Do you have a favourite spooky story/film/series/book?

[WhoWants2Know]

I love the type of scary story that's based around atmosphere or surprising twists on reality, as opposed to chainsaw-wielding maniacs chasing a bunch of teenagers.

My overall favourite series is probably The Haunting of Hill House, but I'm always on the lookout for more. Book wise, Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt and Nancy Forest-Flier is the one that gripped me most over the past year.

Anyone have any favourites that they want to share?

@Randomuser9876 I had a look for borderlands but could only find the series on Netflix? Is that what you meant?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Borderlands_(2013_film)

It's this one Trixiefirecracker it's called The Borderlands and was released as Final Prayer in the USA so sometimes called that.

It's excellent, I'm a massive fan of British horror and it's one of the best things I've seen in ages. Found footage but still original and v scary!!

Another vote for the fantastically creepy Wylding Hall, have read it multiple times, still puzzling over the wtaf ending.

@Randomuser9876 thank you! Sounds great!

Holy crap I'm listening to Uncanny right now! Deliciously scary!

Those who have read Wylding Hall - do you have any similar recommendations? I may have to reread anyway!

The Woman In Black with Daniel Radcliffe... Oh my days...I will never see those cymbal clashing monkey toys in quite the same way again.
I watched it in the village hall and screamed the whole way through... I made my best friend walk me home arm in arm after... Very few street lights... Got to my gate, just literally as I went to slide the bolt back my then bf cycled up behind us in the dark with no lights "GOOD EVENING LADIES!!"
Both my friend and I jumped out of our skins and he heard swear words from me that he didn't know I knew...

The BBC adaptation of Woman in Black was terrifying

Shown on Boxing Day 1990 (maybe 1991) never shown again

No flashy special effects just the slow build up and then you see her for a few seconds

Agree with the Michelle Paver recommendations, excellent spooky tales. I have an anthology by Richard Dalby called 'Ghosts for Christmas' which features two of my very favourite ghost stories: 'Smee' by A.M. Burrage and 'The Christmas Present' by Ramsey Campbell. Deliciously scary! I would recommend the whole book. I also bought a new anthology this Christmas called 'The Haunting Season' which I really enjoyed. LOVE a good ghost story. Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss isn't really a ghost story but is very foreboding and had my heart thumping! All of her books have an otherworldly vibe.

The first Amityville Horror movie is the only one that ever had me hiding behind the sofa, wonderful movie and from the 80's I think, but terrifying

Another vote for Borderlands from me.

I also love Mama. It’s a beautiful scary gothic fairy tale. The Others is great too, as is Pan’s Labyrinth.

@OhWhyNot check YouTube, I'm sure I watched it last year on there.

@OhWhyNot it’s on daily motion.

@tropicalsound

I really enjoyed Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver and A Narrow Door by Joanne Harris, both are very atmospheric.

Also the audiobook of Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand is free on audible if you've got a subscription, it's in the form of interviews about a folk band in the 70s. It's only about 4 hours long but it's great.

Oh thanks for these. I’m currently listening to ‘Wakenhyrst’ on audiobook and very unsettling it is too. I’m going to get the Joanne Harris book next.

Redannie118 yes the ghost on the underground programme is fantastic. As you say no special effects, just real TFL staff talking about their experiences but at a couple of points hairs on the back of my neck went all weird. Especially spooky was the story about the Kennington loop.

Algenon Blackwood stories are great too. I remember some years ago Radio 4 did a reading of ‘The Willows’ by AB in 5 or 6 episodes. I was staying in a remote cottage in North Wales with dh for added spookiness.

I’ve also read ‘House of Leaves’ and would love to see it made into a series. In fact I think there are elements of ‘House of Leaves’ in ‘Archive 81’ which I’m currently watching.

I read The Day of the Triffids in school. It scared the living daylights out of me. Thinking of it now still creeps me out.

Thank you JohannSebastianBach and Trixiefirecracker that’s my weekend viewing

It certainly scared in 1989 !!

Midnight Mass on Netflix. It’s from the same creator of the haunting of hill house & Bly manor. It’s so good.

That's great! Just to let you know though, A Narrow Door is the last in a series but they can all be read on their own, and it's the best one IMO.

Quote fail, that was at AuntMasha

Another vote for 'Uncanny' podcast on the BBC. Preferred the recent ones to the Battersea Poltergeist ones.

@Trixiefirecracker

I really enjoyed Archive 81 on Netflix recently. I don’t get scared easily but found it really creepy.

I was going to say Archive 81 on Netflix too. Haven’t finished it yet but it’s a gem and stands out amongst other Netflixxy twaddle.

I watched Archive 81, mostly in one sitting, and now I'm going through the podcast on the drive to work. I just started reading Night After Night (Phil Rickman) too.

Another vote for MR James here. My favourite three:

• Count Magnus
• The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral
• A Warning to the Curious

James was an academic and a medievalist and that's why I love his stories so much.

Also another vote for Dark Matter.

Oh, and a really good one with a happy ending: The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth. I remember the bit then the pilot switches off the controls in his plane and you realise he's landed safely, against all the odds.