FallenKingdomReads’ list of 5 Horror Novels That Were Banned or Censored.
Here are five horror novels that have been banned or censored for various reasons.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Premise: A wealthy investment banker in 1980s New York leads a double life as a sadistic serial killer.
Why it was banned: The novel’s graphic depictions of violence, rape, and torture were deemed too extreme for some readers, leading to bans in several countries, including Australia and Germany.
The Shining by Stephen King
Premise: A recovering alcoholic and struggling writer takes a job as a winter caretaker at a remote hotel, where supernatural forces begin to drive him insane.
Why it was banned: The novel’s depiction of alcoholism, domestic violence, and supernatural horror was deemed too disturbing for some readers, leading to bans in several school libraries in the United States.
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
Premise: A young girl becomes possessed by a demon, leading to a desperate exorcism performed by two Catholic priests.
Why it was banned: The novel’s depiction of demonic possession and exorcism was deemed too blasphemous and disturbing for some readers, leading to bans in several countries, including South Africa and Kuwait.
Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
Premise: A young couple moves into a prestigious apartment building in New York City, where they begin to suspect their neighbors are part of a sinister cult that wants their unborn child.
Why it was banned: The novel’s depiction of Satanism and the occult was deemed too disturbing for some readers, leading to bans in several countries, including Ireland and South Africa.
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Premise: A family hires a teenage girl as a babysitter for their four children, who become fascinated by a book on witchcraft and begin to dabble in the occult.
Why it was banned: The novel’s depiction of witchcraft and the occult was deemed too disturbing for some readers, leading to bans in several school libraries in the United States.
