Dark And Twisted Stories October 1, 2016 12:27 19 Comments

Variety is, indeed, the spice of life. I enjoy a different type of scene from time to time, and I know I’m not the only one. The same desire for variety extends to my games, and I often find myself craving a story filled with depravity and dark intentions. Of course, I have my own limits within that field, and I know it’s not for everyone. It’s because of this that I like to reference movies or shows that can accurately reflect how dark my story will go. In this article I will list a few stories that inspire my own dark sagas.

Penny Dreadful: First on the list is Penny Dreadful, a perfect example as it takes place in Victorian era England. This series tackles supernatural stories depicted within the era, including one Doctor Frankenstein, a personal favorite of mine. There are people sick with disease, victims dying from nocturnal monsters, and talk about the mysterious Jack the Ripper. There’s plenty of blood and gore to go around, and the depravity evoked in some scenes can leave the viewer speechless. If I were to rate the level of darkness here, I would give it a 10/10. I have been affected by some scenes that I did not expect to witness, and I have yet to find any story that raises the bar.

If you want to watch Penny Dreadful yourself, it is currently available on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon.

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Van Helsing: When I want a lighter shade of dark story, I turn to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Van Helsing. The movies may have had an action feeling to them, but there are dark atmospheres that emphasize individual corruption.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novel depicts visuals that give more insight into the characters as well, and many of my stories are inspired by these scenes. My favorite character’s depiction is Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, as the reader learns how the characters have taken a different development than in their original story. I would rate these stories at a 6/10 on level of darkness as they don’t go into as much depravity as other stories. They are more lighthearted and more appealing to a wider audience.

Both of these films can be found on DVD, and may be available on streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu.

Written Horrors: When in doubt, it never hurts to turn to some classic literature to inspire your dark adventures. Many works by Edgar Allen Poe or H.P. Lovecraft can offer interesting experiences for your party, and, if you’re interested, you can even start to give the story some supernatural tones.

Thank you all for reading. If you have stories that inspire you, feel free to share them on the comments below or begin a discussion on our reddit page here. Until next time, Cheers and Gears!