Read If You Dare: The Best Horror Blogs and Websites to Keep You Up at Night

A few weeks ago, I received an email from “FeedSpot,” a website that allows users to “read all their favorite sites in one place.” I learned that Feedspoy added “Horror World” to the Top 90 Horror Blogs list, with a recommendation to add links to the site and social media (which I already did!) to increase visibility. I even received a very nice visual badge for being featured on the site.

Look, I’m not entirely sure what considerations guide the Feedspot team and how their algorithm works (as of this writing, the site is reaching the top 50). Still, this announcement made me feel a certain amount of pride. As a new, independent site run by a small team of horror fans, appearing on such a list alongside the biggest name in our genre shows me that, to some extent, someone appreciates the significant efforts we put into the site.

But what are those top horror websites anyway, for which being on the same list is a respectable achievement? Let’s examine the list of the site mentioned above and several other similar lists, along with their reputation, traffic data, and other statistical metrics. We can point to several excellent horror sites with quality content about the genre we love. So, what are the best horror blogs, and what do they offer us?

What Can You Find In The Top Horror Blogs?

I’ve always loved reading horror. It began with books that exposed me to varying levels of fear, ranging from those aimed at a younger audience, such as “Goosebumps,” to more mature horror books by authors like Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe.

Then, the Internet came into the picture, and I consumed most of my horror through it. Not necessarily reading entire books in digital format – because with all due respect and goodwill, I have a hard time finding the time for that, and I still prefer my horror on screen and my books on paper – but learning everything there is to know about anything that we might consider scary. You know: news and reviews of horror movies, creepy tourist sites worldwide, products and collectibles for horror fans, urban legends, research about horror, and more.

The question I’ve asked myself over the years is, where exactly can you find this kind of content aimed primarily (or even only) at the average horror fan? There are surely numerous horror websites, but their number is far from infinite, especially outside the English language.

Top Horror Blogs And Their Appeal To Fans

Scary websites are a great idea. Despite the feeling that the genre is a bit outside the global mainstream – say, if you examine the lack of success of horror films at award ceremonies or even the box office figures compared to some other genres – the reality is that it is a fascinating and knowledge-rich field. Indeed, the writer of these lines is not exactly objective, but it is still impossible to ignore the fact that horror has an audience of fans (and readers) all over the world.

Over the years, quite a few websites and blogs dedicated to horror have been opened – and we expect that this trend will only expand in the coming years, with artificial intelligence (AI) taking over all of our lives. AI tools create a world where it is possible to create a text on any topic in a few minutes and a complete website in weeks. It may not be original or deep enough, but it can be an excellent start for horror fanatics to enter the game.

Among other things, the best horror websites offer a broad world of content, including:

✅ News: Current coverage of news from the world of horror, including updates on new movies, TV series, books, video games, and special events in the field.

✅ Reviews: A scary blog may offer a critical analysis of new and classic horror works, helping readers choose quality content and deepen their understanding of the genre.

✅ Viewing Guides and Lists: Personalized content recommendations, “best of” lists, and reviews by topic.

✅ Interviews: Conversations with directors, writers, actors, and other creators in the horror field. This way, we can learn how a horror film is born and what it takes to be a horror creator.

✅ In-depth articles – Cultural, historical, philosophical analyses, and even academic studies related to the genre. For example, the Influences of horror films on viewers, attempts to understand what makes people watch horror films (in general or in a specific genre), and more.

✅ Forums and communities: Virtual spaces allow fans to discuss, share, and connect with others worldwide around their shared interests. It is clear that today, communities are less common within websites, but mainly on social networks (like Facebook)

✅ Original content in various forms: not only written content but also videos, podcasts, comic books, anime, and so on

Some may argue that major sites in the field offer valuable content and serve as a genuine community for fans of the genre. Equally important is that they serve as a platform for horror creators, who can utilize them to reach a broad audience. It is no coincidence that some top horror blogs and sites, as you will see below, have become distributors or even creators of horror films over the years.

Best Horror Blogs You Can Read Online

Bloody Disgusting

Bloody Disgusting is one of today’s oldest and most popular horror websites. It was founded in 2001 by American producer and horror fan Brad Miska, using the pseudonym “Mr. Disgusting,” and Tom Owen, who were joined by the site’s current editor, John Squire. The site began as a small blog and has evolved into a super big scary website. In 2007, the data indicated that it had approximately 1.5 million visitors and around 20 million page views per month. Today, it attracts over 20 million visitors annually, with many millions more on Bloody Disgusting’s various platforms, including the podcast, app, and more.

Bloody Disgusting is much more than a horror blog. It is a vast portal with exclusive news, in-depth analyses, and comprehensive reviews in popular sections such as “The Black Sheep,” which brings together controversial horror films, or a nostalgic section of horror films from the 80s (“It Came From the 80s”).

In recent years, Bloody Disgusting has also served as a producer of horror films, with notable examples including the V/H/S franchise and films such as “Kids vs. Aliens” and “A Horrible Way to Die,” as well as a distributor of independent horror films.

iHorror

“iHorror” is another large site that deals with various derivatives of horror, including films, TV series, games, music, and even other “weird and scary” phenomena. The site was founded in 2012 by Anthony Pernicka, who used social media to promote his content early on. According to reports, Pernicka intended to use the site to promote the horror films he produced and directed; however, there is no doubt that today, “iHorror” stands on its own and attracts millions of visitors per month.

Since 2015, the site has presented the iHorror Awards annually, recognizing the year’s most successful films, actors, and productions. Alongside traditional categories such as the best horror film and director, we have seen unique categories emerge over the years, including the best performance by a “Final Girl” and references to various horror media, including video games, books, comics, and others.

Note that iHorror comes in several languages. Unfortunately, these are not separate content sites at most, but simple, automatic, and especially not very convincing translations of the site’s content into different languages.

Dread Central

One of the main specialties of Dread Central, the website founded in 2006 and which has become very prominent in the online horror landscape, is independent horror films, emphasizing those that receive little attention in the mainstream. In addition to the website, which attracts millions of visitors a month, “Dread Central” is also known for its podcast network (Dread Podcast Network), which includes successful podcasts such as “Scared for Life,” “Development Hell,” and “Girl, That’s Scary.” Dread Central also has successful projects on YouTube.

The Dread Central team includes horror enthusiasts, veteran journalists, and film critics. Over the years, the website had expanded its activities into the field of production with the independent production division “Dread,” whose most significant product is probably the first “Terrifier” film, long before it reached the mainstream and made Art the Clown one of the most prominent horror icons of recent years.

The site also operates “Dread TV,” a streaming platform focusing on independent, low-budget films.

Creepypasta

The term “Creepypasta” refers to an urban legend from the horror genre that is distributed online via a “copy-and-paste” method, such as the Momo Doll, Slenderman, or The Elevator Game stories, which, in some cases, have evolved into mediocre horror films. In the current context, Creepypasta is a scary blog that focuses on “scary stories and original horror fiction,” emphasizing the creation and sharing of this type of content. In some cases, as mentioned, the stories and characters transcend the web and reach the small or big screen.

On Creepypasta, you will find countless such stories and myths divided by date, category, author, etc. Visitors to the site can, of course, view the most popular or most highly rated stories, let the site randomly select an urban legend for them, and more. The site serves as a great entry point for aspiring horror writers and creators who focus on the written word. Some horror writers started their careers in Creepypasta but have become full-fledged horror writers.

Fangoria

You may find it hard to believe, but print is not dead yet. There are several printed magazines dedicated to horror, with one of the favorite examples being the cult American horror magazine Fangoria, which was founded in 1979.

Fangoria is considered the first horror magazine, “The First in Fright,” and has since become one of the most prominent sources in the horror genre. Traditionally, the magazine focused on particularly graphic horror films, featuring gory effects and violence, and was distinguished by its high-quality color pages. In “Fangoria,” you can read in-depth articles and interviews with horror creators, keep up to date with reviews and news related to the world of horror, learn about various conferences and events for horror fans, and more. The site has supported LGBTQ+ horror creators and provided them with a platform, even when the genre was less mainstream.

Fangoria magazine’s journey hasn’t always been easy, especially as it transitioned to the digital age. In 2015, the magazine completely closed its print edition and moved to relying solely on digital, but three years later, it returned to shelves under new ownership. Fangoria lives and breathes today as both a print magazine and website, and has expanded into other areas, including social media, podcasts, and more. It has gained icon status in horror culture, and a shred of clear evidence is its appearances in various films, such as “Friday the 13th Part III”, “Seed of Chucky,” “Army of Darkness,” and many others.

Since 1992, the magazine has been honoring horror creators with the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards: yes, an award shaped like a skull with a saw on its head. The awards are given in more than 15 categories, such as the best horror films in wide or limited distribution, the outstanding debut film, the best performances by actors in the lead or supporting role, and also categories that characterize only our favorite genre, such as the best monster effect or the best kill. Since 2015, the awards have also been given to television series.

Scream Magazine

The British magazine Scream is published bimonthly and distributed to various countries worldwide. The magazine is renowned for its in-depth articles and interviews with actors, directors, and other key figures in the horror industry. In addition, you will find reviews and news about horror games, books, comics, graphic novels, and more, as well as reports from sets and other news. A significant portion of the reference here is to European horror, as well as British films, and not just Hollywood or American ones.

Obviously, in this day and age, a large portion of Scream’s content is consumed through the magazine’s website, which is quite striking in its bloody retro design. Some of you may find the site’s appearance and user experience outdated, but that’s an integral part of its appeal.

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