The Silence of the Lambs, published in 1988, is a novel by Thomas Harris that follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she is assigned to capture the serial killer known as 'Buffalo Bill.' To gain insights into the case, Starling seeks the help of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant forensic psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. The novel explores the complex and manipulative relationship between Starling and Lecter as they navigate the dark and intricate world of serial killers. The story delves into themes of psychological profiling, trauma, and the cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and criminals. The novel is renowned for its detailed characterization and its impact on the thriller genre, and it has been adapted into a highly acclaimed film directed by Jonathan Demme[1][3][4].
Published in 1967, 'Rosemary's Baby' is a classic horror novel by Ira Levin. The story revolves around Rosemary Woodhouse and her husband Guy, who move into the historic and eerie Bramford apartment building in New York City. As Rosemary becomes pregnant, she begins to suspect that her neighbors, the Castevets, and her husband are involved in a Satanic cult that intends to use her baby for sinister purposes. The novel builds tension through Rosemary's growing paranoia and her desperate attempts to uncover the truth, culminating in a chilling revelation about her child's true nature. The book is praised for its masterful blend of psychological suspense and horror, setting the stage for the modern horror genre[2][4][5].
In 'The Shining,' Stephen King tells the story of the Torrance family—Jack, Wendy, and their young son Danny—who move into the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Jack, a recovering alcoholic and aspiring writer, takes the job as the hotel's winter caretaker to overcome his personal demons and reconnect with his family. However, the hotel, with its dark and violent history, exerts a malevolent influence on Jack, exploiting his weaknesses and threatening his family. Danny, who possesses psychic abilities known as 'the shining,' is particularly vulnerable to the hotel's supernatural forces. As the winter isolates them, the family faces terrifying events that culminate in a tragic confrontation with the hotel's evil presence[2][3][5].
The Exorcist, written by William Peter Blatty, tells the story of Regan MacNeil, a 12-year-old girl who becomes possessed by an evil spirit. Her mother, Chris MacNeil, a successful actress, seeks help from two priests: Father Damien Karras, a Jesuit priest and psychiatrist struggling with his faith, and Father Lankester Merrin, an elderly priest with experience in exorcisms. The novel explores themes of faith, redemption, and the battle between good and evil as the priests perform an exorcism to save Regan. The story is intense and graphic, delving into the psychological and supernatural aspects of the possession and the exorcism process. It was inspired by a real-life case of demonic possession in the 1940s and has become a classic in the horror genre[1][3][5].
Published in 1974, 'Jaws' tells the story of a great white shark that preys upon the fictional town of Amity, a small seaside resort on Long Island. The novel follows the efforts of Police Chief Martin Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper, and shark hunter Quint as they try to stop the shark. The book explores themes of public safety versus economic survival, marital strife, and the primal fear of nature's brutality. Despite mixed critical reviews, the novel was a huge commercial success and led to a iconic film adaptation by Steven Spielberg[1][3][5].
Set in Chamberlain, Maine, 'Carrie' by Stephen King tells the story of Carietta 'Carrie' White, a 16-year-old girl who is ridiculed and bullied by her peers and abused by her ultra-religious mother, Margaret. Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers after a humiliating incident in the school locker room where she gets her first period. The story unfolds through multiple narratives, including newspaper reports, court transcripts, and personal memoirs, detailing Carrie's transformation from a shy and isolated girl to a force of vengeance. After being humiliated at the school prom, Carrie unleashes her powers, causing widespread destruction and death in the town. The novel explores themes of ostracism, bullying, and the psychological trauma experienced by its characters[2][3][5].
Published in 1986, 'It' is a horror novel by Stephen King that follows the experiences of seven children in Derry, Maine, as they are terrorized by an evil entity known as 'It'. The story alternates between two periods: 1958, when the children first encounter 'It', and 1985, when they reunite as adults to confront the monster once more. 'It' takes on various forms to exploit the fears of its victims, most commonly appearing as the clown Pennywise. The novel explores themes of childhood trauma, the power of memory, and the enduring impact of evil on the lives of its victims. It is known for its detailed world-building and the vivid depiction of the fictional town of Derry, where the story unfolds[1][3][5].
The novel centers on the life of Dorian Gray, a young man who becomes infatuated with his own beauty and the hedonistic philosophies of Lord Henry Wotton. After wishing that his portrait would age instead of himself, Dorian embarks on a life of sensual excess and moral decay, while his portrait reflects the true state of his soul. The story delves into the duality of human nature, the allure of aestheticism, and the critique of Victorian society, highlighting the devastating effects of evil and debauchery on Dorian's life and those around him.
Need a break from political programming? Well, today we have a special treat: It’s The Free Press’s scary movie Halloween special!
It’s that time of year: changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, animal costumes with sex appeal and, of course, gory, bloody, nightmare-inducing horror movies.
We all remember the first horror movie that we were allowed to watch—or maybe that we weren’t allowed to watch, but saw anyway: Silence of the Lambs, Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, The Blair Witch Project, Jaws, Carrie, Halloween, or The Shining. For today’s host Suzy Weiss, it was 20 minutes of the movie It—the TV miniseries from 1990, not the 2017 remake. Suzy remembers seeing Pennywise the Clown on the screen and thinking, This will take me years to get over. She still sometimes checks the drain!
Year after year, horror movies are consistently profitable—more so than dramas—but they are snubbed when it comes to award shows and critical acclaim. But here at The Free Press, we value and love horror, so much that we’ve gathered our scariest FP writers—Suzy Weiss, River Page, and Kat Rosenfield—to analyze four new horror movies.
River, Kat, and Suzy will review MaXXXine, set in grimy and glamorous 1980s Hollywood, about a night killer who targets a porn star who herself is targeting big-screen stardom. Apartment 7A, a prequel to Rosemary’s Baby, about a woman taken in by an unassuming family. Longlegs, a serial killer story about an FBI agent trying to crack the case. And The Substance, about a woman who takes the latest anti-aging elixir, but at a harrowing cost.
They talk about what they loved, what they hated, and how they think each movie relates to our current social ills. We’ll also note this episode has spoilers, so let this be a warning!
Happy Halloween, folks!
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Honestly with Bari Weiss 
