I enjoy a good haunted house story.  It is now a horror trope, having an investigator checking the veracity of a haunting.....but this is where it started.  I picked this, but I don't actually remember all the images because I get the movie/book images confused. 


Anyway, I will always read all the haunted house books.

I know it may startle some people to see a kids book on this list; but Gaiman is (already stated) a master.  Weirdly when I talk to kids, they aren't as freaked out by this book as I was.  I didn't really like the animated movie, but this book is awesome.  And there will never be a moment when the image of a person with tiny button eyes isn't horrifying.  More shudders.

Pet Sematary is a truly creepy book about a graveyard that brings the dead back to life, but changed in subtle but horrible ways.....I haven't watched the new movie (though I'd like to); but the book is really good; and the creepy undead are definitely an image that stuck with me.  Especially the really creepy little boy on a murder rampage.....

Yet another creepy haunted house book......so, so good.

Also, no picture; but Matheson's I Am Legend is another book that is amazing for imagery and creepy stuff.....just saying. 

This is a creepy house with a twist....and it's a twist that could be even better if it were updated.  The main character is a shut-in, she has the most automated house she can arrange....and then it somehow gains sentience and starts torturing her to see what being human means......yeah, creepy computer house.......that's one that sticks with you, and all the horrible possibilities of having it all turned against you.

The Bad Place is a creep-fest; and some of the images I can't share because....spoilers darling.....  ;)
Anyway, the basic story is that a man keeps waking up in strange and horrifying circumstances so he hires a private investigator to figure out what is happening.  What they find is .....the bad place.....and so much more.





Thanks for listening/reading.  If you have suggestions for future podcasts/blogs let me know.