Scan barcode
You can start and finish this challenge whenever you like!
Some of these books are classics all on their own and for some of them their film adaptation is more popular. Either way, here are some classic spooky stories to read, then watch an adaptation to compare! (of course there is no way to track what you've watched on here so you can also choose not to watch any)
They are listed in chronological order of when the book was first published. Each one has a note with the most popular adaptions as far as I'm aware, but may not contain all of the possibilities. I usually dislike book covers that mention or show the film adaptations, but for this challenge I specifically hunted down editions that do this if I could!
Bonus:
Read any short stories by Edgar Allen Poe and/or Lovecraft then find some adaptations (either a film or a single episode from an anthology show)
Films based on Edgar Allen Poe stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_Edgar_Allan_Poe
https://screenrant.com/best-creepy-horror-movies-inspired-edgar-alan-poe-imdb-raven-black-cat-masque-red-death/
Films based on Lovecraft stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_H._P._Lovecraft
https://screenrant.com/best-hp-lovecraft-movie-adaptations/
Even more bonuses:
The only Stephen King book added here is The Shining, but he has so many more very well known spooky books/films, like Carrie, It, Misery, etc.
They are listed in chronological order of when the book was first published. Each one has a note with the most popular adaptions as far as I'm aware, but may not contain all of the possibilities. I usually dislike book covers that mention or show the film adaptations, but for this challenge I specifically hunted down editions that do this if I could!
Bonus:
Read any short stories by Edgar Allen Poe and/or Lovecraft then find some adaptations (either a film or a single episode from an anthology show)
Films based on Edgar Allen Poe stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_Edgar_Allan_Poe
https://screenrant.com/best-creepy-horror-movies-inspired-edgar-alan-poe-imdb-raven-black-cat-masque-red-death/
Films based on Lovecraft stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_H._P._Lovecraft
https://screenrant.com/best-hp-lovecraft-movie-adaptations/
Even more bonuses:
The only Stephen King book added here is The Shining, but he has so many more very well known spooky books/films, like Carrie, It, Misery, etc.
Challenge Books
13
The Shining
Stephen King
First Published 1977
Adaptations:
1980 film
Adaptations:
1980 film
14
The Amityville Horror
Jay Anson
First Published 1977
Adaptations:
1979 film
plus many more
Adaptations:
1979 film
plus many more
15
The Woman in Black
Susan Hill
First Published 1983
Adaptations:
2012 film starring Daniel Radcliffe
Adaptations:
2012 film starring Daniel Radcliffe
16
The Hellbound Heart
Clive Barker
First Published 1986
Book one in the Hellraiser series
Adaptations:
1987 Hellraiser film plus many sequels
2022 Hellraiser film
Book one in the Hellraiser series
Adaptations:
1987 Hellraiser film plus many sequels
2022 Hellraiser film
17
The Silence of the Lambs
Thomas Harris
First Published 1988
Please note that this book is a sequel to Red Dragon (1981) so you may want to read that one first even though it's not one of the prompts.
Adaptations:
1991 film
plus there are some film and tv adaptations of Red Dragon
Please note that this book is a sequel to Red Dragon (1981) so you may want to read that one first even though it's not one of the prompts.
Adaptations:
1991 film
plus there are some film and tv adaptations of Red Dragon
18
American Psycho
Bret Easton Ellis
First Published 1991
Adaptations:
2000 film
Adaptations:
2000 film
19
Rings
Kōji Suzuki
First Published 1991
Also translated as Ring and The Ring
Adaptations:
1995 Ring: Kanzenban (Japanese)
1998 Ring (Japanese)
1999 The Ring Virus (South Korean)
2002 The Ring (American)
Also translated as Ring and The Ring
Adaptations:
1995 Ring: Kanzenban (Japanese)
1998 Ring (Japanese)
1999 The Ring Virus (South Korean)
2002 The Ring (American)
20
Let the Right One in
John Ajvide Lindqvist
First Published 2004
Adaptations:
2008 Let the Right One In (Swedish)
2010 Let Me In (American)
Adaptations:
2008 Let the Right One In (Swedish)
2010 Let Me In (American)