31 Days of Nerd Horror: Day 3
It’s Day 3 of our 31 Days of Nerd Horror series, which means we’ve got four more recommendations for you. The new Salem’s Lot recently released on MAX, and if you haven’t seen the original 1979 made-for-TV miniseries yet, we highly recommend it. We also talk about the novel, The Devil Takes You Home, the Resident Evil 4 video game remake, and the legend of the Devil’s Path in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.
SALEM’S LOT (1979)
The original Salem’s Lot miniseries, based on Stephen King's classic novel, is a chilling two-part made-for-TV adaptation that follows the story of Ben Mears, a novelist who returns to his quaint New England hometown to confront his past and find inspiration for his new book. But Mears soon discovers an ancient evil has taken root in the town—an enigmatic vampire named Kurt Barlow has moved into the old Marsten House, and one by one, the residents are being turned into his bloodthirsty minions. As the vampire's influence spreads, Mears teams up with a small group of townspeople to uncover the truth and fight back against the growing undead threat.
THE DEVIL TAKES YOU HOME BY GABINO IGLESIAS (2022)
A Shirley Jackson and Bram Stoker award-winning, The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias defies genres. The story follows Mario, a father desperate to salvage what's left of his family—even if it means a descent into violence. So he reluctantly takes a job as a hitman, surprising himself with his proclivity for such acts. After tragedy destroys the life he knew, Mario agrees to one final job that will take him through the endless landscape of Texas, across the border and back. Hidden motivations are laid bare alongside nightmarish encounters that defy explanation. Only one thing is certain: even if Mario makes it out alive, he won’t return the same.
RESIDENT EVIL 4 (2023)
Released in 2023 by Capcom, Resident Evil 4 is a survival horror game that reimagines the original 2005 classic. In this remake, players take on the role of U.S. agent Leon S. Kennedy as he embarks on a mission to rescue Ashley Graham, the president's daughter, from a sinister cult known as Los Illuminados. The updated version features enhanced graphics, a refreshed storyline, revamped characters, a new voice cast, and modified gameplay mechanics. Fitting into the nerd horror genre, Resident Evil 4 blends intense action with terrifying creatures and puzzle-solving, making it a staple for fans of survival horror with a deep lore and cult following.
THE DEVIL’S PATH (MOHAWK, NY)
The Devil’s Path is a haunted trail near the Mohawk River in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. People have reported hearing strange sounds, seeing ghostly apparitions, or feeling an oppressive presence while hiking the trail. Some claim that the path is cursed or that it was used for dark rituals in the past. Others say the spirits of massacred Native Americans haunt the area in search of justice.
