What Sleeps Beneath is an online magazine that explores the horror genre as one of the most important cultural vehicles of our time. It is a home for all horror-loving nerds, and a space to investigate what the genre tells us about ourselves. We write book and movie reviews, conduct interviews, and write original academic research.
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- Women in Horror
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Documentary vs. Drama: Telling Charles Cullen's Story
In 2003, Charles Cullen was convicted of killing 29 patients across two states and nine hospitals. While it is believed that his actual victim count is much higher (as many as 300), two films released just months apart in 2022 examine his story and those affected by his crimes.
The Entity (1982): Mirrors, Trauma, and Visual Language
The visual language of Sidney Furie's The Entity (1982) hints that the psychiatrists treating Carla Moran may not have been so off target, after all.
What’s a Whodunit Without a Plot Twist? Unpacking the Season Four Finale of ‘You’
In the finale of Season Four of You, viewers realize that Joe hasn’t changed his murderous ways since leaving the United States and that he’s gotten much, much worse—or better when it comes to getting away with his crimes.
Writing the Feature-Length Ghost Story: Six Observations
“The ghost story is a form of horror loved by those who don’t love horror.” Guest author Arran Crawley explores six themes in the making of the traditional British Ghost Story.
Top Ten British Horror Films of All Time
Great Britain has, of course, a strong pedigree when it comes to classic horror films, so it's nearly impossible to narrow down to the ten best, but we gave it a shot.
Our Favorite Bloodiest Films, Ranked
From classic slasher films to modern-day masterpieces, these movies are sure to satisfy your thirst for blood and gore. Here’s our top 10 bloodiest films that will leave you both terrified and entertained.
From Predator to Prey: A Look at You – Part One, Season Four
In the first few episodes of Season 4 of You recently released by Netflix, viewers find Joe Goldberg living a new, peaceful life in Europe. While he’s managed to refrain from his murderous tendencies in the states, it would appear he’s now the one in someone else’s crosshairs.
[Movie Review] Gabriel Bier Gislason's ‘Attachment’ on Shudder
The feature debut from Denmark-based writer and director Gabriel Bier Gislason combines demonic possession and a rom-com style meet-cute in a horror romance steeped in Jewish folklore. Now streaming on Shudder.
7 Horror-Comedy Fusions to Treat Yourself to This Weekend
Horror-comedies are enjoying a rare moment in the spotlight. These genre-fusions can make us laugh and scream—here’s some of our favorite films.
Intertwining True Crime and the Supernatural: A Review of ‘The Black Phone’
The Black Phone is a psychological thriller about a 13-year-old boy who must fight to escape the clutches of a neighborhood serial killer.
Skinamarink Preys on Your Worst Childhood Nightmares
Kyle Edward Ball’s debut horror feature, Skinamarink, is an experimental nightmare that taps into our basest childhood fears of helplessness, loneliness, and the dark.
Bones (and love) and All
The 2022 release of Luca Guadagnino’s movie Bones and All is a genre-bending romantic horror film about living on the run. It is a vampiric, cannibalistic, grotesque, haunting, and gut wrenching account of two young lovers coming of age at the margins of society.
[Movie Review] David Gordon Green's ‘Halloween Ends’ (2022)
In our first guest post movie review, writer Brian Naccarelli shares his take on Halloween Ends, the latest in a decades-long franchise, noting that the film is a refreshing change of pace and that the actions by Michael Myers and other characters were genuinely surprising.
Krampus & the Wassail Witch: A Christmas Love Story
Eamon McNamee’s Krampus and the Wassail Witch is a short, timeless love story woven with holiday folklore that is bound to warm your heart and maybe even bring a tear to your eye.
Top Ten Shudder Original Films
Shudder has become an indispensable source of horror with its highly curated collections and broad selection of original works. Read on for a list of (more than) top ten Shudder original films.
Victorian Ghosts & Bone Chilling Tales: A Winter Horror Reading List
From Christmas traditions, to ghostly classics and horrific tales, something on this list is bound to make your winter season more terrifyingly wonderful. Check out this winter horror reading list!
Interview with ‘Spirit of Fear’ Director Alex Davidson
Director Alex Davidson speaks to Ande Thomas about his upcoming film, Spirit of Fear, the challenges of maintaining tension with a sparse cast, and how fear and faith can sometimes go hand in hand.
Movie Review: Nyla Innuksuk's ‘Slash/Back’ (2022)
Slash/Back–an Indigenous, young-adult supernatural slasher thematically evocative of The Thing (1982)--both interweaves young tenacity against monstrous odds with engaging ideas.
Diving into Dahmer: A Serial Review
Ryan Murphy’s recent adaptation of infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s life and murderous encounters in Netflix’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story seems to focus on the humanization of Dahmer, more so than the unhuman acts he committed to 17 men and boys.
“The Night He Came Home!”: Michael Myers as a Revenant of (and Against) Capitalism
In John Carpenter's Halloween, there is a thematic throughline of Michael Myers as the Boogeyman, and also as revenant.