31 Days of Nerd Horror: Day 21
Day 21 of our 31 Days of Nerd Horror highlights The Great Pity, a horror novella by Gary Braunbeck, the classic nerd horror film Scream (1996), the video game Slender: The Arrival, and the legend of the dog boy.
PICKMAN’S MODEL BY H.P. LOVECRAFT (1927)
Pickman’s Model by H.P. Lovecraft is a chilling short story that delves into the eerie connection between art and the supernatural. The narrator, Thurber, recounts his disturbing encounters with Richard Upton Pickman, a macabre and gifted painter whose grotesque and unsettling artwork pushes the boundaries of horror. Pickman’s work, while horrifyingly realistic, seems to depict creatures and scenes so monstrous that they challenge the limits of imagination. As Thurber is drawn deeper into Pickman’s world, he uncovers a terrifying truth behind the source of the painter’s nightmarish inspiration.
With its atmospheric tension, vivid descriptions, and slow build of dread, Pickman’s Model exemplifies Lovecraft's skill in weaving cosmic horror with psychological unease. The story explores the idea that some horrors are too real and too dangerous to be confined to art, offering a chilling meditation on the thin line between reality and nightmare.
SCREAM (1996)
Scream (1996), directed by Wes Craven, is a genre-defining slasher film that revitalized horror in the 1990s by blending sharp meta-commentary with traditional slasher tropes. The film follows Sidney Prescott and her friends as they are terrorized by a masked killer known as Ghostface, who taunts his victims with phone calls and horror movie trivia before brutally attacking them.
What sets Scream apart is its self-aware script, written by Kevin Williamson, which deconstructs the conventions of the slasher genre while still delivering suspense and gore. Characters openly reference classic horror films and their "rules," making it a perfect example of nerd horror—a subgenre that appeals to fans with its in-depth knowledge of horror cinema, clever nods to genre clichés, and its appeal to both casual viewers and die-hard horror aficionados. Scream balances humor, horror, and wit, making it a standout film that both celebrates and subverts horror traditions, earning its place as a beloved nerd horror classic.
SLENDER: THE ARRIVAL
Slender: The Arrival is a first-person survival horror game developed by Blue Isle Studios, based on the creepypasta legend of Slender Man. The game places players in the shoes of Lauren, a woman investigating the mysterious disappearance of her friend Kate in a remote, desolate area. As Lauren delves deeper into her search, she encounters the enigmatic and terrifying Slender Man, a tall, faceless figure who stalks and torments her throughout the game. The narrative unfolds through eerie environments like dark forests, abandoned houses, and industrial complexes, where the tension is heightened by the sense of isolation and the constant fear of Slender Man’s sudden appearance. The game’s minimalistic mechanics, where the player is armed only with a flashlight and must collect clues to progress, amplify the feeling of helplessness and dread.
The game excels in creating an oppressive atmosphere, using unsettling ambient sounds and dark, foreboding visuals to immerse players in its world of horror. What makes Slender: The Arrival particularly effective is its ability to build fear through the anticipation of danger rather than overt violence, with the unpredictable nature of Slender Man’s appearances keeping players on edge. The game also explores themes of madness, obsession, and loss through its fragmented narrative, piecing together unsettling stories of those who encountered Slender Man before. While the gameplay can feel repetitive at times, its short length and relentless tension ensure that the terror remains palpable. Slender: The Arrival is a standout in indie horror, delivering an experience that taps into primal fears of the unknown, making it a haunting and memorable entry in the genre.
THE DOG BOY (ARKANSAS)
Gerald Floyd Bettis, also known as The Dog Boy, is the subject of a terrifying legend in Quitman, Arkansas. Bettis was reportedly an abusive, disturbed child who kept stray dogs locked in his family home and tortured them. As he grew older, he allegedly began to abuse his parents as well. After his death, the Bettis home became the site of paranormal activity, with neighbors reporting strange noises, eerie sightings of a dog-like figure, and lights flickering on and off. Some believe that Gerald’s malevolent spirit still haunts the house.
