1. You’ll Float Too
One of Hollywood’s big hits this year is part one of the adaption of Steven King’s unsettling horror novel “IT”. As if the film isn’t enough to terrify you, now you can float too. This truly unsettling VR experience will have you drift through the sewers of Derry, and come face to face with Pennywise the clown. Spookometer: 9/10 Enough to scare Freddie2. The World’s Greatest Paranormal Investigator
If you prefer your monsters to be of the kitten-stroking nazi-punching variety, then look no further than the online portfolio of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. The site features a whole cast of creatures from the folkloric, to the fanciful, as well as the BPRD’s premier occult detective. Spookometer: 2/10 Will make Scooby-Doo scram3. A Forgotten World
Abandoned in 1974, Hashima Island lies off the coast of Japan. The coalminers who deserted it left behind an eerie world of hollow buildings and atmospheric landscapes. It could be a real life Silent Hill. This site let’s you explore the mysterious locale with the help of Google Streetview. Spookometer: 8/10 Could frighten Daphne4. It’s 11:57:30
The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock used to publicise the likelihood that the human race is about to wipe itself out via nuclear war, or environmental catastrophe. When it reaches midnight, we’re all dead. This data explains how scientists calculate the time. Right now we’re 2 minutes 30 seconds from total global annihilation. Truly frightening. Spookometer: 10/10 Flim-Flam will want to McScram5. The Count’s Landing Place
In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the ship carrying the Count to England washes into a harbor with the entire crew missing. The setting for this spooky event is the fishing town of Whitby. To commemorate the arrival of the world’s most famous bloodsucker, goths regularly congregate in the town to dress as Steam Punks and listen to Fields of the Nephilim. Spookometer: 5/10 Sufficient to unnerve Velma6. Epic Rampage
For those who think that when it comes to monsters bigger is better, there’re few cinematic treats to rival Japanese leviathan Godzilla. Mutated by nuclear testing in the pacific, Godzilla was created as a metaphor for Japan’s experiences at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hollywood has tried, but nothing matches the destructive terror of the iconic Japanese city-wrecker. Spookometer: 3/10 Could make Thorn Hex tremble7. The Master of Horror
Before the web became heavily commercialized it was made up of fan sites, like this one dedicated to the horror legend Boris Karloff. Karloff literally redefined Frankenstein’s Monster and this affectionate memorial, maintained by his descendants, is keeping his legend alive. Spookometer: 3/10 Enough to give Vincent Van Ghoul a chill8. Enter the Upside Down
Stranger Things has taken the net by storm, and with Season 2 now streaming on Netflix, it’s a great time to revisit this tribute to the show. Simply type in your name, and see it reproduced in the show’s iconic title lettering. Take a screen shot and it makes a cool Halloween social media banner. Spookometer: 6/10 Dusk Hex will lose it9. The World’s Worst Movie
Say what you like about Edward D. Wood Jr’s magnum opus, but none can deny that future events will affect you in the future my friends. You can watch the full movie of Plan 9 From Outer Space on YouTube, but if you want to be really scared check out the site for the remake: the terrifying truth? Yes, that’s Flash… Spookometer: 2/10 Would dumbfound Scooby Dum10. Hunting the Sasquatch
There are some deeply troubling experiences hidden away in the dark corners of the web, and none more terrifying than discovering that some people really believe in the X-Files. Yep, real-life Mulders are everywhere, and if you’ve got 15 minutes to spare head down the rabbit hole and check out the strangest theories, from aliens to bigfoot. The blog is out there. Spookometer: 4/10 Could frighten Scrappy-Doo11. A History Lesson
For those that prefer their science to be flavored with facts, there’s Boscastle’s Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. Taking an academic approach to the history of the occult, the museum’s website features a comprehensive archive of its collection, sufficient to fascinate any budding anthropologist. Spookometer: 5/10 Will leave Yabba-Doo jabbering12. The Original
While many writers claim the crown as the king of horror, few have done more to define the genre than H P Lovecraft. With stories inspired by the flotsam and jetsam he found walking on New England’s beaches, his influence is everywhere. Needless to say there are numerous fan sites, run with passion and packed with scares. Spookometer: 3/10 Enough to make Shaggy drop his sandwich13. Jamie Lee Curtis
Halloween simply would not be Halloween without a mention of John Carpenter’s seminal work. The official site serves as a hub for the season’s greatest franchise, including the news that original star Jamie Lee Curtis is gearing up for one final scream. Spookometer: 8/10 Will have Luna Hex hiding behind her popcornCharlie Furphy
Charlie Furphy is a freelance experience designer from Oxford, UK. Passionate about emerging web standards, he writes about UX, mobile, and user interaction.
Read Next
3 Essential Design Trends, November 2024
Touchable texture, distinct grids, and two-column designs are some of the most trending website design elements of…
20 Best New Websites, October 2024
Something we’re seeing more and more of is the ‘customizable’ site. Most often, this means a button to swap between…
Exciting New Tools for Designers, October 2024
We’ve got goodies for designers, developers, SEO-ers, content managers, and those of you who wear multiple hats. And,…
15 Best New Fonts, September 2024
Welcome to our roundup of the best new fonts we’ve found on the web in the previous four weeks. In this month’s edition…
By Simon Sterne
3 Essential Design Trends, October 2024
This article is brought to you by Constantino, a renowned company offering premium and affordable website design
You…
A Beginner’s Guide to Using BlueSky for Business Success
In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are always on the lookout for new ways to connect with their audience.…
By Louise North
The Importance of Title Tags: Tips and Tricks to Optimize for SEO
When it comes to on-page SEO, there’s one element that plays a pivotal role in both search engine rankings and user…
By Simon Sterne
20 Best New Websites, September 2024
We have a mixed bag for you with both minimalist and maximalist designs, and single pagers alongside much bigger, but…
Exciting New Tools for Designers, September 2024
This time around we are aiming to simplify life, with some light and fast analytics, an all-in-one productivity…
3 Essential Design Trends, September 2024
September's web design trends have a fun, fall feeling ... and we love it. See what's trending in website design this…
Crafting Personalized Experiences with AI
Picture this: You open Netflix, and it’s like the platform just knows what you’re in the mood for. Or maybe you’re…
By Simon Sterne
15 Best New Fonts, August 2024
Welcome to August’s roundup of the best fonts we’ve found over the last few weeks. 2024’s trend for flowing curves and…
By Ben Moss