From page to scream—35 terrifying listens that inspired horror movies

There is nothing out there like Misery. The movie is an exceptional work of psychological horror that dwells on the anxiety wrought by captivity and the sheer terror of knowing you might not make it out alive. It also happens to be the only adaptation of a Stephen King novel that has won an Academy Award. If you’ve seen the film, it’s clear why Kathy Bates won the Oscar for Best Actress— she crafted a fascinating and truly menacing portrayal of Annie Wilkes. Wilkes is bestselling romance novelist Paul Sheldon’s number one fan, and at first, it seems she’s just being kind by tending to and caring for him after a car accident renders him immobile. As Sheldon soon realizes, however, the circumstances are far more dire. Narrator Lindsay Crouse expertly voices both characters, nailing each unhinged twist with a sense of dread that will leave a knot in your stomach.

Patrick Bateman is a villain far more frightening than any fanged vampire or looming cryptid. He is a narcissist, a monstrously egotistical investment banker who cares for little save his appearance, his finances, and his musings on pop music. But beneath the veneer of 1980s superficiality, Bateman is also a madman capable of unspeakable violence. Bret Easton Ellis’s sharply satirical and viciously dark novel doesn’t skimp on disturbing, graphic details—and as it’s narrated from the vantage of Bateman himself, it’s all the more unsettling. In the 2000 black comedy based on the novel, Christian Bale delivered a widely praised performance that’s so spot-on, it’s scary. In his superb narration, actor Pablo Schreiber brings the perfect mix of droll disinterest and hair-raising lunacy to capture Bateman’s horrific inner monologue.

Steven Spielberg’s 1975 masterpiece, Jaws is not your conventional horror film—the so-called monster is merely an animal in its natural habitat and much of the terror and bloodshed was easily preventable, if not for the conflicting interests of human beings. Nevertheless, it had hordes of viewers canceling their beach vacations and staying as close to land as possible. The shark thriller was based on Peter Benchley’s novel of the same name, which follows the same characters—Chief of Police Brody, oceanographer Hooper, and shark hunter Quint—as they set out to sea to put an end to the reign of terror wreaked by a man-eating great white. Despite its substantial differences from the film in characterization and subplots, this listen packs the same thrilling punch as the cinematic classic.

The first horror film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, The Exorcist is not just a terrific horror movie—it’s a terrific movie, period. The same can be said for its inspiration, the novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty (who, it should be mentioned, also produced and wrote the screenplay for the big screen adaptation). When sweet little 11-year-old Regan MacNeil is possessed by a demonic entity, her mother, Chris, calls on Father Damian Karras to expel the darkness and save her daughter’s life. So much more than a simple made-you-jump shocker, this listen is also a thoughtful meditation on crises of faith and what it means to be human. And if that endorsement isn’t enough to convince you, trust us—you’re going to want to hear Blatty’s absolutely impeccable performance of his own triumph. Not only is this the scariest author narration of all time—there, we said it—it’s also among the best ever.

No film in history had a media tour quite like that of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho in that, well, there was no media tour. Stars Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins were prohibited from making the usual rounds, and with no advance screenings, critics had to wait until the film’s general release. Hitchcock’s reasoning for the unusual rollout? He wanted to avoid letting the film’s big twist—a twist it shares with its literary inspiration of the same name—out of the bag before it could shock audiences. Whether you’ve seen the film, heard the big reveal, or are just looking for your next great horror listen, be sure to check out the audio edition of the original novel by Robert Bloch. Narrator Richard Powers brings every eek and shriek of the Bates Motel to vivid life.

Alfred Hitchcock sure had a knack for adapting the works of Daphne du Maurier—over the course of his career, he based three of his films on her stories. But even if you’ve already seen the suspenseful horror classic, you’ll want to check out du Maurier’s original, part of a collection that includes five more chilling tales. Far different from the film sharing its name, the short story centers on a farm worker and war veteran named Nat Hocken who is determined to protect his family from a sudden onslaught of aggressive, violent birds. Set in Cornwall in lieu of Hitchcock’s California, du Maurier’s "The Birds" is eerie, stark, atmospheric, and a stirring ode to the deep traumas left by World War II.

In Barrow, Alaska—the northernmost town in the United States—the city stays dark for weeks on end, with citizens sometimes waiting more than a month to feel the warmth or see the light of the sun again. This makes it a perfect place for vampires to feast without fear of death by daylight. That’s the central conceit of Steve Niles’s classic graphic novel 30 Days of Night and the film adaptation of the same name. In this Audible Original reimagining of Niles’s comics, a full cast and strong sound effects and production come together to craft a deeply immersive, truly heart-pounding experience. Listen in as Barrow’s husband-and-wife sheriff team brings the townsfolk together to fend off the vampiric threat and ensure the safety of survivors—before the sun sets on their town forever.

There’s no doubt about it—Clive Barker is one of the most iconic names in horror writing. He’s a Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and his distinctive mix of frights and fantasy make for some truly memorable stories. His novella The Hellbound Heart offered a glimpse into a sadistic and shocking world inhabited by demonic beings called Cenobites, dimensional portals, and their gruesome repercussions. The first installment of three set in the universe, The Hellbound Heart served as the inspiration for a major horror franchise spanning films, comics, and more. It’s the first film, Hellraiser, however, that captured our attention and, at times, turned our stomachs—and it’s no wonder, since Barker himself wrote and directed it for the screen.

There’s something especially irresistible about coming-of-age horror stories. Life as a teenager can already be a nightmare—from the demands of high school to the highs and lows of young love—so when these trials collide with murder and mayhem, things are bound to get interesting. Like the 1997 slasher film it inspired, Lois Duncan’s young adult favorite focuses on Julie James and her friends a year after the fatal hit-and-run accident that they elected to cover up and keep to themselves. But when letters begin to arrive boasting, I know what you did last summer, it appears their secret is out—a revelation with deadly consequences. You won’t want to pause this listen until it reaches its twisty, nail-biter of a conclusion.

No work on the pitfalls of playing god has captured the anguish wrought by unchecked ambition like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The sci-fi horror masterpiece was first published in 1818 but remains every bit as relevant and fascinating today as it was centuries ago. The audio edition brings the classic tale to life like never before, as Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey delivers an Audie-nominated performance that soars over the highs of Victor Frankenstein’s remarkable scientific breakthrough—and dives to the depths of the unintended fallout. Shelley’s prescient work on life, death, and isolation has been brought to stage and screen a number of times—but it’s Boris Karloff’s portrayal of the Monster in Universal’s 1931 adaptation that cemented the character as the stuff of horror legend.

With most neighbors, there's an unspoken agreement that, as inhabitants of the same block, complex, or building, you are to prevent harm from befalling one another. But what if those living just a door away, or perhaps even sharing a wall, are not as benevolent as they appear? Horror hits close to home in Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby. This chilling tale follows the strange happenings in the lives of Rosemary Woodhouse and her husband, Guy, after they move into a new apartment and are immediately forewarned of the building’s freaky history—a warning they disastrously choose to ignore. Fans of the landmark 1968 film will be surprised by how much it owes to Levin’s brilliant novel. The audio version is voiced by Mia Farrow—yes, the actress who so memorably played Rosemary—and she gives an equally outstanding performance in her narration.

Over the course of his career, Stephen King has written story after story leaving listeners shaking with fright. But what scares the master of horror? The answer is revealed in his 1983 novel Pet Sematary, a truly disturbing musing on grief, inspired by King’s fear of losing his own children. It follows Dr. Louis Creed as unthinkable tragedy lures him to the unearthly promises of the creepy burial ground in the woods behind his family’s home, kickstarting a truly terrifying series of events. This novel got two quite excellent film adaptations—one in 1989 and another in 2019—but we recommend listening before you watch. Michael C. Hall (of Dexter fame) delivers an unmissable performance that expertly captures a father’s desperation, a sinister supernatural threat, and the slow realization that, sometimes, dead is better.

There’s no doubt that the late Shirley Jackson was a genius—her inventive prose, incredibly human characters, and nearly tangible settings make her work particularly outstanding, and all the scarier for it. Her 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House was adapted into two films (one in 1963 and another in 1999) and, more recently, served as the basis for a widely adored Netflix series that premiered in 2018. Jackson’s spooky classic follows a researcher and his companions as they investigate the mysteries that abound in the ghastly, and seemingly haunted, Hill House estate. But when night falls on Hill House, things become more far unearthly than what could be perceived during the light and hope of day.

Widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs is one of only three films in history to sweep the “Big Five”—Picture, Director, Actress, Actor, and Screenplay—at the Academy Awards. Sir Anthony Hopkins’s portrayal of the cannibalistic Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Jodie Foster’s turn as FBI trainee Clarice Starling were positively beyond compare, and both characters had their roots in the Thomas Harris novel of the same name (and the second novel in his Hannibal Lecter series). In this listen, Starling is pulled out of her training at Quantico to profile Lecter—or so she thinks—an assignment that might be the Bureau’s only chance at stopping the vicious serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. Hall of Fame narrator Frank Muller delivers a performance so excellent that one reviewer enthused he was “destined to read this book.”

Another Clive Barker horror classic on our list, The Forbidden—a short story housed in Volume 5 of his The Books of Blood anthology series—served as the inspiration for one of the most inventive horror films of all time: Candyman. With its truly unnerving premise, the 1992 supernatural slasher did what horror is meant to do—not just deliver gore and thrills but create a lingering sense of unease. Though the film is incisively focused on race in the United States, Barker’s original short story, set in a dilapidated housing district in Liverpool, England, explores similar themes of classism and appropriation. At the heart of both tellings is the Candyman himself—a ghastly urban legend who is summoned by mere doubt in his existence. And in a world ruled by rationality, it doesn’t get more terrifying than that. (Oh, and we recommend you listen to this short story before the release of Jordan Peele and Nia DaCosta’s highly anticipated spiritual sequel to the original film in summer 2023.)

The queen of bloodthirsty literature, Anne Rice is perhaps best known for The Vampire Chronicles, a first-class horror series that has enthralled listeners since it debuted more than 40 years ago. In the first installment, Interview with the Vampire, Rice introduces Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt, exploring the intricacies of their relationship in the dark, brooding setting of 18th-century New Orleans. Driven by an undercurrent of melancholy and sensuality, this is a story unlike any other, and it’s best heard in the melodic, entrancing voice of Audie winner Simon Vance. Afterward, queue up the 1994 film starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Kirsten Dunst—the grim epic captures the aches of immortality detailed so beautifully in the source material.

Speaking of vampires, Let Me In (originally Let the Right One In) by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist is essential listening for any fan of darker, serious takes on the genre. The vampire tale—in which 12-year-old Oskar befriends his new neighbor Eli, who turns out to be a vampire trapped in a child’s body and mindset—is set alongside cruel, inhumane acts perpetrated by human beings, making for an audiobook that is at times difficult to stomach but ultimately well worth the ride. Lindqvist’s take on the vampire myth is entirely inventive—an effective, stirring character study wrapped in a dismal landscape and the brutality of mortals and immortals alike. Though the novel has been adapted for film twice—2008’s Swedish release and 2010’s Matt Reeves-directed American version—it’s well worth listening to the audiobook, which meditates on difficult themes and elements impossible to bring to the big screen.

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers inspired a staggering quartet of film adaptations—one in 1956, one in 1978 (starring Donald Sutherland, and with one of the most famously shocking endings of all time!), one in 1993, and the most recent one in 2007. Jack Finney’s sci-fi horror gem has served as the basis for so many movies because of its impeccable blend of extraterrestrial lore and run-of-the-mill paranoia. When a small town is invaded by nearly imperceptible alien spores, its citizens are converted into shells for the creatures. Whether a nod towards McCarthyism or the perceived menace of Communism during the time of the book’s release, the story’s look at what it means when you can’t believe your eyes or trust those you love remains as chilling as it did more than half a century ago. Fun fact about the audiobook: the narrator is Kristoffer Tabori, an Audie winner who happens to be the son of Don Siegel, who directed the 1956 big-screen rendition.

To say that Max Brooks’s World War Z is unique hardly captures what makes it truly remarkable. Told from the perspective of a series of survivors and victims across the globe, this listen focuses not only on the existential threat of zombies but also the failures of government and society that elevate an unthinkable menace to a worldwide crisis. What’s even more fascinating—though perhaps a little unnerving at present—is that the zombie threat in Brooks’s universe never feels farfetched and operates as any other pandemic might. The film adaptation hit theaters in 2012, and though the action-filled apocalypse brought to life by Brad Pitt in that version is gripping, we’re partial to the all-star audiobook, which features performances from Hollywood greats Mark Hamill, Rob Reiner, and Martin Scorsese.

Yet another plague-driven tale that’s truly dismal, Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend follows Robert Neville, the last man on Earth, as he struggles to stay alive and stay sane in the midst of the world’s newfound population—infected former human beings who have transformed into bloodthirsty monsters. Despite the ever-looming presence of vampires, this story is focused on the crushing despondency that results from such extreme isolation and on what exactly distinguishes human from monster. It has been adapted for film three times, with leads ranging from Vincent Price to Will Smith. In audio, it’s Earphones Award-winning actor Robertson Dean at the helm, delivering a thoughtful performance that echoes the endless anguish of being alone.

The final Stephen King novel on this list (though it was tough narrowing down all the great King adaptations to just three!), The Shining was the basis for one of the most iconic horror films of all time. Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 movie, starring a brilliantly unhinged Jack Nicholson as the rapidly unraveling Jack Torrance, is in some ways removed from the novel that inspired it—from substantial differences in characterization to themes of addiction and the significance of supernatural factors on human behavior. Even if you have watched Kubrick’s film over and over, don’t miss out on King’s brilliant tale of a family trapped in a snowbound hotel who are torn apart by lingering ghosts—both literal and metaphorical. Between little Danny Torrance’s struggle with his clairvoyant abilities and the incredibly nuanced description of mounting marital discord between Jack and Wendy, it’s not only the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel that will stay with you long after you’re done listening—it’s the living residents too.

Inspired by a supposedly real haunting, Jay Anson’s The Amityville Horror has served as the muse for a sprawling film franchise. Though the novel’s claims of veracity have been challenged time and again, this listen stands the test of time as a work that explores the feeling of never truly being safe while in your own home and the ominous pit-of-your-stomach feeling that accompanies every creak and chill. After the Lutz family moves into their house in Amityville—the site of a horrific murder—they encounter a series of alarming events, ranging from the feeling of being grabbed by unseen hands to a mysterious ooze running down the walls. Listen in to this one, expertly narrated by Audie winner Ray Porter, and decide for yourself whether this terrifying ghost story is fact or fiction.

Recently adapted for a Blumhouse-produced Amazon Studios film now streaming on Prime, Audible Original Evil Eye is a thrill ride that defies conventional boundaries of genre and audience expectations. Beginning as a dramedy, this listen focuses on the budding relationship between Pallavi, a young woman bound by her traditional mother Usha's vision of marriage in her future, and Sandeep, the seemingly charming young entrepreneur she meets by chance. It takes a turn into a psychological horror when Usha grows concerned and suspicious about her daughter’s new beau. Gradually, she uncovers shocking truths about his identity and his intentions that have terrifying implications. Trust us—you won’t see the ending of this one coming.

If your favorite horror stories consist of slow burn thrillers mounting to a brutal, truly twisted finale, Audition is the film for you. Disturbing with a sense of dread that develops gradually before hurtling into scenes of watch-from-between-your-fingers violence, the Japanese horror shocker from director Takashi Miike is highly regarded in the world of horror filmmaking. But before it was a silver screen hit capturing the attention of future gore icons like Eli Roth and Quentin Tarantino, Audition was a novel by author Ryu Murakami. The story follows Aoyama, a lonely widower, who, nearly a decade after his wife’s death, finally decides it’s time to remarry. He and his best friend devise a plan to host auditions for a purely fabricated film, with their true purpose being to find Aoyama a suitable new wife—and it’s not long before Aoyama falls for the breathtaking Yamasaki Asami. Beneath her veneer of perfection, however, is an unthinkable secret.

A zombie story with a bite, The Girl with All the Gifts is a twisty, unique listen that we’re reticent to give too much detail about lest we spoil what makes it so special. Like the 2016 film adaptation starring newcomer Sennia Nanua and industry icon Glenn Close, M.R. Carey’s postapocalyptic tale centers on a little girl named Melanie living in a future world plunged into fear and uncertainty by a fungus that has transformed most of humanity into empty, flesh-hungry creatures. But Melanie is not your average child. With a nonstop thrill ride of a plot and a cast of thoughtfully written, multidimensional characters, this listen will surprise you at every possible turn. Narrator Finty Williams’s crisp, polished accent is equal parts melodic and dynamic, making for the perfect performance to match this eerie, dystopian story.

If you thought being lost in the woods was excellent nightmare fuel, just wait until you hear what author Adam Nevill does to this classic horror trope. Adapted into a 2017 British horror film directed by David Bruckner, The Ritual follows four middle-aged men, in various states of aching and bickering, on a remote getaway in the Scandinavian wilderness. When the men decide to ignore every horror red flag ever and take a shortcut, the proceedings turn steadily more harrowing, starting with a freshly killed corpse in the forest, a mysterious cabin, and the distinct sense that the men are being hunted. With pitch-perfect reading from narrator Matthew Lloyd Davies, The Ritual puts an uncommonly imaginative, creepy spin on the classic cabin-in-the-woods tale.

An English couple, Laura and John travel to Venice following the accidental death of their young daughter. Shortly after arriving, they encounter a nun who claims to be clairvoyant and warns of danger that will befall them should they stay in the city. Are her psychic abilities a sham—or are Laura and John in imminent peril? Both Daphne du Maurier's short story "Don't Look Now" and the landmark 1973 film it inspired are particularly memorable for the evocation of mood, a heavy melancholic ambiance that mirrors both the couple's grief and the foreboding unease of horrors to come. Directed by Nicolas Roeg and starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, the film is considered an influential work for its innovative editing styles, utilizing recurring imagery and visual motifs to underscore theme and challenge the viewer's perception of what is really happening.

Looking for a dark fantasy horror listen—and film adaptation—suitable for the whole family? Look no further. Neil Gaiman's Coraline has been disturbing and delighting children for the past two decades, and in this 20th anniversary audio edition, a full cast of talented narrators brings an ostentatious cast of characters—from eccentric neighbors to Coraline's loving but distracted workaholic parents—to life. Young Coraline Jones's curiosity gets the better of her when she finds a mysterious door to a neighboring flat. Upon entering it, she finds herself in a bizarre alternate realm, where mirror versions of her parents promise her everything she could ever want—if she's willing to stay forever. The 2009 stop motion adaptation of the classic was helmed by the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Henry Selick, and lauded for its gorgeous visuals and thoughtful tone.

After a mysterious stranger cloaked entirely in layers of bandages arrives at a local inn, books a room, then immediately sequesters in his quarters, the townsfolk decide to suss out this most unusual character. After all, he’s unfriendly, brusque, and a bit of a recluse. Who is he, and what is he up to? A smart sci-fi novel laden in social commentary and musings on the darkness within, The Invisible Man introduced a figure who would become a mainstay among classic monsters like the Wolfman and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The Invisible Man cemented himself in horror history with Universal Pictures’ iconic 1933 adaptation of H.G. Wells’s sci-fi classic. The story was most recently developed for the big screen with a 2020 film of the same name, starring Elizabeth Moss, which was praised for a genuine sense of suspense and a strong emotional center.

If you're most familiar with Henry James's The Turn of the Screw from its many adaptations (including a play, an opera, two films, and a miniseries), it's time to acquaint yourself with the horror novella's chilling audio edition. Academy Award winner Emma Thompson exquisitely unfolds the psychological thriller, following a governess working at a country estate where things are not quite right, with a fitting sense of dread. Are those spirits she witnesses walking the grounds real, imagined, or the workings of a more malevolent force? The celebrated 2020 installment of Netflix's The Haunting anthology series, The Haunting of Bly Manor is the most recent adaptation of the story—one that pins the iconic Gothic tale in a more modern setting (1980s England) and effectively shifts story elements to thrill contemporary audiences.

This twisted coming-of-age gem follows longtime best pals Abby and Gretchen as their friendship is tested by an unexpected quandary: demonic possession. When Gretchen returns from a night of teen antics inexplicably irritable, Abby finds that alongside the popularity race and everyday stressors of high school, she just might need to take on the devil himself. With Stranger Things at the forefront of cultural consciousness, horror evoking nostalgia for the 1980s is having a rightful moment, and Grady Hendrix combines terror and Trapper Keepers like no other. The heartfelt horror comedy's film adaptation starring Elsie Fisher (who made a splash with her celebrated turn in 2018's indie gem Eighth Grade) hit Prime Video on September 30, 2022.

There's a strange, almost delirious elusiveness to Samanta Schweblin's Fever Dream that sets it apart. As narratively odd as it is thoroughly captivating, this exploration of motherhood, fear, and the illusion of safety and control is fascinating in that it evokes a feeling of anxiety not from monstrous creatures nor a knife-wielding madman. The evil in Fever Dream lies low, undetected until its poison has seeped in and it is far too late. Inspired by very real environmental threats faced by communities across the globe, both Fever Dream and the Spanish-language film of the same name that it inspired feel both enigmatic and psychologically tense. As Schweblin co-wrote the film's screenplay with Academy Award-nominated director Claudia Llosa, the adaptation maintains the disorienting but entirely engrossing feel of the Booker Prize-shortlisted novel.

If you are still haunted by Ethan Hawke's utterly petrifying performance as a masked serial child murderer known as "The Grabber" in 2022's The Black Phone, you are not alone. But don't leave all the scares for the big screen. The Blumhouse-produced film was adapted from a short story of the same name by modern horror maestro Joe Hill, housed in the collection, 20th Century Ghosts. After being abducted by The Grabber, 13-year-old John Finney finds himself locked away in a dark, blood-stained basement. His only hope for outsmarting and escaping his captor's clutches is a mysterious, eerie antique phone that rings despite being disconnected, allowing Finney to communicate with the spirits of previous victims. In audio, narrator David LeDoux captures the unsettling atmosphere that surrounds Finney, creating a sense that we're right alongside him, trying to find our way out.

Though it's already made its debut at the Venice Film Festival (where it won both the Silver Lion and near-universal praise from critics), the adaption of Camille DeAngelis's Bones & All won't make its commercial theatrical debut until November 18th. So, while you wait for the Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell-led cannibalistic coming-of-age stunner to hit your local cineplex, why not sate your hunger by listening in to the original story? Brought to life with an authentic, vulnerable performance from narrator Julie Knippen, the novel follows Maren Yearly, a young woman facing the isolation, shame, and self-loathing born from her innate cannibalism. Though she was born with a taste for flesh, Maren yearns for normalcy, for love and respect. But she's far from alone in this world. Can she finally find the acceptance she craves among her fellow eaters?