10 Horror Movies You Forgot Were Based On Books
Almost everyone knows that movies such as Misery or The Shining are based on the legendary horror novels of Stephen King. However, many talented authors of horror fiction do not hold the same fame as the so-called King of Horror. As a result, when their books come alive on the big screen, they often slip under the radar, leaving the public unaware that some of the most terrifying stories have deeper and lesser-known literary origins.
Although reading remains a beloved activity, cinema and television are still the dominant mediums, with more people choosing to watch movies or shows than to pick up a book. It is also easier to market a film, especially when fronted by lead actors or directors who are already established celebrities. However, as frightening as a movie might be, its book counterpart usually has subtler, more intimate ways to toy with our fears. For that reason, it’s only fair to give the original works the recognition they deserve.
10
The Ritual (2017)
Based On The Ritual By Adam Nevill
4/10
- Release Date
-
October 13, 2017
- Runtime
-
94minutes
- Director
-
David Bruckner
- Writers
-
David Bruckner
When it premiered in 2017, The Ritual left the public shivering all the way through the movie. The cold and remote Scandinavian background heavily shaped the eerie atmosphere of the film, creating a folk horror spectacle in the unforgiving woods of Northern Europe. But beyond its visual magnetism, the movie is ultimately a story about friendship and grief, using supernatural mythology to confront deeper emotions like guilt and trauma. Despite the relative success it obtained, it’s not often remembered today—and even fewer viewers are aware that it was based on a novel.
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The book was published in 2011 by Adam Nevill, a British author well-known in the horror literary scene. The Ritual is, in fact, not the only one of his novels that came alive on the screen. The story earned him critical acclaim as well as a literary award for the disturbing setting and emotionally resonant narrative.
9
Psycho (1960)
Based On Psycho By Robert Bloch
10/10
- Release Date
-
September 8, 1960
- Runtime
-
109 minutes
- Writers
-
Joseph Stefano, Robert Bloch
- Sequel(s)
-
Psycho 2
With a name like that of Alfred Hitchcock in charge of the movie, it is no surprise that not many people remember the literary origins of Psycho. The film is one of the most gripping and devastating horrors in the history of cinema, complemented by the blood-curdling performance of Anthony Perkins as well as the legendary, slaughtering scene in the shower. Because of its cult-like status, it is easy to forget about the book that served as an inspiration.
The book reveals some additional details about Norman Bates’s backstory; after all, it would have been hard for the film to report all the information shared in the novel.
Robert Bloch’s Psycho is considered one of the most timeless horror fiction of the 20th century, and Hitchcock’s adaptation attempted to remain as faithful as possible to it. However, the book reveals some additional details about Norman Bates’s backstory; after all, it would have been hard for the film to report all the information shared in the novel.
8
Candyman (1992)
Based On The Forbidden By Clive Barker (From Books Of Blood)
- Release Date
-
October 16, 1992
- Runtime
-
100 Minutes
- Director
-
Bernard Rose
- Writers
-
Bernard Rose
-
Virginia Madsen
Helen Lyle
-
Candyman is nowadays considered a hit of the horror genre, with a chilling premise and clever social commentary. However, you might have forgotten that the movie’s enduring villain originated from a book. It is easy to forget or ignore the origins of the film considering that the horror tale had a different title, The Forbidden, and was a short story from the collection Books of Blood by Clive Barker.
Bernard Rose brought other significant changes to the source material. He expanded the narrative and delved deeper into the characterization of the antagonist, changing his backstory entirely. Candyman became the avenging spirit of a Black man who had been unjustly killed for falling in love with a white woman in the 19th century. This new angle gave the character more complex motivations for his actions. The result was a sympathetic villain with a tragic origin story in a movie that delved into the theme of racial inequality.
7
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
Based On The Silence Of The Lambs By Thomas Harris
9/10
- Release Date
-
February 14, 1991
- Runtime
-
118 Minutes
- Director
-
Jonathan Demme
- Writers
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Thomas Harris, Ted Tally
The Silence of the Lambs is one of the most critically acclaimed thrillers ever. The bleak atmosphere, the menacing performance of Anthony Hopkins, and the emotional magnetism of Jodie Foster cemented its status as a psychologically disturbing horror masterpiece. It was the only horror, and still is to this day, to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Because of the movie’s exceptional reception and outstanding achievements, the public might forget that the character of Hannibal Lecter had already cemented himself as a legendary villain in Thomas Harris’s literary series, especially the 1988 book that inspired the film.
Looking back, it is not a surprise that Harris’ book was adapted into a film. The novel earned widespread success when it came out and sold a total of over 10 million copies. The disturbingly creative premise, along with the intense and astute characterizations, contributed to making the tale one of the most captivating and suspense-filled thrillers ever written.
6
Jaws (1975)
Based On Jaws By Peter Benchley
10/10
- Release Date
-
June 18, 1975
- Runtime
-
124 minutes
- Writers
-
Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, John Milius, Howard Sackler, Robert Shaw
The most famous shark in cinema was not born out of the ingenious mind of Steven Spielberg, as many believe. Jaws was based on the novel of the same name by Peter Benchley. Today, the film is a cultural touchstone, credited with instilling a lasting fear of what lurks underwater in audiences worldwide. When it premiered in 1975, the movie immediately became the highest-grossing film ever. This overwhelming popularity might have led most people to overlook its origins.
Benchley’s novel came out in 1974 and was an immediate success, praised for its suspense and gripping story. Even before its publication, producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown predicted its cinematic potential and secured the rights for the film. However, the adaptation left a significant part of the original plot out, choosing to focus solely on the shark and the three protagonists. The result was a terrifying thriller that changed the landscape of horror blockbusters forever.
5
The Ring (2002)
Based On Ring By Koji Suzuki
8/10
- Release Date
-
October 18, 2002
- Runtime
-
115 minutes
- Director
-
Gore Verbinski
- Writers
-
Ehren Kruger
While most fans of the franchise know that the early 2000s scary hit The Ring is a remake of the terrifying Japanese horror Ring, fewer realize that both productions drew inspiration from a novel. The source material about a cursed videotape and a presumably dead girl who vows to slaughter anyone who watches it was already disturbing enough, but Bojan Bazelli’s eerie cinematography heavily contributed to the terrifying allure of the myth of Samara.
At the same time, the novel leans more heavily into supernatural themes, making it more nuanced compared to the 2002 American adaptation.
The original book, Ring, was written by Japanese author Koji Suzuki, and is the first of a trilogy. Although the premise of the novel is roughly the same-the curse, the deadline, the child coming out of a well—there are key differences. For instance, the lead character in the book is male, and the plot unfolds in Japan, which is important to understand the cultural references in the story. At the same time, the novel leans more heavily into supernatural themes, making it more nuanced compared to the 2002 American adaptation.
4
Bird Box (2018)
Based On Bird Box By Josh Malerman
6/10
- Release Date
-
December 13, 2018
- Runtime
-
124 minutes
- Director
-
Susanne Bier
- Writers
-
Eric Heisserer, Josh Malerman
When Bird Box came out on Netflix in 2018, it immediately garnered widespread attention due to the intriguing, albeit macabre, premise. The intense performances of Sandra Bullock and the rest of the cast also helped materialize the true horror of the story on the big screen. With an unexplainable threat that forces people to kill themselves when seen, the film almost seemed like it came out of Stephen King’s twisted writing.
The King of Horror might not have penned the story, but writer and singer Josh Malerman did in his 2014 literary debut. The novel has been praised for the originality of the plot and the eerie atmosphere captured. It was also nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. Although the tone and the themes touched upon are similar, the book has a slightly darker, more intimate edge.
3
The Birds (1963)
Based On The Birds By Daphne Du Maurier
If Psycho is one of the most psychologically unsettling movies by Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds finds a way to be as disturbing in a different, more visceral manner. The movie is a nightmare rooted in humanity’s most primal, raw fear of nature turning hostile against us. The film became so famous for its vicious narrative and physically unsettling scenery that it is easy to forget that it was based on a short story of the same name.
The impact of the movie was so significant that the title of the book collection the story was taken from was changed from The Apple Tree to The Birds and Other Stories. Hitchcock’s adaptation expanded the narrative, adopting a different setting and introducing new characters to Daphne du Maurier’s original story. However, the core concept, the idea of birds gathering together and turning against humans, remains.
2
The Exorcist (1973)
Based On The Exorcist By William Peter Blatty
9/10
- Release Date
-
December 26, 1973
- Runtime
-
122 minutes
- Director
-
William Friedkin
- Writers
-
William Peter Blatty
- Prequel(s)
-
Exorcist: The Beginning, Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist
When fans think about The Exorcist, they picture one of the most startling and debated horrors ever shown on the big screen. The public remembers the strong visceral reactions it elicited in them when it premiered, the massive attention it received, and the controversy it stirred. Because of its divisive yet iconic reputation, many people tend to forget that it was all born out of a book by William Peter Blatty, who also wrote the script for the movie and earned an Academy Award.
Blatty’s novel came out in 1971 and took inspiration from the Exorcism of Roland Doe, a real-life case of the 1940s related to the demonic possession of a 14-year-old. Compared to the movie adaptation, the book has more of a slow-burn pacing, with additional scenes that offer deeper insights into the story. Although the film might be more visually scarring, the book is likely to haunt the mind of the reader for a longer period.
1
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Based On I Know What You Did Last Summer By Lois Duncan
I Know What You Did Last Summer is a classic with a magnetic cast and thrilling premise. The movie is remembered as a divisive 1990s horror slasher, but there is more to its origins than most know. The film was largely influenced by other horrors of the same genre, as well as the urban legend of The Hook. Furthermore, it loosely drew inspiration from the 1973 suspense novel of the same name written by Lois Duncan.
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Although the cinema adaptation follows a parallel formula- a hit-and-run accident and the ominous notes that threaten to reveal the crime- and features similar characters, its tone shifts drastically. The result is a slasher reinterpretation of Duncan’s story. The novel is not a horror tale leaning into blood and dramatic chases, but a suspense-driven psychological thriller that explores themes of morality and guilt.
