10 Scariest Horror Movies Based On Books, Ranked

Some of the scariest horror movies out there are based on books. Horror has always thrived on originality. This past decade, in particular, has seen a resurgence in the genre with new original stories that have become instant classics, like Zach Cregger’s Weapons and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.

However, there are some great horror films out there that are adapted from the page. Even before film became a medium, horror was incredibly popular on the page with authors like Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley.

In fact, horror books continue to thrive today with superstars like Stephen King and Dean Koontz; and over the years, these literary terrors have inspired some of the scariest horror movies on the big screen.

10

Carrie (1976)

Based On The Novel By Stephen King

Brian de Palma’s 1976 take on Stephen King’s first novel has become a mainstay for horror fans for good reason. It’s a film that perfectly showcases the terrors of bullying, puberty and being a social outcast. Sissy Spacek’s performance as the titular character has gone down as one of horror’s most iconic roles.

Before her big moment in the film’s climax, she’s fantastic at recreating the character’s mousey and shy behavior. When it cuts to the iconic Prom scene though, it’s a sight to behold. The way her eyes contrast with the pigs’ blood covering her is an incredibly creepy image. Plus, with a color scheme and edits that pay homage to Dario Argento’s signature giallo horror, it ranks as one of the greatest scenes in horror history.

Carrie

Release Date: November 3, 1976
Runtime: 98 minutes

Piper Laurie

Margaret White

9

The Invisible Man (2020)

Based On The Novel By H.G. Wells

Leigh Whannel’s modern take on H.G. Wells’ classic sci-fi horror story makes a ton of risky decisions. However, they ultimately pay off in one of the most clever social horrors of the decade. What makes this new take on The Invisible Man stand apart from the classic Universal Monsters film is its decision to shift its focus to a new character.

Elisabeth Moss’ role as Cecilia is haunting as she deals with the constant fear that the Invisible Man is lurking around every corner. This makes for an exceptional opportunity to explore social commentary on the trauma that comes from escaping an abusive relationship, which the film takes full advantage of.

This is one of the most creative social horror films in recent memory, and though it deviates from the source material, it’s a remarkable adaptation.

8

Let The Right One In

Based On The Novel By John Ajvide Lindqvist

While the film leans more on the dramatic side, this modern vampire story is one of the greatest vampire films of all time. The icy cold environment plays a perfect backdrop to the horrific murders taking place. The lighting in particular makes the attack sequences feel visceral and cold, just like the snow that surrounds each scene.

However, despite the vampire angle, the heart of the film comes from the friendship developed between Oskar and Eli. The chemistry between these characters is absolutely sweet, making for a unique coming-of-age story. In fact, when the film reaches its best moment with the infamous pool scene, it’s as heartwarming as it is terrifying.

7

The Haunting (1963)

Based On The Novel The Haunting Of Hill House By Shirley Jackson

While most people today may be more familiar with Netflix’s adaptation of this story by Mike Flanagan, the original 1963 film The Haunting is one of the scariest ghost stories ever put to film. There’s no reliance on cheap jump scares or silly monster designs to make this film horrifying. Its terror comes entirely from the atmosphere and the fear of what’s happening just outside what you can see.

The suspense is the true star of the film as many of the scariest moments happen at night as each person heads to bed. There are bumps in the night that will have your brain wondering what is lurking in the dark. Then, when a character reveals they’ve experienced something supernatural like a hand brushing against theirs, it makes your hair stand on end. This is a phenomenal ghost story that still holds up today.

The Haunting

Release Date: August 22, 1963
Runtime: 112 Minutes

6

The Shining

Based On The Novel By Stephen King

The story behind this Stanley Kubrick adaptation is infamous. It drastically alters the book to the point of it being a completely new story, and Stephen King has a well-known dislike of how this adaptation handled his novel. However, despite all this, Kubrick’s take on The Shining is one of the greatest horror films ever put to screen.

The never-ending sense of dread is ever present throughout the film as the Overlook’s winding maze of hallways makes the audience feel claustrophobic and trapped. Plus, with Jack’s descent into madness, there’s danger lurking around every corner. This film knows how to scare the wits out of its audience, making it a phenomenal film in its own right.

The Shining

8/10

Release Date: June 13, 1980
Runtime: 144 minutes

5

Psycho (1960)

Based On The Novel By Robert Bloch

Alfred Hitchcock’s must-see classic is still making audiences afraid to take a shower. This suspenseful horror film has been constantly praised as one of the greatest horror films of all time because of its horrific mystery and iconic performance by Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates.

Of course, the scene that stands out the most from Psycho is the shower scene. Bernard Hermann’s iconic score paired with Hitchcock’s direction makes for one of the most visceral murder scenes in horror history, even though you never see the knife actually stab the victim. There’s nothing else quite like Psycho, and after over 60 years, it continues to terrify audiences everywhere.

Psycho

10/10

Release Date: September 8, 1960
Runtime: 109 minutes

4

Audition

Based On The Novel By Ryu Murakami

This film by acclaimed director Takashi Miike is not for the faint of heart. Audition is one of the most nerve-wracking and squeamish horror films ever made due to its raw depiction of torture. However, that’s exactly what makes it one of the scariest films ever made, as it subverts audiences’ expectations following a relatively simple first act.

Eihi Shiina’s portrayal of Asami is stomach churning during the film’s iconic finale. The way her sweet-sounding voice juxtaposes with what’s happening on-screen is incredibly rough to watch. She’s one of the most frightening and sadistic villains in cinematic history, making Audition worth watching for her alone.

Audition

Release Date: March 3, 2000
Runtime: 115 minutes

3

The Silence Of The Lambs

Based On The Novel By Thomas Harris

Currently, the only horror film to ever win Best Picture at the Oscars, this adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel continues to be heralded as one of the greatest films ever made. It’s not without its problems, as even Buffalo Bill actor Ted Levine has spoken out about how certain topics were handled. However, the masterful direction and writing make this a phenomenal horror film.

The biggest standout for this movie is undeniably Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. His performance helped Harris’ antagonist become a pop culture icon, even though he’s not the main villain of this story. Everyone has come to know about this cannibalistic psychiatrist because of this film. The rest of the film is just as well-crafted as Hopkins’ performance, but he’s one of the main reasons to give this film a watch.

2

The Exorcist

Based On The Novel By William Peter Blatty

Often regarded as one of the scariest movies ever made, The Exorcist has become a quintessential horror film that still holds up today. It’s become engrained in popular culture because of how impactful it was when it first premiered in 1973. The best part about all this though is that it’s still scary decades later.

Even with its slower pace, The Exorcist feels like a film that’s cursed. The haunting images of Regan slowly becoming possessed can be unsettling. The cuts and scars that begin to appear play with the imagination of what the demon is making her do when the camera isn’t pointed at her. This movie has become the standard for all possession films, and nothing has come close to recapturing the haunting camerawork and performances it has to offer.

The Exorcist

9/10

Release Date: December 26, 1973
Runtime: 122 minutes

Ellen Burstyn

Chris MacNeil
Linda Blair

Regan MacNeil

1

The Thing (1982)

Based On The Novella Who Goes There? By John W. Campbell

John Carpenter’s sci-fi horror classic was underappreciated when it first released in 1982. However, as years have gone by, this film has become cherished by the horror community as one of the best and scariest horror movies of all time.

Unlike the first adaptation of this story, The Thing from Another World, Carpenter’s remake follows the novella much closer and embraces the alien’s shapeshifting abilities. The suspense this creates is goosebumps-inducing as the film plays with who could or couldn’t be the Thing, hiding in plain sight.

Pair it together with exceptional practical effects that make the reveals pure nightmare fuel and an ending that’s still talked about years later, and you have a film that has stood the test of time. It’s a fantastic horror film based on a book that’s not just great, but also one of the scariest ever made.