Ghost Season
October 13, 2023 10:05 AM Subscribe
Hey, it's ghost season! Give me that good, good ghost media!
I like ghost stories and I want you to give them all to me. Books are good, although I probably won't have time to read more than one or two before we transition into turkey season. Television shows and movies are also ok (my tastes run to spooky and atmospheric rather than jump-scary), but I'm most interested in podcasts, especially ones with stories that last more than a single episode.
Important note: Post-Paranormal Activity it feels like every time I'm promised a cool ghost story it turns out to be a lame-ass demon. That's not what I'm here for. I want genuine article "used to be a person and now it's a mournful spirit" stories.
I like ghost stories and I want you to give them all to me. Books are good, although I probably won't have time to read more than one or two before we transition into turkey season. Television shows and movies are also ok (my tastes run to spooky and atmospheric rather than jump-scary), but I'm most interested in podcasts, especially ones with stories that last more than a single episode.
Important note: Post-Paranormal Activity it feels like every time I'm promised a cool ghost story it turns out to be a lame-ass demon. That's not what I'm here for. I want genuine article "used to be a person and now it's a mournful spirit" stories.
I really enjoy the podcast Radio Rental. The concept is that it’s a video store (audio only?) that receives spooky stories. So, there’s a host and 1-2 spooky stories told by the person who experienced that story. Some stories are lame, but that’s how these things are; some are quite spooky.
posted by samthemander at 10:39 AM on October 13, 2023
posted by samthemander at 10:39 AM on October 13, 2023
KQED’s Forum today featured the host and stories from the podcast Spooked, “which features stories about the supernatural – told by the people who experienced them first-hand.” The discussion gave me chills a few times, so the podcast sounds like it’s worth checking out.
posted by KatlaDragon at 10:42 AM on October 13, 2023
posted by KatlaDragon at 10:42 AM on October 13, 2023
I dunno if you like retro-seventies psych / occult rock, but if you do, Purson's Spiderwood Farm is my favorite ghost story at the moment.
that groove is so damn sturdy, you could build a satanic temple of obsidian atop it.
posted by Sauce Trough at 10:57 AM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
that groove is so damn sturdy, you could build a satanic temple of obsidian atop it.
posted by Sauce Trough at 10:57 AM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
I saw El Orphanato back when Netflix was discs-only and there are scenes that still stick with me. Very atmospheric and so well done imo.
posted by smirkette at 11:44 AM on October 13, 2023
posted by smirkette at 11:44 AM on October 13, 2023
Jezebel's reader-submitted ghost stories are an annual tradition. They range from fun to deeply unsettling.
Obligatory recommendation for Ghostwatch.
posted by caek at 12:25 PM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Obligatory recommendation for Ghostwatch.
posted by caek at 12:25 PM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Not really Halloween-ey, but I always put on the X-Files episode How the Ghosts Stole Christmas around the holidays (just like Die Hard).
posted by porpoise at 1:13 PM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by porpoise at 1:13 PM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
This may be a slightly off-the-wall suggestion, but when I think of ghost stories I think of xxxHolic, the Japanese manga series by CLAMP. There is both an anime and a live action tv series, although I don't think either quite succeeds in capturing the layered and atmospheric nature of the storytelling in the comic books. You may be able to find them at your local library.
posted by panther of the pyrenees at 1:22 PM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by panther of the pyrenees at 1:22 PM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Hausu is perhaps not for everyone, but it is great and has some really weird cool ghost stuff. And, on the upside, you will know within 30 seconds of the movie starting whether it's for you or not.
For more traditional ghosts, Michelle Paver's Dark Matter is really fantastic.
posted by darchildre at 3:09 PM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
For more traditional ghosts, Michelle Paver's Dark Matter is really fantastic.
posted by darchildre at 3:09 PM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
I came to talk about The Woman in Black, both the novel, which is a fast read, and the radio drama, but I've been distracted by the mention of xxxHolic.
xxxHolic is probably both my favourite and least favourite manga ever--it is gorgeous and atmospheric and has some genuinely creepy moments. If you want stories with sad dead people, you might want to check out volumes 1-6 and stop there, otherwise keep going until volume 15 and stop. It doesn't get better after that. There's a ghost story party in volume 2, if you want stories within a story.
posted by betweenthebars at 3:31 PM on October 13, 2023
xxxHolic is probably both my favourite and least favourite manga ever--it is gorgeous and atmospheric and has some genuinely creepy moments. If you want stories with sad dead people, you might want to check out volumes 1-6 and stop there, otherwise keep going until volume 15 and stop. It doesn't get better after that. There's a ghost story party in volume 2, if you want stories within a story.
posted by betweenthebars at 3:31 PM on October 13, 2023
I Am A Ghost is really, really good for a super-low-budget movie.
I almost feel like Guillermo del Toro automatically recommends himself, but The Devil's Backbone is one of my favorite ghost movies, and probably one of my favorite movies.
Haunter was a good surprise for me; I expected an okay midrange ghost movie, and I got something fun that also stuck with me.
I am forgetting a dozen or more other good ghost things.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 6:04 PM on October 13, 2023
I almost feel like Guillermo del Toro automatically recommends himself, but The Devil's Backbone is one of my favorite ghost movies, and probably one of my favorite movies.
Haunter was a good surprise for me; I expected an okay midrange ghost movie, and I got something fun that also stuck with me.
I am forgetting a dozen or more other good ghost things.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 6:04 PM on October 13, 2023
Spooked as mentioned above is fantastic.
The host of Real Life Ghost Stories has a beautiful Irish voice and reads historical/researched stories on the main episodes and personal stories submitted by listeners on the mini episodes.
I've only listened to a few episodes of the BBC podcast Uncanny but it's promising. Some episodes are one-off stories but some stories have multiple follow-up episodes. The same host apparently also did a multi-episode series about the Battersea Poltergeist but I haven't heard it.
On the more comedic side, Ghosted by Roz Hernandez features interviews with actors, comics, and paranormal personalities. Segments include "EVPs or EVPlease?" where guests try to interpret supposed ghost recordings, and "The Dolls are Living!", discussing purportedly haunted dolls for sale on Ebay.
posted by doift at 9:44 PM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
The host of Real Life Ghost Stories has a beautiful Irish voice and reads historical/researched stories on the main episodes and personal stories submitted by listeners on the mini episodes.
I've only listened to a few episodes of the BBC podcast Uncanny but it's promising. Some episodes are one-off stories but some stories have multiple follow-up episodes. The same host apparently also did a multi-episode series about the Battersea Poltergeist but I haven't heard it.
On the more comedic side, Ghosted by Roz Hernandez features interviews with actors, comics, and paranormal personalities. Segments include "EVPs or EVPlease?" where guests try to interpret supposed ghost recordings, and "The Dolls are Living!", discussing purportedly haunted dolls for sale on Ebay.
posted by doift at 9:44 PM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Two Girls, One Ghost is a podcast that discusses various ghost stories, hosted by a pair of friends.
The Ghost Story Guys will pick a theme and spend a couple of hours discussing that.
You’ll have to poke through Astonishing Legends’ episodes to find the ghost stories, but if you like long podcasts, lots of background, and meticulous research, they’re your guys.
Jim Harold’s Campfire is paranormal stories submitted by listeners, with plenty of ghost stories.
Real Ghost Stories Online is more listener-submitted stories.
posted by corey flood at 10:02 PM on October 13, 2023
The Ghost Story Guys will pick a theme and spend a couple of hours discussing that.
You’ll have to poke through Astonishing Legends’ episodes to find the ghost stories, but if you like long podcasts, lots of background, and meticulous research, they’re your guys.
Jim Harold’s Campfire is paranormal stories submitted by listeners, with plenty of ghost stories.
Real Ghost Stories Online is more listener-submitted stories.
posted by corey flood at 10:02 PM on October 13, 2023
FWIW, StoryBundle.com has a couple Halloween / Weird Tales Bundles going on, and as expected for a bundle site (albeit, run by writers) some portion of proceeds go to charity. So I would recommend a look there if you can take ebooks and such.
posted by kschang at 11:18 PM on October 13, 2023
posted by kschang at 11:18 PM on October 13, 2023
The movie Lake Mungo is a little gem that gets spookier and more haunting every time I watch it, despite being released in the "CGI big eyes demon mouth" era and inhabiting that dubious genre, found footage/mock doc horror. I'll admit I have a weakness for the format but this is a genuinely well-crafted one that I'd still recommend to non-fans.
posted by hilatron at 4:58 AM on October 14, 2023
posted by hilatron at 4:58 AM on October 14, 2023
Last spooky season my friends and I watched The Changeling (1980). It is really good and much more unsettling than I expected. It also has the best seance scene.
posted by zoetrope at 8:44 AM on October 16, 2023
posted by zoetrope at 8:44 AM on October 16, 2023
I don't know if you'll be able to lay your hands on them, but the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas series of short television films, most of which are adaptations of classic ghost stories by M.R. James (as recommended above), would be right up your street.
If you wanted to read a short ghost novel, I'll second Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. Alternatively, Thin Air by the same author. Both definitely ghost stories of the "used to be a person, now..." variety, and both very atmospheric and frightening.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 8:54 AM on October 16, 2023
If you wanted to read a short ghost novel, I'll second Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. Alternatively, Thin Air by the same author. Both definitely ghost stories of the "used to be a person, now..." variety, and both very atmospheric and frightening.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 8:54 AM on October 16, 2023
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You can read the OG The Haunting of Hill House pretty quickly. Any M.R. James or Algernon Blackwood stories (you could do a story a day or similar). Those two latter authors are the GOAT when it comes to spooky and atmospheric.
A good ghost movie in that vein is The Others with Nicole Kidman.
I too love spooky and atmospheric over most modern styles of horror, so I figured I'd pass on some of my faves for classic spooks.
posted by Kitteh at 10:24 AM on October 13, 2023 [5 favorites]