Summer Is A Great Time For Horror!
To most people, horror & other scary things are something to be consumed in the month of October. I understand can that too, after all, we’re all conditioned to think Halloween is the time for it. I’d have to agree that certain activities, like watching a Michael Myers Halloween film or making caramel apples for instance, would just feel wrong at any other time of the year. But I come bearing good news in this 98 degree heat – Summer can be just as good a time to indulge your spooky needs as Halloween, if not better.
Books
Books are one of the most frequently overlooked forms of horror in the age of streaming. I get it, Netflix & Shudder are packed to the brim with great content, but you can have a wholly unique and memorable experience by opting for the ‘ol paperback instead. Books like the Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark series take on a new life when you’re able to read them on a warm evening with the windows open, surrounded by the noises of the outdoors. While we’re on the subject of kiddie horror, I think the Goosebumps book The Girl Who Cried Monster is a perfect read for the season. It literally centers around a girl who discovers the local librarian is a monster while trying to get her Summer reading finished – how meta!
If you’re like me and have trouble concentrating on traditional books (thanks ADD) then audiobooks and even graphic novels are great alternatives. A few of my personal favorites include Stephen King’s Joyland and Pet Semetary. Joyland is a fantastic love-letter to Summer time Amusement Park trips, romances, and ghost stories wrapped up into one addicting little package. We all know that Pet Semetary is a classic, but this particular version is read by Dexter himself – Michael C. Hall. He brings an incredible performance to the table here, and I know a lot of people will roll their eyes at the thought of listening to Pet Semetary at this time of year, but I say you haven’t lived until you’ve taken a road trip with the AC on full blast while listening to it. As for comics & graphic novels, you can always turn to Team Up for some recommendations, but one of my personal favorites to crack open on a sunny Sunday morning is Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. Seriously, if you haven’t read this one, what are you waiting for?
TV & Movies
Like I said before, there are just some horror movies that need to be watched during the Halloween season. If I find out that any of you are watching Trick ‘R Treat in July I’ll personally come through this screen and slap you. So I guess you’re probably thinking, okay genius, what horror movies are going to be enhanced by a Summer viewing? Why, all of the Friday the 13th films, of course (which we ranked in their entirety). It’s always bothered me when I see people having a Friday the 13th marathon in the month of October…they’re movies that take place at SUMMER CAMP people! Bonus points if you’re able to watch any of those films outside, in the woods, with a projector. The ambiance it adds to the whole experience is otherworldly.
Of course F13 isn’t the only scary movie that warrants a Summer viewing, how about something like the most recent adaptation of IT? The movie literally takes place over the course of the kid’s Summer break, and we’re treated to a lot of nostalgic shots of bike riding and swimming. And then there are other movies that simply feel right for no particular reason, like the Phantasm series! Some of my other favs include:
The Lost Boys
I Know What You Did Last Summer (duh)
Club Dread
The Burbs
& The Rest
Obviously there are so many options out there for us horror nerds to get our fix. Are you missing Halloween in particular? Might I suggest The Purple Stuff podcast’s Halloween episodes, they’re sure to satisfy your spook tooth. Of course you could always pop in your favorite old video game, something like Resident Evil 2 or Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
But why limit yourself to just media? A lot of stores are getting their Halloween candy in super early this year, why not go out and try to find the Reese’s Franken-Cups? Or hey, Michael’s is bound to have some of their spooky décor out by now! Even something as simple as taking a long drive through a creepy part of town with a Type-O Negative record blasting hits surprisingly different in the Summer months than it does at any other time of the year. Use your imagination!
In conclusion, I get it - us horror fans wait all year for the Halloween season, and for good reason. The weather is great, our main interests are front and center…it’s a good time to be alive! But, with a little imagination, we can take our least favorite season and make it our own. Don’t let the heat get you down, get out there and make your Summer spooky!
