Simple, I think. It starts to get darker and the nights grow longer. We celebrate on or around December 25th in part at least because the days start to get longer. But first it's night's reign. Cold enervates us. Is that creaking a frozen branch scraping against the window? Ice makes a sound like a scream when it freezes. Snow dampens sound so we can't hear the killer creeping up on us.
I wrote a darker version of Tim Allen's The Santa Clause where the MC becomes Santa AND Krampus. Krampus is such an underused winter time horror critter.
Although it’s not a “winter tale” per se, Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” is one I’ve always found really fun. It takes place in Antartica and ends with an obscure reference to a weird tale of Poe’s that also ended in that region.
Last year I wrote this chapter of “The Werewolf of Mariahilf am Inn” which concludes in winter and touches on the Austrian legend of “The Krampus.”
We watch John Carpentar's The Thing every Halloween, and usually two or three more times each year before winter's done. I also like to re-read the story it was based on, Who Goes There?
The ghost stories of M.R. James are excellent spooky winter reading. And although it's not exactly horror, I can't get through Christmas without reading A Christmas Carol and watching at least two or three different film adaptations.
I combined three microfiction prompts which together synergistically conjured up a dark moment featuring the classic horror meme of THE CELLAR. it's only very tenuously winter themed however, but just wanted to join the fun
Simple, I think. It starts to get darker and the nights grow longer. We celebrate on or around December 25th in part at least because the days start to get longer. But first it's night's reign. Cold enervates us. Is that creaking a frozen branch scraping against the window? Ice makes a sound like a scream when it freezes. Snow dampens sound so we can't hear the killer creeping up on us.
I wrote a darker version of Tim Allen's The Santa Clause where the MC becomes Santa AND Krampus. Krampus is such an underused winter time horror critter.
Thank you so much for including Special Sauce in your roundup! As for horror stories with a winter setting, Let the Right One In is essential reading.
You’re welcome. It was a natural fit for Macabre Monday. I enjoyed reading it quite a bit.
Thanks for the kind words about my story!
You're welcome. I enjoyed both reading and listening to it.
Although it’s not a “winter tale” per se, Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” is one I’ve always found really fun. It takes place in Antartica and ends with an obscure reference to a weird tale of Poe’s that also ended in that region.
Last year I wrote this chapter of “The Werewolf of Mariahilf am Inn” which concludes in winter and touches on the Austrian legend of “The Krampus.”
https://danielwdavison.substack.com/p/the-werewolf-of-mariahilf-am-inn-dae
I was also going to mention the classic, At the Mountains of Madness. It is such an intense and harrowing tale.
Have y'all seen season 1 of "The Terror" yet? If not, go check it out now.
The movie, “The Thing” instantly pops into my brain when I think of winter horror
We watch John Carpentar's The Thing every Halloween, and usually two or three more times each year before winter's done. I also like to re-read the story it was based on, Who Goes There?
The ghost stories of M.R. James are excellent spooky winter reading. And although it's not exactly horror, I can't get through Christmas without reading A Christmas Carol and watching at least two or three different film adaptations.
Nocturnes by John Connolly reviewed
https://open.substack.com/pub/jayrothermel/p/nocturnes-2004-by-john-connolly?r=1vg2di&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Good morning- This was my entry for the recent MM flash fiction competition:-
https://open.substack.com/pub/jasonduck/p/mr-pumpkin-head?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2ja1cw
This story by Ian Dunmore really stuck with me and it’s perfectly winter themed
https://open.substack.com/pub/iandunmore/p/ice-and-candlelight?r=3517l8&utm_medium=ios
I combined three microfiction prompts which together synergistically conjured up a dark moment featuring the classic horror meme of THE CELLAR. it's only very tenuously winter themed however, but just wanted to join the fun
https://fictiondealer.substack.com/p/microdosing-90mg-of-a-nest/comment/76464936?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2fhpll