Day 26 of the 31 Days of Nerd Horror
Welcome to Day 26 of our 31 Days of Nerd Horror! Today, we’re throwing it back to the classic that started it all: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. We’re also diving into The Monster of Elendhaven, a 2019 novella by Jennifer Giesbrecht. For our game of the day, we’re flipping the script with Carrion—a 2020 game by Phobia Game Studio that lets you become the monster in a reverse-horror adventure. Lastly, we have our legend of the day, which is tied to the infamous society of the Brotherhood of the Snake, linking all the way back to ancient times.
THE MONSTER OF ELENDHAVEN BY JENNIFER GIESBRECHT (2019)
Set in the decaying city of Elendhaven, the story follows Johann, a near-immortal sociopath who lives for murder, and Florian, a sorcerer out for vengeance against those who destroyed his family. These two form a malevolent bond, unleashing chaos and violence on a world that’s already on the brink. With its grim atmosphere and morally corrupt characters, The Monster of Elendhaven delivers a chilling tale filled with cruelty and dark magic. What really sets The Monster of Elendhaven apart in the nerd horror universe is its subversion of classic fantasy tropes and its embrace of twisted, gothic romance. Perfect if you love horror that flips the traditional hero/villain dynamic on its head.
PSYCHO (1960)
In Psycho, you’ll follow Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh) who, after stealing a bunch of money ends up at the super creepy Bates Motel, run by the weird but seemingly harmless Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). What starts off as a tense thriller quickly spirals into a psychological horror nightmare packed with shocking twists and groundbreaking filmmaking that changed the game forever.
If you’re a nerd horror fan, Psycho is like the holy grail, marking the birth of the slasher genre and setting the bar for psychological horror. From the iconic shower scene to the eerie vibes of the Bates Motel, this movie is a treasure trove for horror nerds who love dissecting every detail. For those of us who love diving deep into the psyche of horror villains, Psycho is a goldmine. Its influence is everywhere, from classic slasher films to modern psychological thrillers.
Grab your popcorn and get ready to explore the twisted mind of Norman Bates. Psycho is essential viewing for any horror nerd this spooky season.
CARRION
In Carrion, you’re not the hunted; you’re the hunter. You play as a grotesque, amorphous creature breaking free from an underground research facility, devouring and terrorizing the scientists and soldiers who imprisoned you. Nerd horror fans will love Carrion because instead of playing the helpless human, you get to wield the raw, chaotic power of the monster, controlling its writhing, tentacled form as it grows and evolves. its exploration of power dynamics and role reversal is sick. You get to embody the very thing you usually fear in horror games. Carrion is a must-play. It challenges your expectations while immersing you in the terrifying world of your own creation.
Watch YouTube gamer Markiplier play Carrion:
THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE SNAKE (MOHAWK VALLEY, NY)
A mysterious cult that many believe stretches back into ancient times. Some even believe the Brotherhood has ties to ancient alien encounters and lost civilizations and have predated the Native Americans as well as having ties to the mysterious serpent mound located in Ohio. Legends of the cult claim that they are located in upstate New York somewhere in the Mohawk Valley where their symbol has been spray painted onto rocks and bridges. The legend of the Brotherhood of the Snake picked up in the late 70’s into the late 80’s when Art Bell on Coast to Coast AM had a guest on who claimed to be a member of the cult, and stated that they’re looking for ancient technology, specifically, something called Vril, a form of free energy.
Barlowe Cross has done some investigation into the stories and rumors about the Brotherhood of the Snake. You can read the article on his website by clicking here.
Brotherhood of the Snake graffiti in the Mohawk Valley, upstate New York.
