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This one is a found footage Christmas short! Hope you enjoy!

...

Below you will find a transcript of a video tape containing the last known moments of the Shultz family. The tape was discovered underneath the Shultz’s next door neighbors tree, wrapped as a present addressed to their daughter. Bloody fingerprints were found on the wrapping.

Blood was found in the Shultz’s home. No bodies have been located.

Play tape

The camera pans in and out of focus until the image of a Christmas tree comes into view. Presents are carefully placed on the skirt beneath the tree. Ornaments and tinsel decorate the branches.

Susan: Did you get it working, Mike?

Mike: Yeah. Gonna capture everything on this.

Susan: Why don’t you capture yourself setting the table. It’ll be dinner soon.

Mike: Yes Mrs. Clause.

The camera turns and captures a woman wearing a red, ugly Christmas sweater. Her brunette hair is curled, draped over her shoulders. She holds a glass dish in her mitted hands.

Susan: Getting my good side?

Mike: They’re all good.

Susan rolls her eyes and places the dish on the table. The camera cuts out. Seconds later static fills the black void. An image slowly fades into view. A family of four sitting around the tree opening presents. Orange flames flicker in the background from the brick fireplace. Red and white stocking hang from the mantle. The names Susan, Mike, Todd, and Henry are stitched into the fabric.

Mike: Now boys, only two presents each tonight. Gotta save some excitement for what Santa brings tomorrow.

Todd: Henry's getting coal!

Henry: Am not!

Todd: Are too!

The boys begin sticking their tongues out at one another.

Susan: Boys.Boys.Please calm down or I think Santa may change his mind and give you both coal.

Mike: Henry open your present first.

Todd: Not fair! I want to go first.

Todd crosses his arms and purses his lips into a pout.

Mike: Keep it up bucko and I'll let Henry open both of his first.

Todd lets out a sigh but relents. Henry gleefully rips the wrapping paper off the present revealing a rectangular box underneath. He throws the top open and peels back the thin paper only to have a frown take the place of his smile.

Henry: Pajamas? I don't want stupid clothes.

Susan: Boys, if you're going to continue having sour attitudes I think we'll stop opening presents and just go to bed.

Henry and Todd: NO!

Mike: Then let's remember to show some gratitude, okay?

The boys sigh and nod their heads. Todd proceeds to open his gift to find it's also a set of matching pajamas.

Mike: Alright Henry, your turn again.

The boy opens his present slower this time. Once the paper is peeled back, what looks to be a vhs tape sits in the boy's hand.

Susan: Wait...Mike?

Mike: What in the world?

Henry: Is this a movie?

The camera cuts out again before voices can be heard. No video can be seen for the next minute.

Susan: Oh my God. Where did that tape come from? Mike we need to call the police. You saw what...what happened...

Mike: It's not real. It can't be, Susan. Someone pulled a horrible prank or something.

Susan: Mike. Someone came into our house and put that gift under the tree. Someone wanted our son to see that...that snuff film.

Mike: Look, let's just finish opening presents and then I'll call Andrew. He's on the force and will know what to do. We can wait until the boys go to bed. No need to worry them.

Susan: I don't know...I'm worried.

Mike: Don't worry. I won't let anything bad happen to you.

Static fills the screen for a brief second before the familiar scene of the boys in front of the tree comes back.

Susan: Uh okay. Todd. Time for your second gift.

Henry: When do I get to watch my movie?

Mike: Maybe tomorrow kiddo. It's getting late and we gotta get to bed before Santa comes.

Just then a loud thud can be heard from somewhere above. Dust expels from the chimney.

Todd: SANTA!

Susan and Mike exchange worried glances.

Unknown: Ho. Ho. Ho.

Henry: It really is Santa!

Mike: Boys it's time to go.

Another loud thud can be heard and something falls out of the chimney. It's a wooden log still on fire as it rolls toward the carpet. Sitting at the bottom of the chimney is a giant, brown sack. Surprisingly the flames do not ignite the lumpy bag. The bag is wet at the bottom with a dark liquid staining the tanned color.

Another loud noise is followed by black boots appearing by the flames.

Mike: Susan, we need to go now!

Mike grabs his two boys by the hands and pulls them out of frame just as a pale hand grabs the stone brick of the fireplace. Sharp claws are where the fingernails should be.

Unknown: Naughty! Naughty!

Susan tries to get to her feet but it's too late. The rest of the figure emerges from the fireplace. The figure is dressed similar to Santa, wearing red and white from head to toe. But the similarities stop there. Grey, leathery skin sits in place of the usual pale color of Santa. A long mane of black hair sits on top the creatures head along with two long horns.

Unknown: Where are the naughty boys?

Susan screams as the creature grabs her by the throat and lifts her into the air. A long tongue slithers past its lips. The pale tongue brushes against Susan's cheek.

Unknown: You taste like fear.

A large grin spreads across the creature face, revealing rows of pointed teeth. Before Susan can utter another sound the figure clamps its mouth over her face. A jerk of his head makes Susan go limp. Blood sprays everywhere.

Mike: Susan!

Through the blood droplets on the camera, the creature can be seen tossing Susan aside. Her lifeless body lands in front of the camera.

Screams and loud thumps can be heard in the distance. Eventually the camera goes black.

It's time for some more book recs and today I'm talking about found footage.

The Blair Witch Project took audiences by storm upon its release. It was released at the perfect time before the internet and cell phones. The marketing campaign made you believe that these three actors weren't actually actors. That the film you're seeing was actually found footage and these three actors were missing.

I love books that are able to take that found footage feeling and apply it to page. The below books are all ones that I've read and would recommend.

Found: An Anthology of Found Footage Horror edited by Andrew Cull and Gabino Iglesias--An anthology of eighteen stories all dealing with some type of found footage horror. If you've read Clay McLeod Chapman's Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, you may be a bit familair with his story in this collection. The story he wrote for this one "The Spew of News" is what he used to turn Wake Up And Open Your Eyes into a novel! This one also has another collection of Found Footage Horror as well. Found 2:More Stories Of Found Footage Horror.

FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven-- This one is an all time favorite of mine. I will highly suggest listening to it as an audiobook! The narrators really brought the novel to life. It's told in interviews of survivors who spent a month trapped in an amusement park after a hurricane left them stranded. It's very Lord Of The Flies esq.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl--If you know me you know I LOVE this book. It follows a journalist who investigates a cult film director after the mysterious death of the director's daughter. This one has tons of mixed media in it. From newspaper articles to website pages, the media makes the story feel very meta.

Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand--Interviews of members of a former band tell of their haunting time at Wylding Hall. One of the band members disappeared while at the manor and there were some pretty spooky instances several of the band members experienced. This book is great for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six but if you wanted a sprinkle of spooks.

Rules For Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall-- Don't let the YA tag fool you, this book is SCARY. It follows a group of teens who choose to participate in a deadly legend in search of their missing friend. Once a year a road appears in the forest and at the end of it is the ghost of Lucy Gallows. You must play her deadly games and try to survive.

And a few more fantastic mentions because this category is just too good.

The Weight of Blood, The Lost Village, Devolution, and Universal Harvester.

What is your favorite Found Footage Horror Book?

Also, I wanted to let you all know exciting things are coming for my Inner Sanctum members. If you're able to, consider upgrading! It would mean a lot to me and grant you access to many more features!

Hi friend!

There are SO many ways to connect this month in our Discord! Christmas season always comes with full schedules, so we wanted to ensure you had a few options to slow down and cozy up. 💕 I hope to see you at one or more of these!

TONIGHT @ 8pm - Join mod, PlantyPanda, for a cozy evening chat! No topic is off limits, we'll just spend some meaningful time together. RSVP

THURSDSAY, DEC. 11th @ 10am CT - Have some wrapping to do, tree to tinsel, or just need some company during your workday? Join us for an hour or two of co-working! RSVP

MONDAY, DEC. 15th @ 7pm CT - Join mod, Ray, for a holiday movie night here in the Discord! We'll be watching a favorite, Muppet Christmas Carol. Can't wait to ring in the holiday cheer with you! RSVP

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17th @ 7pm CT - (SBC Member Exclusive) Join the Second Breakfast Club for a cozy catch up night! We'll hang out for an hour and catch up on life. RSVP

FRIDAY, DEC. 19th @ 7pm CT - Come hang with Crispy Biology and bedazzle some books! We'll do some diamond art on the cover of your book of choice. This could be for you or a present for someone for the holidays! RSVP

MONDAY, JAN. 5th @ 7:30pm - (Paid Member Exclusive) This is the BIG ONE! Let's celebrate the best books we read all year together and share the hits and misses. Can't wait! RSVP

Back with everyone's favorite series (Okay, it's the second post!)

Here are 10 more horror (and horror adjacent) books, I can't wait for coming out in 2026!

See The First Ten Recommendations Here

1. The Body by Bethany C. Morrow, 2/10/26, a supernatural horror following a cracking marriage

2. Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward, 2/24/26, Rocky Mountain survival horror (Yasssss!)

3. Bloodfire, Baby, by Elrinie Carson, 2/17/26, maternal gothic, motherhood and a centuries old terror.

4. The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang, 2/10/26, Chinese Gothic, Shanghai Mansion (say less!)

5. The Darkness Greeted Her by Christina Ferko, 2/3/26, Yellowjackets meets Smile. girls stalked in the Appalachian wilderness by a monster that feeds on fears!

6. She Made Herself A Monster by Anna Kovatcheva, 2/10/26, 19th century Bulgaria gothic with a traveling con artist (already sold)

7. Bed Rot Baby by Wendy Dalrymple, 2/10/26, a pre Y2k sugar baby selling stolen goods online gets attacked and decides to lay in bed and rot

8. Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose, 3/3/26, a disabled horror fanatic stays at a themed horror cabin in this meta slasher

9. The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton, 3/31/26, The Hacienda meets Sister Wives (wild comps), historical gothic horror, Mormon, Utah

10. The Fox and The Devil by Kiersten White, 3/10/26, gothic fantasy, obsession with an immortal serial killer

Which ones are you adding to your TBR?

All subscribers can now access the 2026 New Releases Spreadsheet! It is sortable by genre, target age, representation, and more!

To access the list click HERE

It's time for another director's cut review. Today I'll be talking about House of Splinters by Laura Purcell.

Title: House of Splinters

Author: Laura Purcell

Page Count: 368

Genre: Horror

Subgenre: Gothic Horror, Historical Horror, Haunted House/Objects

Themes/Tropes: Fresh Start, Creepy Figurines, Kids who see/hear things, Family Drama, Pregnancy

Series? Yes, Prequel to The Silent Companions

Setting: Victorian English Countryside Estate

Other Works By This Author: The Shape of Darkness, The Corset, The Poison Thread, The Whispering Muse

House of Splinters is a prequel to Purcell's 2017 novel, The Silent Companions. It has a similar premise to The Silent Companions, but definitely explores some new avenues. It also delves deeper into the family's dark history. Speaking of diving in, let's dive into this review.

First, let me give you a quick run down of what the novel is about. It follows Belinda Bainbridge who moves to her husband's family estate--The Bridge. Her father-in-law recently passed away at the estate, leaving it to her husband, Wilfred. A very pregnant Belinda and her five-year-old son Freddy travel to the manor expecting a new start. But the house has other plans. The garden is in ruins, the family is struggling financially, and the locals are not happy with the renovations being done on the grounds. To top it all off, life-like wooden figures keep popping up everywhere.The figures expression seem to change and they seem to move on their own. And Wilfred's estranged brother appears and Belinda begins questioning everything she thought she knew about her husband.

Get ready for a fantastic slow burn horror. The build definitely pays off in the end. These companions are absolutely terrifying. They don't have to say anything. All they have to do is exist. It's like my favorite kind of scare in the movies--something lurking in the background where only the viewer can see.

I loved the exploration into Wilfred's family. There is a lot of dark history there. Not everyone is who they seem to be. Readers of The Silent Companions will be familiar with the Anne Bainbridge diary and the horrors it uncovers. This book dives a bit deeper into what happened and how those events affect Belinda and her family.

Purcell's writing is guaranteed to suck you in. She's built such a tense atmosphere.

While I loved The Silent Companions more, this book still held me captive the entire time. I loved it!

I cannot thank netgalley and the publisher enough for allowing me to read this one early.

Hey hi hello! Apologies for such a late send out of December's Inner Circle perks form! I am officially finished with finals (I think I did well, but won't hear back for another week or two), and am playing catch up on everything that fell off my radar during dead week and finals.

To get your December Personalized Book Recs fill out THIS FORM.

Due to the fact that I have fallen massively behind on book reviews (both for y'all and for publishers) I am temporarily pausing the nominations of books for me to read and review. My goal for winter break is to catch up on reviews, after which I will hopefully reopen that aspect of Inner Circle perks. Every review I do post will go up on here as usual, but since I'm expecting several over the course of the month, I won't notify y'all by email every time--if you want a notification for book reviews, react to the message in #welcome in the discord server to get tagged on discord when posts go live.

To make the lack of this perk up to you, I've got a book round up of Holiday romance novels (58 books--mostly Christmas, some Hannukah, two New Years) ft disability representation coming your way soon! I'm still working on the graphics, but you can expect the post for sure by the first day of Hannukah (12/15).

Happy Holidays!

~ Kaley