Day 15 of the 31 Days of Nerd Horror
Day 15 of the 31 Days of Nerd Horror kicks off with the novel, In That Endlessness, Our End by Gemma Files. Then we look at A Nightmare on Elm Street, Wes Craven’s seminal nerd horror masterpiece. Next we’ll talk about the cooperative psychological horror game Phasmophobia, and we wrap up Day 15 with a look at the Camarillo State Mental Hospital, said to be the most haunted mental asylum in California.
IN THAT ENDLESSNESS, OUR END BY GEMMA FILES (2020)
In That Endlessness, Our End by Gemma Files (2020) is a dark, unsettling collection of horror stories that delves deep into the surreal and the terrifying. Known for her unique voice and ability to blend cosmic horror with deeply personal themes, Files crafts a series of tales that explore the fragile boundaries between reality and the unknown. Each story pushes the limits of psychological and supernatural horror, confronting fears of isolation, madness, and the loss of identity. Files' prose is both lyrical and visceral, pulling readers into strange, distorted worlds where the horrors feel intimate yet incomprehensible. From disturbing body horror to existential dread, the collection masterfully builds a sense of creeping unease, while also probing questions of what it means to face our fears, both external and internal. In That Endlessness, Our End is a haunting and thought-provoking work that lingers long after the final page, solidifying Files as a distinctive and powerful voice in contemporary horror.
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), directed by Wes Craven, is a landmark in the horror genre, introducing the world to one of cinema’s most iconic villains—Freddy Krueger. The film follows a group of teenagers who are stalked in their dreams by the sadistic Freddy, a disfigured killer with a razor-clawed glove. As the boundary between dreams and reality blurs, the teenagers realize that if they die in their dreams, they die in real life. With its innovative premise, nightmarish imagery, and eerie atmosphere,
A Nightmare on Elm Street delivers a chilling exploration of fear and the vulnerability of sleep. Craven’s use of surreal dream sequences and inventive kills creates a sense of inescapable terror, while Robert Englund's portrayal of Freddy combines menace with dark humor. The film is not just a slasher but also a psychological horror that taps into the primal fear of being hunted when most defenseless. A Nightmare on Elm Street remains a genre-defining classic that redefined horror for a generation.
PHASMOPHOBIA
Phasmophobia is a cooperative psychological horror game developed by Kinetic Games that immerses players in the eerie role of ghost hunters tasked with investigating haunted locations. Using a variety of ghost-hunting tools—like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and UV lights—players must work together to gather evidence and identify the type of ghost haunting the area. The game's chilling atmosphere is heightened by its realistic sound design, dynamic environments, and unpredictable ghost behaviors, which create an intense sense of dread as players creep through dark, creaking houses.
With its focus on teamwork and communication, Phasmophobia offers a unique blend of tension and strategy, where one wrong move can lead to a terrifying ghost encounter. The game’s use of voice recognition adds another layer of immersion, as speaking in-game can attract the ghost’s attention. Praised for its cooperative gameplay and ability to deliver spine-chilling moments, Phasmophobia has become a standout in the horror genre, offering an ever-evolving, deeply atmospheric experience that keeps players on edge.
CALIFORNIA’S MOST HAUNTED MENTAL ASYLUM
From ghostly apparitions to spine-tingling whispers, the abandoned Camarillo State Mental Hospital holds secrets that have terrified locals and paranormal enthusiasts for decades. Rikki Rokket’s Legend Tripping explored the asylum’s dark corridors, uncovering the tragic stories of former patients, and investigating the paranormal phenomena that have earned Camarillo its eerie reputation.
