By Jim Mcleod 
Introduction
As a genre, horror unlocks the deepest chambers of our psyche, inviting us to confront our primal fears and explore the dark corners of the human experience. In this article, we delve into a collection of my favorite aspects of horror—from unforgettable books that haunt our thoughts to films that linger long after the credits roll.
Each selection serves as a testament to the power of storytelling, showcasing how fear can be both captivating and profoundly impactful. Join us as Adam Cosco takes us through the books and films that have impacted his writing career. Whether you’re a lifelong horror aficionado or a newcomer curious about what makes this genre so compelling, there’s something in this reflection that will resonate with you.
The first horror book I remember reading.
Pet Sematary. It might still be the best horror story ever written. For me, the key to truly great horror is tapping into something primal—something deep within us that’s been there since birth. The best stories awaken those instinctual fears, whether it’s Jaws making us feel powerless against nature’s apex predators or The Exorcist ripping away our sense of control over our own bodies. Great horror is like our innate fear of snakes—visceral, automatic, undeniable.
Pet Sematary is a unique case, though. It’s so dark, so unrelentingly grim, that it almost shouldn’t work. And yet, it does, because it strikes at something so deeply human it’s unbearable to confront. The fear that we might somehow be responsible for the death of someone we love—and the desperate, all-consuming desire to undo that tragedy—feels almost too raw, too real. Just thinking about it is enough to twist my stomach in knots. It’s horror at its most devastating, and it’s unforgettable.
The First Horror Film I remember watching.
Jaws. I was, and still am, completely obsessed with it. I’ll even go to bat for Jaws 2—a film I firmly believe is one of the most underrated sequels of all time. What’s left to say about Jaws that hasn’t already been said a million times? Maybe this: it’s shockingly brutal. The sheer amount of blood spilled during the Kitner boy’s death scene still feels extreme, even by today’s standards.
But what really sets Jaws (and The Exorcist) apart isn’t just the accolades or the awards—it’s the visceral reactions they sparked. Puking in theater aisles, people swearing off the ocean for life—those are the kinds of milestones every creator dreams of. Forget a little golden statue. Making something so powerful that it changes how people feel—that’s the ultimate achievement.
The Greatest Horror Book of All Time
Carrion Comfort. This is the one book I’ve read that left me completely floored, wondering how it hasn’t been adapted into a miniseries or a two-part film. I absolutely adore it. It’s inventive, thrilling, and overflowing with bold ideas. Originality like this reminds me why I love storytelling so much. While some people insist that every idea has been done before, I couldn’t disagree more. Carrion Comfort is proof.
What makes this book so extraordinary is how it flips the conventions of horror on their head. Most horror stories draw their fear from powerlessness, but Carrion Comfort terrifies by showing what absolute power looks like. It’s not the monsters hiding in the dark—it’s the monstrous things people would do if they had godlike abilities. The corruption, the cruelty, the sheer loss of humanity—it’s horror on an entirely different level, and it’s unforgettable.
The Greatest Horror Film of all time
I wouldn’t call it the scariest—that title belongs to The Exorcist or Don’t Look Now—but for my money, my favorite horror film is Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. The first time I saw it on VHS, I rewound it and watched it again immediately. I’ve never done that with any other film, before or since. What I love about Dawn of the Dead is how it taps into this almost childlike fantasy of having free rein over a place like a shopping mall. So many apocalyptic stories get bogged down in the misery of the end of the world, but the second act of Dawn of the Dead is just pure, unbridled fun.
What elevates it to greatness, though, is how that sense of ownership—the heroes’ desire to stay in the mall—becomes part of the story itself. Their refusal to give it up, even when a biker gang threatens everything, drives the tension to a breaking point. It’s a film about finding comfort in chaos, building a new home, and then watching that safe haven turn into a trap.
THE GREATEST WRITER OF ALL TIME
I’d have to go with Dan Simmons—though, to be fair, that’s my horror-oriented answer. If I opened it up beyond that, I’d probably be paralyzed by indecision.
Simmons’ work is simply astounding. Song of Kali, Hyperion, and Carrion Comfort are masterpieces in their own right. What I admire most is his boundless imagination and his ability to consistently make me think, “I’ve never seen that before.” Originality is something I hold in the highest regard, and Simmons delivers it in spades, time and time again.
THE BEST BOOK COVER OF ALL TIME
I absolutely love the Penguin Clothbound Classics edition of 1984. The design is so striking—just a field of eyes staring back at you. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and perfectly captures the eerie, all-seeing atmosphere of Orwell’s world.
THE BEST FILM POSTER OF ALL TIME
There’s a stunning Jaws 2 poster by Mondo that hangs in my kitchen. It’s designed like a postcard, featuring a water skier being pulled by a boat. The wake she creates in the water forms the shape of a shark’s fin—it’s such a clever and striking piece of art.
THE BEST BOOK / FILM I HAVE WRITTEN
Since the paint is dry on it, I’ll go with my most recent book, The Dream Killer. I’m excited about this one because it taps into the kind of nightmare logic I’ve always been drawn to. It’s a feeling I’ve never quite been able to capture in a film or book—until this idea came to life.
I love nightmares—how they warp reality, that uncanny feeling of powerlessness, the strange logic. I have nightmares rarely, but when they come, they feel like a gift because it’s like a fully immersive horror film, and I’m the main character.
One nightmare has haunted me since 1992. It recurred every few years, always the same: I discover a body in my house, usually of a young woman. I don’t know how she got there, but I feel the weight of this terrible guilt. The police are closing in, suspicion circling, and I’m trapped in a frantic attempt to not be found out. This repeating nightmare terrified me for decades. It was my personal version of those classic “back at school and didn’t study for the test” dreams or the old “speech in your underwear” nightmare—but darker, heavier, and endlessly disturbing.
Then, a few years ago, I had the nightmare again, but this time, something changed. It didn’t stop – It evolved. The nightmare kept going and revealed where the body came from, how it got there, and my role in the tangled web of tragedy.
That became the foundation for The Dream Killer. About 80% of this story is pulled directly from my nightmare. I’ve carried the burden of this dark vision for long enough, and now it’s time to pass it on to you.
THE WORST BOOK / FILM I HAVE WRITTEN
The first script I ever wrote was called The Wedding Videographer, and, looking back, it was embarrassingly similar to The Wedding Singer. So much so that if it had ever been made, I’d probably open myself up to a lawsuit!
THE MOST UNDERRATED FILM OF ALL TIME
Lindsay Anderson’s O Lucky Man! is an absolute romp—a surreal epic that follows a young coffee salesman through a series of wild adventures. It’s the kind of film you can throw on anytime and get lost in the journey. Endlessly surprising and deeply poignant, it’s packed with unforgettable vignettes, each one amazing in its own right. Beneath the surface, it’s a sharp exploration of what it means to abandon your ideals in order to succeed—a timeless and thought-provoking masterpiece.
THE MOST UNDERRATED BOOK OF ALL TIME
I would go with Flicker by Theodore Roszak. I was convinced it was destined to gain a devoted cult following. Yet, to this day, it remains somewhat obscure. This book feels like it was tailor-made for someone like me—a filmmaker who has spent countless hours unraveling the hidden meanings in cinema. Flicker is a profound exploration of obsession and conspiracy, peeling back the layers to reveal a dark underbelly that is both mesmerizing and unsettling. It’s the best book I’ve ever read at capturing the intoxicating yet terrifying sensation of uncovering a conspiracy so vast that it’s beyond the protagonist’s grasp.
For anyone who loves films like Eyes Wide Shut or books like Foucault’s Pendulum, this book will have you hooked from the first page. A special highlight is a brilliant section set in a film school, where students are taught to embed hidden messages within the fleeting spaces of flickering film strips—creating a shadow narrative that unfolds invisibly beneath the surface story.
It’s haunting, ingenious, and unforgettable. If you’re drawn to the darker corners of storytelling and obsession, Flicker is a must-read.
THE MOST UNDERRATED AUTHOR OF ALL TIME
I’m a big fan of Dennis Cooper, especially his book The Sluts. It’s an incredibly influential and criminally underrated work. Honestly, I love everything he’s written—his unique voice and perspective always leave a lasting impression.
THE BOOK / FILM THAT SCARED ME THE MOST
It’s a tie for me between The Exorcist and Don’t Look Now. What makes Don’t Look Now so incredible is how it sidesteps one of the biggest criticisms of horror films: the classic audience reaction of, “Why would they do that?” It’s become such a cliché—characters wandering into shadowy locales while everyone watching groans in frustration.
But Don’t Look Now solves this brilliantly by centering its story on someone with psychic abilities who remains stubbornly unaware of his gift. Since the audience doesn’t recognize his powers either, we’re drawn into his perspective completely. Instead of questioning his actions, we find ourselves thinking, “That’s exactly what I would do,” even as he moves toward darker and more ominous places.
The film masterfully uses this device to pull you along until the devastating final moments, where everything snaps into focus in one horrifying twist. It taps into a primal fear—that maybe we missed the signs, took the wrong path, and doomed ourselves in the process. In the end, it’s a haunting cautionary tale about being so skeptical of the world’s hidden mysteries that we fail to see the warnings desperately trying to save us.
THE BOOK / FILM I AM WORKING ON NEXT
I’m toying with the idea of writing a horror novel about a heroin addict and a monster. I don’t want to give too much away just yet, but the concept has been bouncing around in my head, and I’m excited to see where it leads.
The Dream Killer by Adam Cosco
Meet Ethan Webman—a man living a quiet, unremarkable life until he discovers the body of a missing girl—her face splashed across headlines nationwide—in his basement. With no alibi and suspicion mounting, he must prove his innocence before it’s too late.
His quest leads him to James LaRoche, a scientist who believed people could kill within their dreams. As Ethan unravels a global conspiracy, every clue ensnares him deeper, unveiling horrors beyond imagination. Welcome to… The Dream Killer.
Adam Cosco
Canadian-born Adam Cosco discovered his passion for storytelling at the renowned American Film Institute, where he sharpened his skills in filmmaking and screenwriting. Today, Adam channels his creative energy into writing novels that explore the darker sides of humanity, specializing in horror, psychological thrillers, and dark comedy.
With a keen focus on themes of recovery, self-hatred, and redemption, Adam’s stories resonate with readers who seek both suspense and substance. His self-published works include the chilling Little Brother, the satirical Say Goodbye to Jonny Hollywood, the haunting Lowlands, and The Heart of a Child, which promises to be his most terrifying tale yet.
Through his writing, Adam crafts narratives that unsettle, provoke, and inspire, cementing his place as a fearless voice in modern dark fiction.
WEBSITE LINKS
My books on Amazon: http://bit.ly/4iLu2UP
My website: https://adamcosco.com/
My Books on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/52935593.Adam_Cosco
Claire Fitzpatrick