Day 20 of the 31 Days of Nerd Horror

Day 20 of our 31 Days of Nerd Horror begins with Gary A. Braunbeck’s award winning novella Afterward, There Will Be A Hallway. Then we move onto the 2005 film, The Descent, and the open world survival horror game, Dying Light 2. Finally, we look at Nevada’s legend of the tall whites.

AFTERWARD, THERE WILL BE A HALLWAY BY GARY A. BRAUNBECK (2015)

Afterward, There Will Be a Hallway by Gary A. Braunbeck (2015) is a haunting and introspective novella that blurs the line between horror and deeply personal reflection. First appearing in 2007 in the Five Strokes to Midnight anthology, the story follows a man who, after a traumatic and tragic event, finds himself wandering a mysterious, seemingly endless hallway. Each door in the hallway holds dark memories, eerie visions, and painful truths that force him to confront the weight of guilt, grief, and regret.

Braunbeck's writing is lyrical and deeply evocative, using the hallway as both a literal and metaphorical space where the protagonist must come to terms with his past. The novella’s horror is psychological, rooted in the protagonist's inner torment rather than external threats, making it a powerful meditation on loss, redemption, and the darkness within us all. With its emotional depth and sense of creeping unease, Afterward, There Will Be a Hallway is a striking and thought-provoking work that lingers long after the final page.

THE DESCENT (2005)

The Descent (2005), directed by Neil Marshall, is a claustrophobic and visceral horror film that plunges viewers into a nightmare deep beneath the earth. The story follows a group of adventurous women who embark on a cave expedition in the Appalachian Mountains, only to become trapped and discover that they are not alone. As they struggle to find a way out, they encounter terrifying, primal creatures lurking in the darkness. Marshall expertly builds tension with the cave's oppressive, maze-like environment, heightening the fear of isolation and the unknown.

The film's tight, suffocating spaces and stunning practical effects amplify the horror, while the characters' psychological unraveling adds emotional depth. With its relentless pacing, gruesome visuals, and an unflinching look at both physical and mental survival, The Descent stands out as one of the most intense and terrifying horror films of the 2000s. It delivers a uniquely harrowing experience that leaves audiences on edge long after the credits roll.

DYING LIGHT 2

Dying Light 2 is an ambitious open-world survival horror game developed by Techland, set in a post-apocalyptic city overrun by infected creatures and warring human factions. The game builds on the parkour-based movement and visceral combat of its predecessor, offering an expansive urban environment that players can freely explore. As protagonist Aiden Caldwell, players navigate the decaying city, making critical choices that shape the world and its inhabitants.

With its dynamic day-night cycle, where the infected become more dangerous after dark, Dying Light 2 delivers heart-pounding moments of survival horror mixed with fast-paced, fluid action. The game’s moral dilemmas and branching narrative create a sense of weight and consequence, giving players the freedom to influence the fate of entire factions. Its blend of intense combat, parkour mechanics, and narrative-driven gameplay makes Dying Light 2 a standout in the genre, providing an immersive and evolving experience in a world where every decision matters and danger lurks around every corner.

THE TALL WHITES (NEVADA)

Tall Whites are a supposed race of extraterrestrials said to be much taller than humans, with pale white skin, large black eyes, and elongated limbs. According to some UFO conspiracy theorists, these beings are involved in covert government projects and are stationed at remote military bases like Area 51. Encounters with the Tall Whites are described as deeply unsettling because of their cold, calculating demeanor and their alleged ability to manipulate human minds. There are stories of people who claim they were abducted by these beings and subjected to terrifying experiments. The descriptions of their appearance and behavior are often enough to give anyone chills. Sometimes called “Keepers” these beings are often seen before disasters and great times of struggle and infection.