Last year, Danielle Vega scared my pants off with The Merciless, and now she’s back with new thrills and chills with Survive the Night. It seemed appropriate to ask Danielle to share her favorite scary movies, considering she seems to enjoy writing horror. Read on to find out what movies Danielle watches to get her horror fix and to find out more about her sophomore book.
About Survive the Night:
Stephen King meets Pretty Little Liars in this pulse-pounding novel from the author of The Merciless
Just back from rehab, Casey regrets letting her friends Shana, Julie, and Aya talk her into coming to Survive the Night, an all-night, underground rave in a New York City subway tunnel. Surrounded by frightening drugs and menacing strangers, Casey doesn’t think Survive the Night could get any worse…
…until she comes across Julie’s mutilated body in a dank, black subway tunnel, red-eyed rats nibbling at her fingers. Casey thought she was just off with some guy—no one could hear her getting torn apart over the sound of pulsing music. And by the time they get back to the party, everyone is gone.
Desperate for help, Casey and her friends find themselves running through the putrid subway tunnels, searching for a way out. But every manhole is sealed shut, and every noise echoes eerily in the dark, reminding them they’re not alone.
They’re being hunted.
Trapped underground with someone—or something—out to get them, Casey can’t help but listen to Aya’s terrified refrain: “We’re all gonna die down here.”
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound
Oh man, rats nibbling at her dead fingers? Trapped in the subway tunnels? Creeptastic! Check out the book trailer:
And now, please welcome author Danielle Vega who shares her Top Ten Favorite Scary Movies:
1. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Not just my favorite movie, but one of my favorite books and characters (Clarice Starling) of all time. Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal the Cannibal is the stuff of nightmares.
2. IT FOLLOWS
This is probably the most beautiful, haunting horror movie in recent history. I was endlessly impressed by its ability to key into the universal, primal fear of being followed.
3. MISERY
Honorable mentions to: It, The Shining, Cujo, and Children of the Corn. My mom and I watched all of the Stephen King movies but this was always a favorite. I love a good female villain.
4. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
I’m currently writing a book set during the snowy holiday season, and I’d be lying if I said the stark Swedish landscape in this movie didn’t inspire some of the more horrifying scenes. Nothing is more terrifying than blood on snow.
5. SCREAM
This movie is practically perfect. And so quotable! “Movies don’t create psychos, movies make psychos more creative.”
6. THE CRAFT
If any movie influenced THE MERCILESS it was this one. The twisted friendships, the satanic rituals, the Goth makeup.
7. POLTERGEIST
I saw this movie when I was just a kid and thought it was absolutely chilling. The TV scene stayed with me for years.
8. ALIEN
If any movie teaches the subtle art of the slow burn, it’s this one. The entire first act and most of the second act are all about world building and character and suspense. When the monster finally appears, it’s the cherry on top of a perfect sundae.
9. HALLOWEEN
This is a classic, and it should be on EVERYONE’S top ten. I don’t even know what else to say about it so I leave you with this.
10. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Yeah, I know there’s a movie too, but I’m cheating and talking about the TV show. I’m a rebel. This show taught me everything I know about character and plot, everything I know about building suspense and a hell of a lot about horror.
Thank you for sharing your scary movie recs, Danielle! I have no complaints about you including the Buffy TV series- it’s scarier than a lot of movies, and a classic. And I’m very intrigued about your “snowy holiday season” book, and especially since you reference the “blood on snow” visual and “Let the Right One In.”
Survive the Night is on sale now – read it if you dare!
I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!