This is another novel from McMahon that uses two time periods to tell a startling story. Back in 1908, a woman is found dead behind her house just months after the death of her daughter. Now, a mother of two girls goes missing and it’s up to her oldest to decipher the mystery spiraling out … Continue reading
Much like Trick ‘r Treat, one small town is victim to a night of insane, lethal shenanigans in this graphic novel from Michael Dougherty and friends. In lieu of orange crusaders, we have Krampus and his band of fucked up Christmas toys showering the wicked with much needed punishment. The ensemble of stories includes themes … Continue reading
Flint Maxwell is a fellow Ohioan and described every town I’ve lived in to a tee in his short story compendium. There’s five wintery tales of horror in this little diddy that are succinct and down right creepy (and gory). From inanimate objects destroying lives to eerie accounts of the strange, there’s a channel for … Continue reading
Alone in a big, empty house by a smoldering fire is probably one of the most haunting feelings. Mistletoe imitates it perfectly. And you bet your sweet ass this is another Gothic, Neo-Victorian ghost story. Suffering from grief, a widow purchases a new home in time for snow fall and finds herself tormented by beings … Continue reading
A combination of insanity and claustrophobia is the shortest way to describe Misery. A lot of King’s novels are set during the winter, which I think is a great setting for conveying a sense of hopelessness. The snow and ice are brute forces that hold you down but when the brute is human, in the … Continue reading
“Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of a funeral parade.” I really did save the best for last- The Halloween Tree. This is one of the most magical stories I have ever read and proves that Halloween is … Continue reading
Wearing a Halloween costume gives you ample opportunity to bring out a different side. It could be a dark one or a sweet one. Maybe you’d just amplify the personality you already have or take on an entirely foreign persona. That contrast is exemplified none better than in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The novella … Continue reading
Every worshipper needs its Bible. This is basically the handbook on Halloween written by the holiday historian herself. It’s a thorough tome of the Celtic roots and its evolution throughout the centuries. You’ll learn about our weird little traditions’ origins, why we call carved pumpkins Jack, and other tidbits explaining the most strange and wonderful … Continue reading
I chose to include this Halloween-tinted juvenile mystery in lieu of R.L. Stine’s extensive portfolio of Halloween-y tales because, dare I say, it’s a bit more refined? It’s about a recently orphaned boy who goes to live with his uncle, who happens to be a warlock, and has a witch as a neighbor. There’s black … Continue reading
I found this at the thrift shop and thought, “What’s Halloween without a little murder mystery?” I remember reading this in high school and thinking how relentless it was. Considering the time period which it was released, it must have shook a reader or two. Strangers + eccentric billionaires always equals weird events with some … Continue reading
