If creepy kids and jump scares are precisely your cup of tea, you've probably seen "Case 39." This psychological horror film features Renée Zellweger and Bradley Cooper in leading roles. Renée's character, Emily, is a social worker who has made it her mission to save mistreated children, but her life quickly unravels when Lillith's case ends up in her hands.
This seemingly innocent girl begins to terrorize Emily and everyone around her. Only after fostering Lillith does Emily understand why the girl's birth parents tried to kill her, but it's too late to turn back.
"Case 39" is a classic horror film that preys on the audience's worst fears. After all, the pure and angelic way we like to imagine children isn't always the reality we're faced with.
Fans of this film should look no further than the following novels, movies, TV shows, and podcasts. These 15 selections will give you the creeps with freaky kids and the family dysfunction that ensues!
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Suzette adored her daughter, Hannah, until her child's evil ways came to light. However, another massive problem also surfaced. Aside from dealing with her psycho 7-year-old, Suzette must handle her oblivious husband, who hasn't noticed the issues and will defend Hannah at all costs. This book will keep you in
suspense as you read about Suzette's mental torture trying to deal with her sinister spawn alone. Read here.
Here, we have teenage Kevin: cunning, violent, and in prison for a school shooting. He is a psychopath capable of pure destruction and misery. This horrifyingly realistic story is told from his mother's point of view, showing how she's torn between fearing her flesh and blood and being compelled to remain by
his side. In "Case 39," Emily has similar hesitations because it's hard to put all of the blame on a child, even when they deserve it. Read here.
Sweet Teddy loves to draw. Everything's going well until Teddy draws a murder scene, something a 5-year-old has no business sketching. His babysitter, Mallory, is left to figure out his inspiration. Did he see this murder, or is a dead woman trying to tell him what happened? Readers will be spooked as the
mystery unfolds behind Teddy's newfound creativity and talent. Like "Case 39," you'll be left wondering if evil forces are involved or if this is just a misunderstood child with trauma. Read here.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or so they say. A decade-old mystery haunts a small Texas town: what happened to Trumanell Branson? Trumanell was known for her beauty, but she disappeared without a trace. Never forgotten but never solved, the case reopens when a one-eyed, mute little girl is found
abandoned. She knows something, and Odette Tucker, Trumanell's high school friend turned cop, is desperate to connect the clues and solve the mystery. This chilling tale emphasizes the darkness of small-town living; there are secrets people want to keep buried, but this spooky kid is the catalyst to unlocking it all.. Read here.
David used to be normal. His mother, Carla, now anguishes over why her child has become so cold and distant. She confides in Amanda, another mother, who finds herself in the same hospital clinic as David. Soon, the boy seeks Amanda's help, wanting to know what happened to him through his mother's eyes.
Although he asks the questions, David knows more than what he says. We know that David was poisoned by the stream water he drank, but as the story continues, we learn more about this living nightmare that Amanda now faces. Read here.
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Esther is a polite Russian orphan an American couple has adopted. But as you watch this film, you quickly see that Esther is an absolute monster in pigtails. She even sadistically terrorizes her new siblings under the guise that nothing is her fault. Although the mother and the viewers know something is suspicious,
no one could have guessed the truth about Esther. Watch here.
After Emily's mother commits suicide, she finds solace in her imaginary friend, Charlie. Her father becomes concerned, and everything goes downhill when Emily shares that Charlie killed their cat. Terrible events begin to unfold that, according to Emily, are Charlie's fault. Is Emily the one with murderous
tendencies? At some point, you realize that maybe Emily isn't making. Watch here.
"The Boy" isn't about a boy. It's about a doll — a replica of a couple's deceased child, Brahms — that Greta is paid to babysit. Greta is instantly weirded out by the doll and the parents' rules but is sympathetic to their grieving process. When things begin to move and go missing, Greta understandably freaks out and starts
snooping around. She learns that Brahms was not a good little boy and soon believes she's in danger. Like in "Case 39," innocence quickly becomes menacing. Watch here.
Finally, we have a mother who is just as twisted as her kid. The TV show "Bates Motel" is a prequel spinoff of Alfred Hitchcock's famed "Psycho." We follow Norma and Norman Bates as they kill, deceive, and act creepy together as their mental states diminish. Watch here.
Loosely based on the iconic novella "Turn of the Screw" by Henry James, this miniseries will spook you every episode. Dani, an American au-pair, travels to England to nanny the adorable Flora — who loves to play with a creepy dollhouse and even creepier no-faced dolls — and her disturbed brother, Miles,
who was recently kicked out of boarding school. Dani must navigate the kids' antics and the eerieness of the mansion she now lives in. Are they just playing, or are they up to something more cunning? Watch here.
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This anthology podcast shares a selection of horror stories every episode. So if you loved "Case 39" for the creepy kid, the emotional drama, or the supernatural element, you are guaranteed to find episodes that cover one or more of these topics. In addition, this podcast is excellent for those who don't want to get
invested in a series; each episode is its own chilling tale. Listen here.
2. The Black Tapes
Although fictional, "The Black Tapes" is styled after a docuseries. Join Alex Reagan, a journalist, and Dr. Strand, a man who does not believe in ghosts, as they pursue unsolved crimes. This episodic podcast flirts with the idea of the paranormal existing while also recognizing that the dead can't speak, so
sometimes, we'll never know how some people meet their tragic ends. It blurs the lines of reality to make you scared that maybe the Devil exists and is wreaking havoc on humanity.
"The Silt Verses" take place in a dystopian world where two men, who worship an outlawed god, are on a religious quest. They yearn to know more as they travel up river, coming across the horrors of sacrifice, ritual, and violence. There are definitely fantastical elements to this podcast. Still, there is no question that it
will scare you and make you grateful you're not in their shoes. Listen here.
4. Light House
Tara wants a new start at her old family home. However, her world begins to turn upside down as she questions the reality of ghosts. There is clearly darkness and a presence of evil, so she can't be imagining it, right? Tara examines these nightmarish thoughts in the "Light House."
Teenager Harper is trying to cope with the unexpected death of her twin, Callie. When she develops insomnia, her family sends her to a sleep disorder facility to help combat her issues. However, Harper quickly realizes something is wrong and discovers she's not the only patient living in fear every night. Follow Harper
as she tries to survive her worst fears and living nightmares. Listen here.
