Top 5 Horror Movies Based on Novels

The literary world is full of imagination and it’s no wonder that movies are based on books all the time. However, most epic films that are made from movies are not horror based, and therefore no one really thinks about the two colliding, with the exception of adaptations taken from famous authors like Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Stephen King, and Clive Barker. Outside of a circle of authors, it seems that the horror novel is not the basis for many horror movies, or at least that’s how the public perceives it. I for one have noticed that a lot of horror novels and science fiction novels for that matter become major motion pictures and that’s why today I wanted to write this list. This is a list that should give you something to watch and read, so here you go, the top 5 horror movies based on novels as presented to you by Sir Jorge (me).

#5 Interview With The Vampire – Oh yes, a vampire movie that was full of innuendo, amazing costumes, and the world that was very unlike the traditional setting that you’d see from say, Bram Stoker. Anne Rice’s vampire novel made for quite the stir starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and a very young actress that some refer to as snaggletooth.

#4 The Silence of the Lambs – The book trilogy came out swinging with some disturbing violence and that translated to an amazing movie that garnered some critical acclaim. The movies based on Hannibal would be well received, even if Jody Foster’s role was replaced in the latter movies, the films kept movie viewers stunned, especially when in one scene Ray Liotta eats his own brains, while still alive. Thomas Harris’s novel really was great source material and made for one of the creepiest movies of all time.

#3 The Amityville Horror – Long before it became a series of films, one of which was in 3-D and one of which starred Van Wilder, this book set the genre on its head. The idea of a true story of a house that made the dwellers go insane and then remain haunted for years to come translated well enough on film, but the book goes into far more detail, as only books can. Jay Anson’s novel really puts up a standard on which all haunted houses should be measured; even if the movies are well, lackluster at best.

#2 The Shining – Stephen King might not like it, some people might think the movie is borderline boring, but Kubrick sure knocked out one hell of a movie when he based his film off of King’s work. The work of Stephen King is hard enough to shove into a full 2-hour film, but somehow Kubrick takes certain elements and makes for one freaky and scary ride, the ultimate haunted house flick turns out to be a psychotic nightmare, or is it?

#1 The Exorcist – The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty really didn’t shake things up until the film based on his work really shattered the realms of horror and perception there of. If you have yet to check out this film or book, you are in for one horrific ride into what drives most religious people to hide underneath their beds at night. This one is not for the faint of heart, even though the movies that came after the original became lackluster and dare I say trite. Or maybe the proper word is tripe, whatever.

There you have it folks, 5 books/movies that you need to check out, because you’re cool and I’m not.