Many of Hollywood’s creations are based on other works, namely novels. Below are some of the best Horror movies based on novels, not only in my opinion, but also because they have been nominated (and have won) Academy awards. If you’re a fan of being scared by the written word or by images on the silver screen stay tuned.
The Exorcist
-Won Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. Nominated for Best Picture.
Brilliant novel by William Peter Blatty tells the tale of a young girl (Regan McNeil) possessed by a demon. The theatrical version of the story is equally chilling, with only minor details left out. The casting for this movie was perfect as each character fits Blatty’s description. Special effects that did not seem possible upon reading the book made Regan’s ordeal even more terrifying when watching the film. Rarely, is a book able to scare as easily as the movie and vice versa.
Jaws
-Won Academy Awards for Film Editing, Original Score, and Sound. Nominated for Best Picture.
Jaws as a movie is a far greater work than the novel by Peter Benchley. Steven Spielberg was able to craft Benchley’s tale into not only a terrifying vision of a man-eating shark, but also make it an adventure film to boot. The quality of the actors the director leading them is what makes this film so perfect. Unfortunately, it has aged severely over the years and less-than-stellar sequels have tarnished its name.
Rosemary’s Baby
-Ruth Gordon won an Academy Award for her performance as Minnie Castevet (Best Supporting Actress).
What would you do if you were pregnant with Satan’s child? That is the question asked by both Ira Levin’s novel and the film directed by Roman Polanski. It takes a quality director to bring the imaginations of the writer to life, and Polanski is able to do that here, bringing every nightmarish depiction out on the screen. Recommended to read and watch with the lights on.
Misery
-Kathy Bates won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance as Annie Wilkes (Best Actress).
Paul Sheldon is a best-selling novelist (much like the book’s author Stephen King). While traveling back from a cabin in which he has just finished his latest book, he is involved in a car accident. Fortunately, Paul is rescued by a nurse, who also happens to be his number one fan. Locked away in a secluded house by a psychopathic woman who praises his every word, Sheldon does whatever he can to escape. What makes this a strong film adaptation is that it dials down the crazy moments, which in turn, makes it seem much more realistic, and thus, the best horror movie based on a novel.
Source: allmovie.com, imdb.com
