In the ever-expanding horror genre, originality often lies buried in the pages of forgotten literature. While monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein have been reanimated on screen dozens of times, the public domain is still full of obscure and neglected intellectual properties with the potential to terrify modern audiences. Here are five little-known public domain IPs that are perfect candidates for fresh, inventive, and deeply unsettling horror film adaptations.
1. The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers (1895)
Genre Potential: Cosmic horror / Psychological thriller
A cult favorite among horror aficionados, The King in Yellow is a series of loosely connected stories centered around a fictional play so disturbing it drives readers insane. The stories blend melancholic decay, madness, and glimpses of an unknowable universe.
Horror Movie Potential:
Imagine a found-footage-style film about an underground theatre troupe who attempt to stage The King in Yellow—only to be consumed by the play’s supernatural influence. Hallucinations, time distortion, and eerie messages from an otherworldly realm begin to blur the line between performance and possession.
2. The Horla by Guy de Maupassant (1887)
Genre Potential: Psychological horror / Supernatural suspense
Told through diary entries, The Horla chronicles a man’s descent into madness as he becomes convinced he’s being haunted—and controlled—by an invisible, vampiric entity. Maupassant’s exploration of mental illness, obsession, and unseen terror makes this story hauntingly timeless.
Horror Movie Potential:
A modern retelling could explore themes of digital isolation, AI paranoia, or even sleep paralysis. Picture a character trapped in a smart home they no longer control—where lights turn on by themselves, emails are sent without their knowledge, and their reflection isn’t quite right.
3. Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu (1872)
Genre Potential: Gothic horror / Queer body horror
Predating Dracula by 25 years, Carmilla is a sensual, eerie vampire tale that centers around a young woman who becomes enthralled—and slowly drained—by her mysterious female companion. It’s intimate, haunting, and filled with quiet dread.
Horror Movie Potential:
In a post-Hereditary horror landscape, Carmilla could be a slow-burn nightmare of identity and seduction. A coming-of-age horror film where puberty, sexual awakening, and monstrous transformation all bleed together under gothic chandeliers and rotting velvet.
4. The Jewel of Seven Stars by Bram Stoker (1903)
Genre Potential: Ancient curse / Occult resurrection horror
Overshadowed by Dracula, this lesser-known novel by Bram Stoker revolves around the resurrection of an ancient Egyptian queen through occult rituals. Mummies, hieroglyphic warnings, and supernatural revenge abound.
Horror Movie Potential:
Think The Mummy but dialed all the way into dread and despair. A Lovecraftian approach to ancient gods, with the queen’s resurrection tied to a cosmic cataclysm. Archaeologists begin disappearing, possessed by her will, while the world’s natural order begins to warp.
5. The Man-Wolf by Émile Erckmann & Alexandre Chatrian (1876)
Genre Potential: Folk horror / Transformation horror
A hidden gem of werewolf lore, The Man-Wolf follows a young nobleman who is attacked and cursed while exploring a remote region. What follows is a slow unraveling of sanity, identity, and physical transformation.
Horror Movie Potential:
Set it in a remote mountain village, steeped in old customs and pagan relics. Explore the psychological toll of transformation—how a man fights the creeping loss of his humanity while the villagers whisper ancient warnings. Think The Witch meets An American Werewolf in London.
Final Thoughts
From cursed plays and invisible parasites to undead queens and haunted forests, the public domain hides countless gems ready to be unearthed—and twisted into horror gold. These stories might not have the household names of Dracula or Jekyll, but in the right hands, they could become the next cult classics.
If the horror genre thrives on fear of the unknown, then it’s time we bring some of these forgotten terrors back into the light—only to cast them into deeper, darker shadows on screen.
