13 Upcoming Movies and TV Series Based on Horror Books

Do you love horror movies as much as horror books?

I love horror in any form so when a horror book is adapted to the screen, it’s double the excitement! Adapting books into movies or TV series can also bring new readers to the source material.

Due to the pandemic, many movies previously scheduled for release had been stuck in development hell and the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strike have also complicated matters. But in the meantime, there are plenty of movies and TV series based on horror books that are slated for release. Check them out below!

_{This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.}

The Last Voyage of the Demeter

Based on ‘Log of the ‘Demeter” in Dracula by Bram Stoker – in theatres 10 August – Trailer

The Last Voyage of the Demeter is already in cinemas now but I can’t leave it out! The film is unique in that it’s inspired by a small section called ‘Log of the ‘Demeter” in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In the book, we only get snippets of incidents during the vampire’s voyage across the seas. The movie expands this section, creating new characters and exploring what could have happened when Dracula is let loose on the ship. Raw and unflinching, this is Dracula at his monstrous best.

A Haunting in Venice

Based on Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie – in theatres 15 Sept – Trailer

The third installment of Hercule Poirot’s detective mysteries directed by Kenneth Branagh veers away from campy drama in fancy locations, this time dipping into gothic horror with ghosts and seances. Taking place in a crumbling mansion in Venice over one stormy night, the film features a star-studded cast including Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, and Jamie Dornan. Less cosy and more somber, this will be Poirot’s most dangerous case yet.

The Exorcist: Believer

Inspired by The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty – in theatres 6 Oct – Trailer

The 1973 adaptation of The Exorcist is a well-known classic, and there have been other attempts at bringing the story to the screen since. Believer serves as a direct sequel to the movie, with an appearance by Chris Macneil (Ellen Burstyn reprises her role). This time, two young girls are in danger and their parents are desperately seeking help before it’s too late. Expect horrific scenes of demonic possessions and a battle for innocent souls.

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines

Inspired by Pet Sematary by Stephen King – streaming on Paramount+ 6 Oct – Trailer

Pet Sematary has had two movie adaptations, in 1989 and 2019. Bloodlines is a prequel to the 2019 movie, taking place in 1969 where a young Jud Crandall finds a cemetery where the dead can live again. If you’re familiar with the book but always wondered about Jud’s history, this movie can answer some of those questions. Maybe we’ll find out why Jud’s motto is “Sometimes dead is better.”

Foe

Based on Foe by Iain Red – in theatres 6 Oct – Trailer

Foe is one of the best psychological horror books I’ve read so I’m excited that we’ll finally get to see it. Starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, it explores the aftermath of an incident that upends the lives of a married couple. Portraying the complexities of a marriage with space exploration looming in the background, this is a haunting story you don’t want to miss.

Dark Harvest

Based on Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge – releasing digitally on 13 Oct – Trailer

Originally scheduled for a 2021 release, the film’s release date was shuffled a couple of times due to the pandemic. Dark Harvest is set in an isolated village where young men take part in an annual ritual to hunt a pumpkin-headed creature. But the ritual holds other secrets that put their lives in danger. Get ready with your popcorn to watch this in time for Halloween!

Starve Acre

Based on Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley – release date TBD

Folk horror fans, this one is for you! Starve Acre depicts a happy family in a rural English town whose lives are thrown into turmoil when their child begins acting strange. Starring Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark, the film is set to premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October but has no official release date yet. The book is an unsettling, peculiar read with flashes of unexpected violence and I can’t wait to see this on the screen.

The Changeling

Based on The Changeling by Victor LaValle – streaming on Apple TV+ 8 Sept – Trailer

Parenting horror comes to life in the TV series adaptation of The Changeling. A man goes on a quest through otherwordly New York to find his wife after a shocking tragedy. The novel intertwines dark fairy tales with reality, and it looks like the show will be faithful to its source. The trailer is filled with stunning shots and I’m excited to see the finished product.

American Horror Story: Delicate

Based on Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine – streaming on FX 20 Sept – Trailer

The 12th season of the horror anthology series American Horror Story takes inspiration from the newly released Delicate Condition. The novel tackles pregnancy horror, reminiscent of Rosemary’s Baby. An actress is desperate to have a baby, but she should be careful of what she wishes for. Like the previous seasons, the trailer hints at gruesome body horror with snappy dialogue and wild character interactions.

The Fall of the House of Usher

Based on The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales by Edgar Allan Poe – streaming on Netflix 12 Oct – Trailer

Horror maestro Mike Flanagan returns with another scary show. He had previously adapted Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Christopher Pike’s The Midnight Club. The TV series is loosely based on Poe’s works and features a pharmaceutical CEO whose children start dying in mysterious ways. You will see familiar faces from Flanagan’s other works, including Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel, and Rahul Kohli.

Goosebumps

Based on the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine – streaming on Disney+ and Hulu 13 Oct – Trailer

Here’s one for the younger horror fans – and nostalgic horror fans from the 90s! The iconic children’s horror series gets a fresh adaptation by the same people who made the movies Goosebumps (2015) and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018). In the TV show, five teenagers discover their parents’ secret and have to work together to defeat a supernatural evil. Rumors are the iconic Slappy the Dummy will make an appearance!

The Burning Girls

Based on The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor – streaming on Paramount+ 19 Oct – Trailer

The Burning Girls portrays a vicar and her daughter moving to a strange new village following a loss. Blending faith and history with supernatural horror, it has flashes of The Wicker Man. Starring Samantha Morton and Ruby Stokes, the TV series brings to life the atmospheric tension from the novel with plenty of character study.

Welcome To Derry

Based on It by Stephen King – streaming on Max in 2024

A new Stephen King adaptation takes on the classic horror, It. The book has been recently adapted into the movies It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019). Welcome to Derry will serve as a prequel to those movies and will include the origin story of Pennywise the Clown. The production was suspended in July due to the actors’ strike so we might be waiting for a while longer for the show to be released.

Which horror movie adaptations are you most interested in?

---