Warning: This article discusses the topics of suicide, death, and extreme violence.
Young Adult horror booksfrom the 1990s are some of the most prominent titles of the genre, but some still need to beadapted for TV. There is a2024 trend of books about horror movies, which proves that there is a bias, and there aren’t very many TV show adaptations of these novels. Sadly, very few ofthe best horror TV shows of all timehave a literary connection.
Many of the greatest horror authors ever are best remembered for their works from the ‘90s. R. L. Stine and Christopher Pike are two incredible writers behind multiple notable book series, likeGoosebumpsandThe Cheerleaders, both of which are memorable reads for ‘90s kids. Horror books are fascinating and petrify even those who aren’t easy to scare, andthere are so many brilliant titles that deserve a TV show.
11Gallows Hill By Lois Duncan (1997)
A Modern Day Look At The Witches Of Salem
Lois Duncan’sGallows Hillmay already have a 1998 TV movie, but it’s yet to be recreated for television.Gallows Hillis the first novel of Duncan’s after the murder of her daughter, and in many ways, the protagonist is inspired by the late Kaitlyn. The book follows the story of 17-year-old Sarah, a girl who pretends to be a fortune-teller, only for her to actually start predicting the future.
When her classmates discover this, their responses are far from kind, and Sarah is branded a witch. There is a lot of potential forGallows Hillas a TV show.Duncan’s novel not only looks at historical events like the Salem witch trials, but it modernizes themand represents them to fit the modern world.
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Following the success of shows likeChilling Adventures of Sabrina,WandaVision, andAgatha All Along, there is absolutely room in the market for an adaptation ofGallows Hill. Duncan’s works are already solid material for TV remakes, and even thoughAmazon’sI Know What You Did Last Summeris cancelednow,Gallows Hillcould still be more successful.
10Twins (Point Horror, #57) By Caroline B. Cooney (1994)
Not Everything Is Identical Between Mary Lee And Madrigal
Twins, a title from thePoint Horrorseries by Caroline B. Cooney, doesn’t exactly use a new concept, but that doesn’t matter. The book tellsa classic tale of good versus evilthrough the point of view of two identical sisters: Mary Lee and Madrigal. While everything about the pair is symmetrical, Mary Lee learns that Madrigal is far from the same as her after they’re separated.Twinsis undoubtedly cheesy at times and a little cliché, but this works in its favor.
While the fear factor needs to be at the forefront of aTwinsadaptation, it can also be a great teen drama, similar to the likes ofWednesdayor Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Movies likeThe Parent Trapare massively popular, and so with a horror twist,Twinscould be the same. A TV show ofTwinshas the chance to be a hit while still staying true to the source material. The idea of identical siblings is creepy enough anyway, as titles likeThe Shiningand Netflix’sEchoesprove.While the fear factor needs to be at the forefront of aTwinsadaptation, it can also be a great teen drama, similar to the likes ofWednesdayor Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
9Superstitious By R. L. Stine (1996)
The Power Of Irrational Fears
Superstitiousis the first adult novel by R. L. Stine, who is best known for creatingtheGoosebumpsbook series.Superstitiousis about a young woman named Sara, who starts to fear that her new husband is behind several recent brutal murders. However, in a strange twist of events, Sara learns that Liam is corrupted by demons that pass through genetics.
Superstitiousis very true to its title, too, andLiam’s paranoia over mythical whispers and his illogical fears can create an incredibly eerie tone in a TV adaptation.The movie rights ofSuperstitiousare already taken, but since Miramax’s purchase in 1995, there is still no release.
Despite this, the book is still worth adapting for the screen, and if anything, it is likely to work far better as a TV show. Following the recent surge in viewers tuning intoKevin Can F**k Himself, which shifts between two very different outlooks on one marriage,Superstitiouscould easily use a similar format to highlight its most unsettling moments. Plus,R. L. Stine’s cameos in his TV shows and moviesare always great.
8Whisper Of Death By Christopher Pike (1991)
The World Is Empty, But Not Safe
Mike Flanagan’s Netflix horrorThe Midnight Clubis a brilliant adaptation of Christopher Pike’s book of the same name, and there are several other titles from the author that deserve the TV treatment as well. While there are somedifferences betweenThe Midnight Club’s book and TV show, it generally replicates Pike’s tone of voice well.Whisper of Deathis one of Pike’s best standalone novels, and the nail-biting fictional universe it is set in proves this.
The book follows teenagers Roxanne and Pepper, who return to their small town after a getaway to find everyone they know gone. The entire world has vanished except for three other teens, and the group quickly realizes that there’s a reason for it. They are all connected to the shocking suicide of a classmate, and so their isolation serves as a form of punishment.
This concept is an amazing basis for a TV show, andWhisper of Deathhas the opportunity to shine a light on societal standards, bullying, and the inner workings of a teen’s mind.The late Betty Sue is wild, too, and her strange writings about those who abused her are extremely powerful.
7After Life By Andrew Neiderman (1993)
There’s Nothing Scarier Than Being Unable To See A Threat
Andrew Neiderman, who is also known as the ghostwriter for the late V.C. Andrews, is a solid horror author. His book,After Life, focuses on Jessie,a blind woman who is insistent that something is wrong in the new village she moves to. Jessie’s story is compelling, and she’s a character worth rooting for.
With every page, her suspicions become more and more logical. Because Jessie has lost one of her main senses, it heightens the others, which builds suspense. On the page,Jessie’s narration makes each chapter even more eeriebecause of how she has to describe what’s happening around her.
While this is hard to replicate on-screen, it’s not impossible.Movies likeA Quiet PlaceandBird Boxalready demonstrate that losing a sense is an incredible basis for a horror story, but the backstory as to how Jessie’s vision is taken can make it even more enthralling.After Lifeis relatively short, but it can easily be agreat miniseries to watch over a weekendif it is adapted for TV.
6The Dollhouse By Bebe Faas Rice (1995)
Chucky Isn’t The Only Doll To Be Suspicious Of
The Dollhouseby Bebe Faas Rice is an interesting take on other horror stories about creepy children’s toys. Rice’s novel is told through the eyes of Susan Martin, who discovers a play set that resembles her own home exactly.The actual dollhouse creates serious danger for Susan and her family, almost like a voodoo doll, and the once fun coincidences become erratically scarier over time. Rice’s book is intriguing enough to warrant a TV adaptation, especially as dollhouses are prominent in the horror genre already.
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The dollhouse inHereditaryserves as a metaphor for the Graham family’s situation, for example. Even TV shows likeThe Haunting of Hill Housecan be comparable because the Red Door controls the fates and safety of the Crains.The Dollhouseisn’t a notable ‘90s horror novel, but it is an underrated one. However,Rice’s other works show that her talents lie in writing petrifying and unnerving content,such as theClass Tripbook series.
5Monster By Christopher Pike (1992)
Nobody Can Be Trusted
Christopher Pike is one of the writers ofthe most popular YA book series from the ‘80s,The Cheerleaders, so it’s no shock that the author has so many great horror titles. 1992’sMonsteris another amazing piece of work from Pike, which delves intothe inner psyche of a teenager who decides to murder two classmates at a party.Mary Carlson is convinced that their humanity has gone, which leads to her best friend Angela investigating her claims.
Christopher Pike is one of the writers of the most popular YA book series from the ‘80s,The Cheerleaders.
Monsteris one of Pike’s trippiest novels.The suspenseful consideration that Mary may be right is disturbing, but as the book progresses, readers consistently go back and forth over whether her sanity is intact or not. There are also plenty of popular TV shows and movies about individuals possessed by demons or supernatural threats, which justifiesMonsterreceiving an adaptation, such asJennifer’s Body,Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and evenThe Exorcist.
4Beach Party By R. L. Stine (1990)
Summer Loving Is Cut Short
One of R. L. Stine’s most prominent novels outside ofGoosebumpsis the 1990 releaseBeach Party. The book follows Karen, whose recent breakup clutches the attention of two young men, Jerry and Vince. However, Karen’s plans for a busy summer fall apart when she is forced to dodge multiple unexpected murder attempts on her.Beach Partyhas a simple premise, but it also creates a deep and compelling mysterythat is a perfect motivator for a TV show.
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The message “Stay away from Jerry” is a crucial reference throughoutBeach Party, and although it is quite melodramatic, it works. Teen drama TV shows likeRiverdalealready demonstrate that cheesy and sometimes nonsensical storylines surrounding a supernatural threat or a serial killer can still be well-received by audiences. However,Beach Partyand its spiritual successor,Beach House, could instead be a brilliant anthology TV show.
3Camp Fear By Carol Ellis (1993)
You Never Know If Your Summer Will Be Your Last
Camp Fearby Carol Ellis is a novel that feels like many ofthe most brutal slasher moviesaround. Ellis’ 1993 booktakes place at the idyllic Camp Silverlake, and while all of its residents are scared of something, the fear of the counselors is far more concerning. New addition Rachel Owens discovers that a child once died at Silverlake, but a series of strange occurrences draw attention back to the boy’s tragic demise.
There are multiplesummer camp moviesand TV shows already, both funny and scary, andCamp Fearis a perfect fit. Ellis’ standalone projects are extremely underrated, which is surprising, considering that the author is also an integral part of other horror novel series such asThe CheerleadersandPoint Horror.Camp Fearis a classic and timeless story, but TV lacks narratives like this,mainly because it is so prominent in cinema.
2The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon By Stephen King (1999)
A Trippy Rescue Mission Story
Stephen King’s novelThe Girl Who Loved Tom Gordonisn’t generally defined as a Young Adult book, but it indirectly is. Trisha’s family hiking trip goes awry when she injures herself while alone, and her sanity starts to slip away. Her rapid thoughts as she awaits rescue are very reflective of a 9-year-old girl: her crush on baseball player Tom Gordon, her parent’s divorce, andThe Little House on the Prairie, for example.
Trisha’s pneumonia-fuelled delusions of beasts, evil wasps, and baseball games are perfect potential scenes for a TV showofThe Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Her journey as she stumbles along, searching for some sort of protection, is engaging and easy to invest in.
However, the fact that it is unclear whether the threats chasing after Trisha are real or not makes the book even scarier. Stephen King’s adaptations are always amazing, and even thoughThe Girl Who Loved Tom Gordonmovieis still anticipated, it may be easier for audiences to wait for a TV adaptation instead.
