2019 Is Going To Be Horrible

The upcoming slate of horror films and books for the next 12 months is terrifyingly awesome. 2019 might just be the biggest year in horror…ever. It certainly has the possibility of achieving all-time-great status over past years, at least in terms of quality. If readers and moviegoers continue the trend of snatching up all things horror-related with a zombie-like fervor, book and ticket sales might just break some records for the genre.

While books tend to be kept under wraps until closer to their date of release, studios often slate movies years in advance. So while there may be a few surprises in the literary world we’re not currently aware of, the films of 2019 are pretty much set in stone.

Let’s take a look at what you need to be consuming in the horror field for 2019.

When it comes to books, an array of haunting novels and story collections coming out will fill your black horror-loving heart with joy. Here are a few of our top picks:

Full Throttle, by Joe Hill.  The son of King and heir apparent to the throne has multiple books screaming for release. His finished novel, Up the Chimney Down, was originally supposed to emerge in 2019. But because of the Netflix release of the feature film In the Tall Grass, Hill’s publisher has instead opted to release his short story collection, Full Throttle. It includes the short story of the same name (co-written with Stephen King) and it’s good for business to have the two media properties release around the same time. While a novel would have been nice, we’re equally stoked to get another book of stories from the award-winning Prince of Darkness. (Fall)

Inspection, by Josh Malerman. Malerman is riding a hot-streak right now with the film adaption of his hit novel Bird Box blowing up Netflix. His upcoming novel is a dystopian tale about gender segregation and the warping of innocence. When a boy-only orphanage makes a point of keeping the other gender a secret from the kids in order to harness their true genius without distraction, things go awry. Hormones always win the day, right? A chilling novel that pulls no punches on the tension and violence, this one will be a hit. (April)

The Saturday Night Ghost Club, by Craig Davidson. a coming-of-age horror story that reviewers are already salivating over as a new classic of the wonderful “kids-and-monsters” trope. But there’s more to this book than scares and creatures (real or imagined). It says volumes that Davidson, who is an accomplished, award-winning author, typically writes his horror books under the pseudonym Nick Cutter. The alter-ego has served Davidson well, with multiple bestsellers under his fictitious belt and praise from King himself blazing his book covers. The books Davidson writes under his own name are more nuanced and literary, so this feels like a combining of two forces that may end up being the best book yet from all whichever of the author’s psyches are in control. (July)

Other titles not to miss: Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds, by Gwenda Bond; Black Mountain, by Laird Barron; Growing Things and Other Stories, by Paul Tremblay, Cardinal Black, by Robert McCammon.

In films, there are blockbusters on the bleak horizon. If you’re bummed there may not be any new Stephen King books to rip into this year, the movies will have you covered. Trust us. Here are a few on which you dare not turn your back.

It: Chapter Two. The next installment in the global blockbuster, based on Stephen King’s all-time-classic behemoth of a novel, is hitting theaters in the fall. Easily the most anticipated sequel of the year not involving a guy named Thanos, IT 2 looks to topple its predecessor’s box office bonanza of $700 million worldwide. Hopefully the adults can pick up where the kids left off, and Pennywise has a few more balloons to hand out. (September)

Pet Semetery. Yup, King again. And yet another reboot of a film that many feel needs no rebooting. But horror is hot and King is hotter, so the studios are lining up films based on any King property they can get their hands on. Skepticism aside, this new take on King’s classic novel of the same name looks pretty frickin’ scary – even the cat looks terrifying this time around! We expect good things, and if the film is even remotely decent fans will flock in droves to watch Louis Creed just miss grabbing Gabe before the big ol’ Orinco truck roars by. Damn. (April)

Us. The most under-wraps (at least until the trailer debuted at Christmas) film of the year is by writer/director Jordan Peele, the mastermind behind the genre-busting, box-office devouring Get Out. Us will unveil itself in March and the excitement is palpable. Teaming up once more with Blumhouse, Peele has been incredibly secretive about his new film’s plot. But with a knockout cast already announced, and Peele’s cred through the roof thanks to his debut feature, fans and critics alike will be eager to see what the director has in store for Us. (March)

Other movies generating buzz: Happy Death Day 2U; Zombieland 2; Escape Room; World War Z 2; In the Tall Grass; Captive State; The Turning.