One in two Americans enjoy watching scary movies, according to one CBS News poll. While scary movies appeal more to younger people, 71% of Americans under the age of 35 say they enjoy such movies, while just 23% of seniors 65 and older do. When it comes to the films that are adaptations of books, however, many may wonder how the writers behind the stories created such masterpieces. From Stephen King’s It to the 1818 classic Frankenstein, here are just a few of the most iconic writers behind some of the best horror films (and what could be in store regarding the future).
Behind the writings of Stephen King
Having penned at least 73 books, many of Stephen King’s horror novels have been translated onto the big screen. From Carrie to The Shining, to Children of the Corn and more, there’s no question that the author has created some of the most popular horror films out there.
When understanding the writing behind such horror film classics, one Business Insider article notes that “the subjects of King’s horror all represent our fear for something else.” As to what makes the author’s work so scary, the Business Insider post notes it’s not the monsters, “but the firm link to the society we live in.” One great example of this is the 1986 novel, It, which follows the story of an evil entity (of which most commonly takes the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown) that strikes fear into a group of children by using their own individual fear against them.
The 2017 film adaptation, It Chapter One, is “by far the highest-grossing movie based on a Stephen King book,” according to Screenrant. With a cast of talented actors and a changed timeframe that offered a healthy dose of nostalgia (in the movie, the Loser’s Club kids are set in 1989 vs. the novel’s depiction, in which the kids are set in the 50s), it’s not difficult to see why the 2017 film was a major success.
The legacy of an 1818 classic
Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is well known as one of the most influential and early works of science and horror fiction. The novel, which is set in the late 18th century, follows the story of scientist Victor Frankenstein, who creates a creature of his own during an experiment. The Gothic novel, which, according to one post from The Conversation, “combines supernatural elements with horror, death and an exploration of the darker aspects of the psyche,” as the plot explores the events that follow the scientist’s abandonment of his own creation.
According to one History Extra article, one of the book’s most memorable chapter in which Victor Frankenstien “beholds the monstrosity upon which he has conferred unnatural life,” was actually inspired by a nightmare that derives from one late-night discussion in 1816 that involved the scientific topic of galvanism. The 1931 horror film, Frankenstein, worked to bring Shelley’s novel to the big screen, and subsequent films — including four direct sequels — Bride of frankenstein (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and House of Frankenstein (1944) all from Universal. With many other titles that pay homage to or feature Dr. Frankenstein and/or his creation, there’s no question that Shelley’s work has and continues to live on.
A look to the future
While King and Shelley are two of the most iconic writers behind horror film classics, authors such as Dan Simmons make us look to the future with projects in the works. While Simmons’ horror novel titled Carrion Comfort explores the story about three individuals who have a secret order that has controlled the world for years, Hyperion Cantos, a series of four novels (the first titled Hyperion) are also under the same umbrella as some of the best books by Dan Simmons. The first book, Hyperion, lays the foundation of the story, which centers around a group of seven pilgrims sent on a quest on the planet called Hyperion. According to Collider.com, the story features complex elements such as time moving both forwards and backwards, as well as storylines that take place across a galaxy — not to mention “a main storyline that’s split up into seven flashback stories,” which might make a movie adaptation a bit difficult. While Hyperion is primarily a sci-fi novel, it does include elements of fantasy, adventure, and horror, too.
In regard to the big screen, Hyperion has had a long history as to whether or not it will make its film debut — according to the Collider article, a series adaptation was rumored back in the early 2000s, though the project fell into the hands of Scott Derrickson in 2009. While Derrickson had plans to combine Hyperion and its sequel into one film, the project has since gone to Bradley Cooper in 2011. As reported by the post, Cooper originally had plans for a movie, then a mini-series (for the channel Syfy), Collider notes that he has since “refocused his efforts theatrically and is planning on making Hyperion into a movie over at Warner Bros.”
Book to screen adaptations have led to some of the best films out there, from the longstanding legacy of the 1818 classic Frankenstein to the multiple successes of Stephen King. With hopes of adaptations from other authors like Simmons, there’s no question that the horror film genre has a bright future ahead.
