Staff Picks: Spooky Stories

Pearl (2022)

by A24

If you want a movie that really stays with you for multiple days after watching, you'll want to see this. A psychological thriller about a farm girl with a big dream and a twisted/jealous mind. - Brodie, Circulation

20th Century Ghosts (2007)

by Joe Hill

Joe Hill explores the things that keep us up at night. A deep and well-rounded group of creepy short stories. - Julie, Administration

The Silence of the Lambs (2001)

by Orion Pictures

This is one of my favorite movies. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster are terrific. It won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay (the book by Thomas Harris is also very good) at the Academy Awards. - Beth, Access Services

Hollow (2022)

by Shannon Watters

Hollow is a fun, unique twist on the classic, haunting story of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The town of Sleepy Hollow is obsessed with the literary history and the legend of the headless horseman. After being forced to move here due to her mom's work, Izzy is not too impressed. She finds all of the hype a bit much and doesn't believe in ghosts... that is, until she is chased down by THE headless horseman. Choosing to confront them, Izzy learns a truth that could be fatal. - Abbey, Youth Services

Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (2000)

by Universal Pictures

This film is about a wealthy San Francisco socialite who pursues a potential boyfriend (Rod Taylor) to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people! I enjoyed Hitchcock's flair for suspense and creepiness in this film, along with Rod Taylor's fabulous performance. - Janet, Fiction, Movies & Music

The Silent Patient (2019)

by Alex Michaelides

This psychological thriller tells the story of a well-known painter named Alicia who murders her husband, then in psychological therapy she remains completely silent. Therapist Theo Faber becomes relentless about finding out her motive and reasoning for the murder. Prepare for the twists, turns, jaw drops and giant question mark over your head as you read this addicting novel. You'll constantly ask yourself the same question over and over again: Why? - Vana, Fiction, Movies & Music

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight (2023)

by Kalynn Bayron

This was such a lovely, horribly tense, stressful time. Charity plays the final girl in her summer job's horror simulation of Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. As the season comes to a close, however, Charity finds herself actually fighting for her life to survive the night. - Abbey, Youth Services

The Black Phone (2022)

by Universal Pictures

Previous victims of a child abductor and murder communicate with his next victim through a disconnected black phone. It's very tense with an interesting premise and solid acting. It's not too gory though there are disturbing events and images. - Beth, Access Services

Near Dark (2009)

by Tangerine Dream

This second film from Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow bends genre conventions and is considered a cult-classic cornerstone of the horror genre. Set in rural Oklahoma, the plot follows a young man who becomes involved with a band of nomadic vampires after a fateful date with the young woman amongst them. Released in 1987, and boasting a star-studded cast borrowed straight off the set of Aliens (Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton and Jenette Goldstein), Bigelow’s vampire-western is creepy and cool, all at the same time. This film will have you “praying for daylight”, because the only thing worse than becoming the gang’s next victim, is becoming one of them! - Monica, Fiction, Movies & Music

Our Crooked Hearts (2022)

by Melissa Albert

Dark witchcraft. Family secrets. Unexplainable happenings? This well-written, creepy young adult novel has everything you could want in a fall spooky read. - Allison, Youth Services

Over My Dead Body (2022)

by Sweeney Boo

Mooncakes meets Wednesday in this spooky season fall read. Abby, a teenage witch attending a magic academy, takes it upon herself to investigate the disappearance of a fellow classmate. Even after being discouraged by multiple people, Abby continues looking for her friend, and along the way, she uncovers secrets some where hoping to take to their graves… - Abbey, Youth Services

What Stays Buried (2023)

by Suzanne Young

Calista Wynn is about to turn thirteen years old and with that comes losing her ability to see and talk with ghosts. This is detrimental to Calista because her father and grandmother have passed on, but she has not had to fully grieve their loss because she is still able to see them as ghosts. As her birthday approaches, children in the town start to go missing, and Calista thinks she knows who is behind it - The Tall Lady. She only has a few short days to solve the mystery of the disappearances and try to make things right, but with her powers dwindling, Calista isn’t sure she will be able to stop The Tall Lady. - Abbey, Youth Services