News

Celebrate Banned Books Week with these 7 Banned Horror Books

Published

7 years ago

September 11, 2017

Banned Books Week is Sept. 24–30. To celebrate your right to read the creepiest, darkest and most controversial books you can find, check out these books which have been banned or challenged at one time or another.

1. ‘American Psycho’ by Bret Easton Ellis

The story of Patrick Bateman and his grisly double life had a tough road to publication. The novel was so controversial that Simon & Schuster backed out before going to press with it, and it was eventually published by Vintage. “American Psycho” was outright banned in the Australian state of Queensland, and restricted to readers 18 and older in other Australian states as well as Germany and New Zealand.

The graphic violence earned Ellis hate mail, and even death threats. Of course, that didn’t stop it from being a major hit and spawning an iconic film adaptation with Christian Bale.

2. ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ Series by Alvin Schwartz

According to the American Library Association (ALA), this dark folklore series was the most banned book in the US during the ’90s, and remained at No. 7 from 2000–2009. Despite this, these gruesome tales have still been traumatizing children for a generation. I have to imagine that Stephen Gammell’s beautifully disturbing illustrations played a part in this.

3. ‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding

William Golding’s tale of schoolboys stranded on a desert island may not be a traditional horror story, but it’s dark and disturbing all the same. “Lord of the Flies” has been banned in many US states for its violence, language, sexuality, attacks on religion and more.

4. ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood

Another story that might not be considered a traditional horror tale, this dystopian novel is still damn scary. It’s set in a future where people are facing an infertility epidemic and the US government has been replaced by an oppressive religious regime that makes sex slaves out of the remaining fertile women.

Naturally, it’s been challenged and banned since its publication. Time reported on one notable case in 2006, in which a Texas school superintendent removed it from the AP English curriculum for being offensive to Christians. However, that was overruled by the school board. Today, it’s more popular than ever thanks to the TV adaptation.

Frankenstein

5. ‘Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus’ by Mary Shelley

When it was first published in 1818, the world wasn’t ready for Mary Shelley’s masterpiece. Shelley originally published it anonymously — partially because fiction writing wasn’t considered an appropriate profession for women at the time, and partially because it was such a grotesque, horrific story.

A book about a mad scientist stitching together body parts to create new life set a whole new bar for scary stories at the time. Like Frankenstein’s monster himself, the book was originally viewed as nothing but an abomination to many. Shelley’s name was added when it was republished in 1823.

The novel was banned during Apartheid in South Africa for having “indecent” and “obscene” material. It’s also been banned or challenged by Christian groups in the US. Today, “Frankenstein” is known as a gothic horror classic and a predecessor to science fiction.

6. ‘Goosebumps’ Series by R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series was wildly popular with young adults in the ’90s. It wasn’t so popular with parents and school boards in the US, which made it the fifteen-most banned book in that time period. PEN reports that parents feared stories such as “Night of the Living Dummy” and “The Werewolf of Fever Swamp” were too scary for kids, and even Satanic. I’ll have you know that I ready plenty of Goosebumps books as a kid, and I never summoned any evil spirits because a kids book told me to. I did that because I just wanted to, damn it.

In addition to spawning a TV adaptation, the Goosebumps series also inspired a recent film starring Jack Black, with a sequel set for 2018.

7. ‘Bumps in the Night’ by Harry Allard

Allard’s short children’s book is about Dudley the Stork and his animal friends dealing with a haunted house. It was written for early readers so it’s much tamer than anything else on this list. However, it was still one of the 100 most banned books according to the ALA. Why was it banned? Banned Library reports it was for “occult and various supernatural issues, description of families in a derogatory manner and encouraging disrespectful language and disobedience to parents.”

No matter what bumps in the night, there’s nothing more terrifying than censorship. Enjoy Banned Books Week and celebrate your freedom to read whatever you want!

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

8 mins ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

3 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.