fiction

Horror fiction that delivers on its promise to scare, startle, frighten and unsettle. These stories are fake, but the shivers down your spine won't be.

Horrors to Watch
Hellbender Over the course of their eight-year filmmaking journey, the Adams family have continually refined their artistic and narrative sensibilities. With Hellbender, their sixth feature, confidence and creativity coalesce to create something that feels like a magical breakthrough. Following their 2020 supernatural thriller The Deeper You Dig, it appears the Adams have developed a penchant for horror - a perfect accompaniment to their signature low-budget, homegrown style. Although Hellbender incorporates many of the recurring motifs present in the Adams family’s work - such as dysfunctional family dynamics and references to John Adams’ former career as a punk musician - it is undoubtedly the most fully-realized project the family has undertaken to date. 16-year-old Izzy (Zelda Adams, the youngest daughter and co-director alongside John Adams and Toby Poser) has been warned from a young age by her mother (Poser) that the outside world will bring her nothing but harm due to her rare autoimmune disease. Izzy spends her days isolated and alone, with only the majestic landscape surrounding her mother's secluded mountain home providing her with any solace. Despite being forbidden to leave the property, Izzy and her mother have a strong bond, often engaging in playful affection and taking hikes through the lush forest on rainy days. Together, they form a punk rock band, Hellbender, donning outrageous makeup and playing tight, catchy songs for their own enjoyment. Every aspect of Hellbender is crafted by a small team of creatives, from the stunning cinematography of Zelda and John to the laid-back yet quirky costume design of Poser. The end result is a captivating exploration of two individuals and their isolated lives, as well as the fear of supernatural possession.
By Kel3 years ago in Horror
Horrors to Watch
As horror trends ebb and flow, reflecting the ever-changing reality from which it emerges, moments of intersection and flux become increasingly apparent. Horror that pushes the boundaries of subtext and horror that cuts to the core of our fears coexist in a chaotic landscape of dread and madness. The past few years have been a time of confinement and uncertainty, and our fears have been expressed in a variety of ways. Self-reflection has been a common theme, while spectacle has returned to the big screen. Throwbacks to simpler times have been weaponized, rather than relying on nostalgia. Horror in 2022 has been a reflection of growth in the face of pain, something it has always thrived on. Jordan Peele's blockbuster return, Ti West's ambitious double-whammy, and the showstoppers from indie voices like Chloe Okuno, Phil Tippett and Jane Schoenbrun have created a sordid assortment of horror that is as much a bag of Halloween candy as it is a snapshot of a society in transition.
By Kel3 years ago in Horror
The Forgotten Doll
Once upon a time, there was a small family who lived in a beautiful house in the countryside. The family consisted of a mother, father, and their young daughter, Lily. Lily was a curious child who loved to explore the world around her. She had a particular fondness for dolls and had a collection of them in her room.
By Karthi3 years ago in Horror
The Haunted House on the Sacred Land
As the sun began to set on a small, quiet town nestled in the mountains, a chill began to set in the air. Autumn had arrived, and with it came the promise of ghostly tales and otherworldly mysteries. In one of the town's oldest houses, a family was moving in. The house had been abandoned for years, and while the family was excited to start their new life there, they couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
By Karthi3 years ago in Horror
Echoes Through a Silent Hall
If walls could talk, they'd tell tales of laughter and tears, of triumphs and fears, echoing within their halls without a hint of judgment. We stand tall as silent protectors, safeguarding against the elements, yet unable to defend against inner turmoil. Our stoic facade belies the weight of the events that unfold within our walls, where every action and emotion is sacred.
By Tommy Ballard3 years ago in Horror
Echoes of the Past: The Silent Witness of a Dark History
If walls could talk, they would speak of the horrors they’ve seen. They would tell stories of the worst moments in human history. They would recount the atrocities committed behind their surfaces. And I am one of those walls, a silent witness to the darkest chapter in the history of mankind.
By Ben Lam3 years ago in Horror
"The Warning from Beyond"
Amanda had always been skeptical about the existence of ghosts, dismissing any stories she heard as mere superstition. That was until she inherited her late grandmother's house, a remote cottage on the edge of a vast, eerie forest. She had always loved visiting her grandmother at the cottage as a child, but now, as an adult, she felt a sense of unease whenever she entered the old building.
By Rosepetalsdot3 years ago in Horror
I'm your girl
If walls could talk, my voice would grow hoarse from overuse. I am taken for granted, expected to stay standing and silent. It’s forced upon me to be a partner in crime, love, secrets, and pain. I am the whisper-keeper.
By Sarah DuPerron3 years ago in Horror
Megan and her Friends: A Haunting Tale
Megan had always been the life of the party, and she loved nothing more than spending time with her closest friends. They were a tight-knit group, and they had been through everything together, from the ups and downs of high school to the challenges of college.
By Rosepetalsdot3 years ago in Horror
"The Haunting of the Creaky Mansion"
Jack had always been a curious and adventurous young man, eager to explore the unknown and uncover the truth behind the rumors that circulated in the small, isolated town where he lived. He had heard the stories of the haunted mansion for as long as he could remember, and he was determined to find out if they were true.
By Rosepetalsdot3 years ago in Horror
Haunted house Investigation
It was a dark and stormy night when John, a seasoned ghost hunter, received a call from a distressed family who claimed their house was haunted. John had investigated several ghost sightings in the past and was known to be one of the best ghost hunters in the region. He quickly gathered his equipment and headed to the family's home.
By Sanjay R3 years ago in Horror
Butcher
Sebastian Stiles called it art – to me it was butchery of the most violent and monstrous kind. I am a hollow man, a wretch doomed to an afterlife of purgatory and everlasting suffering and this destiny is exactly what I deserve. To serve a man like Stiles was not without benefits, social standing came without question, endless quantities of money and good times to name a few, it was all there. Mr. Stiles became the toast of the town and I hung onto his coat tails and relished every second. However, that was two years back, now I speak these words as I languish in my cell, it is a foul-smelling detestable place fit only for the rats and eight legged creatures that roam freely amongst its dark corners of damp and disease.
By Jonathan Peach3 years ago in Horror