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Now is the Perfect Time to Binge these 5 Awesome Horror Book Series

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horror book series

Horror fans around the world are wearing out their streaming subscriptions right now, and we here at iHorror have been doing our best to help by posting lists of the best streaming content on AmazonHulu, Tubi, and more.

But what do you do when you’ve seen everything a million times and what you haven’t seen just doesn’t appeal to you?

Well, dear readers, it’s time to break out the books. You guys remember those, right?

The truth is, while TV and movies are certainly binge-able, there are some amazing horror book series out there that are just as terrifying and engrossing that all but demand to be read in succession.

And, since a lot of us are stuck at home right now, it’s the perfect time to pick up a book or 12 and immerse yourself in their haunting landscapes.

The Dark Tower Series

Dark Tower Horror Book Series

Stephen King’s epic cross-world series follows Roland Deschain–a gunslinger and the last descendant of his world’s version of King Arthur–on his quest to find the fabled Dark Tower, a nexus point of all known universes.

The fascinating thing about the Dark Tower series of books is that they tie many of King’s other novels together. Throughout the series, you’ll find references to ItThe StandThe ShiningCell, and so many more.

The world King created for this series is absolutely tangible with its own religions, language, and enough epic showdowns between Good and Evil to put even the most jaded reader on the edge of their seat.

If you think Randall Flagg aka The Man in Black aka The Dark Man is bad, you must meet the Crimson King.

The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches

This is a two for one from author Anne Rice that I’ve combined because they are both epic and they eventually intersect.

Listen, I love Anne Rice and I’m not arguing with anyone about whether her books are horror or not. Wildly romantic, beautifully researched and written, and without question filled with terrifying moments, Rice has created some of the most vivid literary worlds in any genre of the last 40 years.

In The Vampire Chronicles, Rice introduces us to immortal blood drinkers beginning with 1976’s Interview with the Vampire. Some are good and some are most definitely bad, but every single one of them has an incredibly engrossing story to tell, and quite frankly, Lestat de Lioncourt is arguably the most famous literary vampire since Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Then there are the Mayfairs, hereditary witches with remarkable powers and whose epic family history–related in The Witching Hour, the first book in the trilogy–is astonishing. If jealous spirits, unearthly beings, powerful women, and family intrigue are your thing, then the Lives of the Mayfair Witches should be on your reading list.

Necroscope

Brian Lumley’s Necroscope was all the rage when I was hitting high school in the early 90s.

Harry Keogh is a necroscope meaning he can speak to the dead, but this is simply the tip of the iceberg for Harry as he grows and learns to expand his psychic abilities, allowing him to teleport from one place to another instantaneously, connect with the minds of others, and the ability to resurrect the dead.

He becomes an agent for a British ESP agency, and eventually finds himself in a battle with vampires invading our world.

What is so interesting looking back, is how politically relevant Lumley’s books were at the time highlighting conflict between the real-life British and Soviet governments while wrapping them in stories of the vampires and psychic abilities.

They are, of course, skewed toward the British side of life, but that’s to be expected as Lumley, himself, is British. Ultimately, this dates some of the work, but the horror book series is still a fascinating read that I highly recommend.

The Books of Blood

Books of Blood horror book series

Clive Barker’s Books of Blood may be the single greatest collection of short fiction in contemporary horror literature.

Published over the course of two years, each volume contained a handful of stories, several of which have been adapted into film. It was in the Books of Blood that Candyman was born. They gave us the cult favorites Lord of Illusions and Rawhead Rex, and more recently The Midnight Meat Train and Book of Blood.

It all begins with a framing story in the first volume about a young man named Simon who pretends to be a psychic medium. Hired by a researcher to investigate what is supposed to be a particularly haunted house, Simon begins faking visions but soon finds himself attacked by the spirits who pass through the home en masse.

They carve the stories of their lives into his skin making him a living chronicle, and he becomes the book of blood. The premise, then, was that the stories found within the six volumes were copied directly from Simon’s skin.

The stories in the collection are often downright terrifying and have earned a lofty place in horror history.

The Scary Tales Series

What if, when Prince Charming kissed Snow White, she woke up as a zombie rather than a cute princess ready to get hitched?

This is the way Rob E. Boley’s Scary Tales series begins.

Set in a land filled with magic both dark and light, Boley takes classic fairy tales and mashes them together with classic Universal monsters to create something entirely original that has to be read to be believed.

It’s an incredible genre-bending adventure that often takes those fairy tales we’ve become accustomed to seeing through Disney-tinted glasses and returns them to the terrifying horror stories they once were.

There are currently seven volumes in the series with three more planned for release in 2021.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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