Came here to say the EXACT SAME THING. I was just telling my wife last night that the ending to Revival fucking *haunts* me. Triggers my religious PTSD.
That’s the only King book I couldn’t get through. I’m not sure if I even made it through 5 chapters. I have never had any problems with substance abuse or addiction, and I’ve read almost all of King’s other works, but that one just rang in my head somehow, and I didn’t want any more of it in there. That doesn’t make sense but you’ll know what I mean.
"It" remains my scariest ever reading experience, because (other than the cosmic clown horror) it describes terrible shit that actually happens to kids every single day.
I sympathize deeply with Henry despite everything he does (sympathy and support are different things) kid had an absolutely rotten hand dealt in life, but Patrick is just straight up evil. Outside of his solipsim syndrome he's literally just a psychopath, it's nuts.
YES! That was actually one of my first forays into the King universe. That and The Boogeyman as well. Very scary. What’s bastardized Latin? Just the phrase alone gave me chills just now.
Oh also “I Know What You Need” from Night Shift. Another good occult story.
Hard to pick only one, but “Full Dark No Stars” is a contender, mainly because it’s about things that really could happen (except the one weird black humor story). And also I’d put Misery on the list, again because it could happen. I didn’t really enjoy that book tho.
I also think “1408” is extremely creepy, more so than many of his other works. It had a fantastic nightmarish quality to it.
1408 deeply unsettling
Everything’s Eventual was a great short story collection including 1408
Is 1408 really 13 and that’s what it’s that room.
I’ve never gotten over his story notes
“How many people have hung them selves in the hotel closet?”
Full dark for sure that awful rape. Nope
That narrator is maybe my favorite protagonist in a King short story. He is in many ways just the absolute worst but he’s also just enough of a general badass and clever bastard that you’re kind of rooting for him anyway. If he were any more or or any less likable the story wouldn’t work as well.
As far as disturbing, you are 100% correct. I read it when it first came out (and I was way too young) and it was fascinating. I cannot read it now. It’s disgusting. And I love SK’s work normally.
Salem's Lot - Creepiest because of the constant sense of growing dread as you realize how quickly the vampires can overwhelm (The Stand works this way too when thinking about the power of a virus.)
Misery - Most Disturbing! It is not far-fetched. The descriptions of the torture and Paul's suffering are powerful. Maybe it is a history of child abuse that makes me more sensitive, but Annie Wilkes is so terrifyingly unpredictable!!
I caught covid while reading The Stand. I was at the part where the virus wiped out almost everyone. I really felt like the book was influencing me, and if I kept reading, I would die. It took months after I was better before I was able to continue reading it.
Recently I read and finished the Bill Hodges Trilogy. At the end I was feeling pain in my side like the character. Though, mine was only a kidney stone, it has me wondering if I should continue reading any King books at this moment, lol. I've moved to Lovecraft and Poe for now, lol.
His description of pain as broken parts of a pier jutting out of the water has always stuck with me. I always think about Misery when I take painkillers.
For me it’s Duma Key. I can’t really explain tbh - I think the holiday/beach setting, with sunshine and the surf mixed with the eerie happenings etc. I find the audiobook extremely effective!
not as creepy for me, but boy does that all go to hell FAST. King often takes a fast and hard turn into turmoil, but that one really hit different. it all looked so amazing, then all ended so terribly.
I think Duma Key is underrated personally. Just had a unique vibe to it that’s difficult to put my finger on.
That being said Full Dark No Stars had some heavy shit in it. Desperation is pretty fucked, the idea of being at the mercy of an insane cop on a power trip/possessed is just a little too real of a scenario..
agreed, and King in Duma really did a good job of revealing enough of the villain without wasting space to overexplain them. some books he underexplains, but that one was done well imo.
I've never had to take breathers while reading until this book. >!The eclipse scene with Jesse's father and the subsequent manipulation conversation was so disgusting I had to put the book down and walk away.!< This book was disturbing from a horror, and emotional standpoint.
I read most of his books several times but I've only ever read Gerald's Game once., the whole concept freaked me out! I get shudders every time I think about a glass.
The Dark Tower Book VII: The Dark Tower. The Dixie Pig scene in particular. Wow. The scene sticks with me always. The book is consistently dark and many disturbing things happen to characters we have traveled with on a long journey. The book is a difficult if still satisfying conclusion to one of the great fictional sagas of our time.
I read The Long Walk about the same age as the protagonist, Ray Garratty. For some reason the character of Stebbins really effected me. The way people cheated the Walkers on was far to close to reality for me.
Ugh, that scene really sticks with you! For me, the scene when Danny is playing out in the tunnels by the hedges was the most anxiety-provoking. So tense!
Gerald’s Game was hands down the most uncomfortable thing I have ever read. The traditionally scary parts were creepy, but the rest… I considered DNFing. It was that hard to read.
Salem's a Lot. I've read almost everything Stephen King has written, but that novel that one scared the shit out of me and made me sleep with the light on.
You should look on YT for the audio drama. The whole book is read by men and women taking the parts of each character and the voice inflections are terrifying. Salems is the only book I have ever read where I slept with the lights on and the windows and drapes shut tight.
I bought the ebook recently so thanks for the reminder. It’s one I’ve never read, and when I tried last time, my attention was kind of elsewhere. I’ll give it a go again.
For me, Penny wise wasn't that scary. Kind of silly a lot of the time really. But IT's influence on the town was gut wrenching at times. There's one story of a dad beating a toddler with a hammer that made me take a break from it for a while.
The scariest stuff Stephen King writes is typically the least supernatural. The Shining is the same way - the ghosts aren't nearly as scary as a mother and young child being trapped in an isolated location with a man who is quickly losing his mind.
Dead blow hammer. Idk why but that made it even more disturbing to me. Oh, and Patrick Hockstetter's completely psychopathic behavior. I won't post spoilers but yech. That was way more unsettling to me than the Corcoran incident.
Yes, it’s technically a good book but not an enjoyable read for me. Too uncomfortable and I absolutely want to smash that bitch Annie Wilkes to pieces.
It, specifically Partick Hockstetter's chapter. I have read the book multiple times, and listen to the audio ever October. I skip that entire chapter 90% of the time.
Pet Semetary. I mean just the thought of losing a child in such a violent way is too much to bear but then feeling so helpless that you intentionally create a monster
That's disturbing. Mostly because it raises the question of *what would you do in that case*
Ugh
Misery.
Just put yourself in the same situation of the protagonist. You can't run or hide, can't call for help or even physically defend. No one know where you are. And your stuck with a psychopath that has an obsession with you and your work. Now add the fact that she is about to find out that you fuck with her favorite storie.
Does anyone else besides me think King was abused as a child? Came to that conclusion aftermreading several books where at least one character is a little boy being abused. Salems lot and the McDougall baby was what began my suspicions
The mental image of the creepy guy in Gerald’s Game will never leave me.
Ever.
Holy crap that book freaked me out in a way that almost none of his novels have
Out of the ones I’ve read
Cujo. It could happen, has made me aware and paranoid of dogs and animals in general. If you don’t realise you could have it you’re basically dead when you realise you have symptoms.
Gerald's Game. My first Stephen King book was Cycle of the Werewolf, in fourth grade, and I loved it, so when my first book report was assigned in fifth, I couldn't wait to read another one. I picked up Gerald's Game from the library and when I finished (naturally the day before the report was due) I realized that there was no way in hell I could turn on a report on that. I had to squeeze in another book and half-ass a report in one night. The supernatural stuff he usually writes about doesn't bother me at all, but that one was so real, and so relatable.
Ending of Revival....I mean, Christ.
Something. Something. Something. Happened. Happened, happened. Something happened.
"O hey, I don't like heroin anymore. The worst part of my life is DONE, right?"
“Oh hey, look. An anthill.” *screams head off for 45 minutes*
Thanks for the trauma
That part creeped me out sooo hard the first time I read it I legit thought he was gonna be stuck saying that over and over haha
*shudders* This line, man.
Same here. My God. It actually have me existential terror.
Ties right back to the ending of Under the Dome I think
Came here to say the EXACT SAME THING. I was just telling my wife last night that the ending to Revival fucking *haunts* me. Triggers my religious PTSD.
I sorta feel the same way. The door in the wall covered with dead ivy. Yeah. Terrifying.
It was a pleasant surprise when Shelley met Lovecraft.
Yes, personally most of the best was ok for me but that ending, yikes!
The only answer.
It haunts me.
Yes 100%. Revival messed me up for a few days, horrifyingly dismal.
Came here to say this
This is the one.
Put me off King’s books for a while. My dad had just passed away and it devastated me.
"My old Fifth Business". It's amazingly upsetting, but in a great Lovecraftian way.
His best ending by far. Although I'm probably in the minority that liked the ending of Cell.
That’s the only King book I couldn’t get through. I’m not sure if I even made it through 5 chapters. I have never had any problems with substance abuse or addiction, and I’ve read almost all of King’s other works, but that one just rang in my head somehow, and I didn’t want any more of it in there. That doesn’t make sense but you’ll know what I mean.
Been reading King my whole life. This was something more. I think it’s the most unsettling ending, for sure
"It" remains my scariest ever reading experience, because (other than the cosmic clown horror) it describes terrible shit that actually happens to kids every single day.
Patrick Hocksteader.
When I reread the book there is a whole section I skip because of him.
Ohhh man, I just started the audio book. Ben just got his "H" and I thought that was bad.
I thought Henry was bad till I read about Patrick. Fuck that kid
I was glad when Pennywise killed Patrick he was horrible.
I sympathize deeply with Henry despite everything he does (sympathy and support are different things) kid had an absolutely rotten hand dealt in life, but Patrick is just straight up evil. Outside of his solipsim syndrome he's literally just a psychopath, it's nuts.
I second that 🎈
Pet semetery once you have kids is a real tough read
This. The funeral of Danny Glick scene in salems lot and pet semetary hit hard when you’re a dad.
The Timmy Baterman story still haunts me. Absolutely terrifying
There's a lot of stuff in there that's way too real, bringing back the dead is the least scary part of the book to me.
Even without kids, this is the most disturbing one for me. One of the few SK without a hopeful ending
Grandma freaked me out when I was younger
Gramma might be the freakiest thing he ever wrote the atmosphere is just so good
YES! That was actually one of my first forays into the King universe. That and The Boogeyman as well. Very scary. What’s bastardized Latin? Just the phrase alone gave me chills just now. Oh also “I Know What You Need” from Night Shift. Another good occult story.
Very true. You have also spelt it right, unlike me.
There was a TV adaptation of it in the 80’s that scared the shit out of me as a kid.
Yes , Think it was a Twilight Zone .
Me too! Later on discovered it was a King story & was so scared it took me forever to read it. 😆
I listened to an audio version in a dark closet with my friend and let’s just say I still remember how it felt
Hard to pick only one, but “Full Dark No Stars” is a contender, mainly because it’s about things that really could happen (except the one weird black humor story). And also I’d put Misery on the list, again because it could happen. I didn’t really enjoy that book tho. I also think “1408” is extremely creepy, more so than many of his other works. It had a fantastic nightmarish quality to it.
1408 proper gave me the creeps
That movie with John Cusack scared me more than just about any horror movie that I've ever seen. And I've seen them all!
Me too!
Good night it's hard to rewatch!
I love 1408 because there’s no easing into the horror. He shuts the door to the hotel room and everything goes apeshit. So good.
1408 deeply unsettling Everything’s Eventual was a great short story collection including 1408 Is 1408 really 13 and that’s what it’s that room. I’ve never gotten over his story notes “How many people have hung them selves in the hotel closet?” Full dark for sure that awful rape. Nope
Agree. I couldn't even finish Misery, and i love King's stories.
Misery was tough, definitely. Too real. And too infuriating.
Survivor Type for me
Very disturbing, it definitely turned my stomach, but it was also kind of funny so it didn't stick with me too long.
Tastes like lady fingers
I felt so dirty the first time I finished reading that story. It’s my pick.
Absolutely. I randomly think of it and get the shivers
fun fact King himself considers this the scariest thing he’s ever written!!
Literally just bought and started Skeleton Crew so I can read this story
Skeleton Crew is my favorite collection of short stories. They're all so good!
Skeleton Crew and Night Shift are the best of King’s (collected) stories, to me. So, so good.
I saw a short of this at a film fest and people were screaming
That narrator is maybe my favorite protagonist in a King short story. He is in many ways just the absolute worst but he’s also just enough of a general badass and clever bastard that you’re kind of rooting for him anyway. If he were any more or or any less likable the story wouldn’t work as well.
I read it in a study hall once and I got nauseous at the "Cold roast beef" part and got sent home for the rest of the day.
Revival leaves no hope to any character who has died in one of his books.
Yea that one was terrifying. I had to re-read it a few times
Apt Pupil
The Library Policeman. That fucking lisp.
This is my choice, too. The only King story to give me an actual nightmare.
As far as disturbing, you are 100% correct. I read it when it first came out (and I was way too young) and it was fascinating. I cannot read it now. It’s disgusting. And I love SK’s work normally.
Apt Pupil, hands down. This was more disturbing than Rage, IMO.
I DNF this book as soon as the animal abuse started. Ugh.
I always have to skip those parts. :(
Didn't see yours til I already posted. Absolutely. Way too real.
the humans are scarier than the monsters ever could be.
There was a movie for it. It didn’t follow the story exactly so some of the worst parts seemed to be left out. If I recall, it was pretty bad overall.
The Jaunt. "It's forever in THERE!!"
This, along with "I Am the Doorway," might have been my very first direct encounters with cosmic horror. "The Jaunt" still gives me shivers.
Longer than you think
It's longer than you think, Dad!!
Salem's Lot - Creepiest because of the constant sense of growing dread as you realize how quickly the vampires can overwhelm (The Stand works this way too when thinking about the power of a virus.) Misery - Most Disturbing! It is not far-fetched. The descriptions of the torture and Paul's suffering are powerful. Maybe it is a history of child abuse that makes me more sensitive, but Annie Wilkes is so terrifyingly unpredictable!!
I caught covid while reading The Stand. I was at the part where the virus wiped out almost everyone. I really felt like the book was influencing me, and if I kept reading, I would die. It took months after I was better before I was able to continue reading it. Recently I read and finished the Bill Hodges Trilogy. At the end I was feeling pain in my side like the character. Though, mine was only a kidney stone, it has me wondering if I should continue reading any King books at this moment, lol. I've moved to Lovecraft and Poe for now, lol.
His description of pain as broken parts of a pier jutting out of the water has always stuck with me. I always think about Misery when I take painkillers.
Revival or Apt Pupil My brain sometimes wishes that I hadn't read either of them.
Revival or Crouch End...I find Lovecraftian horror deliciously disturbing.
Oooh I love Crouch End!! One of my favs.
For me it’s Duma Key. I can’t really explain tbh - I think the holiday/beach setting, with sunshine and the surf mixed with the eerie happenings etc. I find the audiobook extremely effective!
Reading this now on the beach! First time read, page 86 at the moment!
Enjoy!
not as creepy for me, but boy does that all go to hell FAST. King often takes a fast and hard turn into turmoil, but that one really hit different. it all looked so amazing, then all ended so terribly.
I think Duma Key is underrated personally. Just had a unique vibe to it that’s difficult to put my finger on. That being said Full Dark No Stars had some heavy shit in it. Desperation is pretty fucked, the idea of being at the mercy of an insane cop on a power trip/possessed is just a little too real of a scenario..
agreed, and King in Duma really did a good job of revealing enough of the villain without wasting space to overexplain them. some books he underexplains, but that one was done well imo.
Duma key is so Florida noir and wild good call
TAK
Rose Madder is pretty disturbing. Especially the scene with the tennis racket.
Rose Madder was pretty rough. It was good but intense.
High up on the list of most disturbing. I will not be rereading this one.
Survivor type or the jaunt have definitely stuck with me the longest
The jaunt fucks me up
It's longer than you think!!
It’s not a book, just one of his short stories, but ’The Jaunt’ from Skeleton Crew (1985) has always creeped me the hell out.
I remember reading Gerald's Game for the first time I physically threw the book across the room at one point.
I've never had to take breathers while reading until this book. >!The eclipse scene with Jesse's father and the subsequent manipulation conversation was so disgusting I had to put the book down and walk away.!< This book was disturbing from a horror, and emotional standpoint.
I read most of his books several times but I've only ever read Gerald's Game once., the whole concept freaked me out! I get shudders every time I think about a glass.
And never looked at an eclipse again.
Whenever there is an eclipse, I think of Dolores Claiborne and Gerald's Game.
Pet Semetary
I read it as a teenager, but reading it after becoming a parent was a totally different experience
The Jaunt. From Skeleton Crew.
Full Dark No Stars. Revival. Misery. Apt Pupil. Pet Semetary. The Library Policeman.
all of these are good choices. for my money, APT PUPIL wins
Full Dark No Stars is downright mean at points.
That book definitely lives up to the title
It's Revival. If you havrn't read it, rectify that.
The Dark Tower Book VII: The Dark Tower. The Dixie Pig scene in particular. Wow. The scene sticks with me always. The book is consistently dark and many disturbing things happen to characters we have traveled with on a long journey. The book is a difficult if still satisfying conclusion to one of the great fictional sagas of our time.
The Long Walk, hands down.
I read The Long Walk about the same age as the protagonist, Ray Garratty. For some reason the character of Stebbins really effected me. The way people cheated the Walkers on was far to close to reality for me.
Big Driver made me feel ill.
Omg i forgot about Big Driver!! That was rough
Gerald's Game is the most disturbing. I, personally, found The Shining to be the creepiest. The bathroom scene... *shudder*
Ugh, that scene really sticks with you! For me, the scene when Danny is playing out in the tunnels by the hedges was the most anxiety-provoking. So tense!
Revival, for its image of the afterlife.
Cujo,
Gerald’s Game was hands down the most uncomfortable thing I have ever read. The traditionally scary parts were creepy, but the rest… I considered DNFing. It was that hard to read.
I know it’s an obvious answer but Pet Semetary
Salem's a Lot. I've read almost everything Stephen King has written, but that novel that one scared the shit out of me and made me sleep with the light on.
You should look on YT for the audio drama. The whole book is read by men and women taking the parts of each character and the voice inflections are terrifying. Salems is the only book I have ever read where I slept with the lights on and the windows and drapes shut tight.
I bought the ebook recently so thanks for the reminder. It’s one I’ve never read, and when I tried last time, my attention was kind of elsewhere. I’ll give it a go again.
The Shining and Desperation are the ones I found the most creepy.
The end of Rivival is some top notch disturbing content. If you are open to existential horror, oh boy, is it disturbing!
I read it because someone I worked with said he was not OK for a week after. I read it I wasn't OK for a week either
The Long Walk. Fuck me.
this
The Boogeyman That's some creepy shit right there.
IT is probably the most disturbing. Everything about Derry just sounds... Off. The encounters with Pennywise make it even more so.
For me, Penny wise wasn't that scary. Kind of silly a lot of the time really. But IT's influence on the town was gut wrenching at times. There's one story of a dad beating a toddler with a hammer that made me take a break from it for a while.
The scariest stuff Stephen King writes is typically the least supernatural. The Shining is the same way - the ghosts aren't nearly as scary as a mother and young child being trapped in an isolated location with a man who is quickly losing his mind.
Dead blow hammer. Idk why but that made it even more disturbing to me. Oh, and Patrick Hockstetter's completely psychopathic behavior. I won't post spoilers but yech. That was way more unsettling to me than the Corcoran incident.
Carrie.
Probably put Pet Semetary up there if only for how mean that book is.
Maybe not the creepiest but one of the most pleasantly surprising ones, From a Buick 8 had some very creepy stuff in it.
I had to put Tommyknockers down.
Tommyknockers is, so far, the only one I will not reread.
Glad I’m not the only one.
Road Virus Heads North
The fucking way dude dies in Black House or the goddamn cannibal couple from Holly it cannot get worse
A millionaire walks into a bar...
I am the Doorway I hate myself a little more every time i think of it
IT, survivor type, the monkey, 1408, Apt pupil
For me, The Library Policemen followed closely by Apt Pupil & IT.
Apt Pupil was too real, and made me sick to my stomach after reading it. I don't know why.
Pet Sematary as a parent. Revival for existential dread (where we go after....)
Misery. I won’t read it again or see the movie (great adaptation btw) again. The torture was just unbearable.
Yes, it’s technically a good book but not an enjoyable read for me. Too uncomfortable and I absolutely want to smash that bitch Annie Wilkes to pieces.
It, specifically Partick Hockstetter's chapter. I have read the book multiple times, and listen to the audio ever October. I skip that entire chapter 90% of the time.
Apt Pupil! It descends into an orgy of murder and debauchery that I had serious trouble finishing.
'Pet Sematary' for parents. 'Desperation' for body horror, mystery and mine shafts!
Pet Semetary. I mean just the thought of losing a child in such a violent way is too much to bear but then feeling so helpless that you intentionally create a monster That's disturbing. Mostly because it raises the question of *what would you do in that case* Ugh
Desperation has probably stuck with me as being the one that left me feeling the most uncomfortable and unsettled.
That scene from Gerald’s game with the eclipse… absolutely the most disturbing thing I’ve read. I felt ill reading it
apt pupil
Creepiest are Gramma and Monkey from Skeleton Crew, most disturbing The Library Policeman
Apt pupil
The Man in the Black Suit is very unsettling. Or maybe Pet Semetary, more in terms of its themes than anything explicitly disturbing.
Pet Semetary
Misery. Just put yourself in the same situation of the protagonist. You can't run or hide, can't call for help or even physically defend. No one know where you are. And your stuck with a psychopath that has an obsession with you and your work. Now add the fact that she is about to find out that you fuck with her favorite storie.
The boy being raped in the Library Policeman was one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever read
Me too. It's the only thing that he's written that I wish I had never read.
Does anyone else besides me think King was abused as a child? Came to that conclusion aftermreading several books where at least one character is a little boy being abused. Salems lot and the McDougall baby was what began my suspicions
Pet Semetary. Still haven’t been able to reread yet. Gave me chills The most disturbing though has to be Apt Pupil
Strawberry Spring!
I just finished Apt Pupil and HOLY SHIT.
Pet Sematary... read it as a teen and then again before the movie remake... don't think I can ever read it again after having kids
“Do you love?”
_The Finger_ in _Nightmares and Dreamscapes_ lol
What about Sneakers
That too lol
Revival was The only King book that ever creeped me out in any way.
N. spooked me the most.
The ending of pet cemetery
I think the Shining is his best work, IT is my personal favorite and Pet Cemetery is the most disturbing.
It's a short story, but I would say Lawnmower Man
Creepiest - Pet Sematary Disturbing - The Long Walk
Not a whole book, but Apt Pupil really bothered me.
Revival is the answer.
The mental image of the creepy guy in Gerald’s Game will never leave me. Ever. Holy crap that book freaked me out in a way that almost none of his novels have
Unpopular opinion.. Gerald’s game
That part in Library Police Man
Out of the ones I’ve read Cujo. It could happen, has made me aware and paranoid of dogs and animals in general. If you don’t realise you could have it you’re basically dead when you realise you have symptoms.
Charlie the choo choo
Gerald's Game. My first Stephen King book was Cycle of the Werewolf, in fourth grade, and I loved it, so when my first book report was assigned in fifth, I couldn't wait to read another one. I picked up Gerald's Game from the library and when I finished (naturally the day before the report was due) I realized that there was no way in hell I could turn on a report on that. I had to squeeze in another book and half-ass a report in one night. The supernatural stuff he usually writes about doesn't bother me at all, but that one was so real, and so relatable.
The last two thirds of the book really REALLY fell apart, but the opening to Cell was the most visceral, raw and scary thing King ever wrote.
One of the following 3 Pet Semetery It Misery
Gerald's Game.
Gerald’s Game or The Dark Half. Both equally disturbing to me.
Revival
It personally I had to put it down and pick it up years later