Anya Novak, Author at The Mary Sue

Anya Novak

Anya Stanley (she/her) is a writer for The Mary Sue, most frequently covering the horror genre across mediums. Among her six+ years of working in the digital media and entertainment industry, Anya’s past works can also be found at The AV Club, Fangoria Magazine, and Crooked Marquee. See her smug face on Shudder's docuseries Behind the Monsters. When she’s not consuming every scary movie she can find, she is trying to add to the word count of her non-fiction book in progress (her second author credit following her chapter in Scared Sacred: Idolatry, Religion and Worship in the Horror Film, by House of Leaves Publishing). You can find more of her ravings on X (formerly Twitter) @BookishPlinko.

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A post-coital Axel (Shane Quigley-Murphy) sits in the foreground with an undressed Dakota (Paige Gilmour) in the background in ‘Kill Your Lover.’

Dark Comedy ‘Kill Your Lover’ Is Your New Favorite Breakup Movie

In the wake of a loving relationship torn asunder, sometimes all you can do is laugh and recoil.

A collage featuring some of the best classic horror movies on Shudder (clockwise from top left): 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,' 'The Night of the Living Dead,' 'Daughters of Darkness,' and 'Def by Temptation'

The Best Classic Horror Movies on Shudder Right Now

The movies on this list meet the simplest criteria: only those released before the year 2000 will make the cut.

A collage featuring some of the best horror comedy movies (clockwise from top left): 'Happy Death Day,' 'Bad Hair,' 'An American Werewolf in London,' and 'House'

Screaming, Crying, Laughing Through the Best Horror Comedies

Horror comedies are the cinematic equivalent of whistling past the graveyard, shuddering and chuckling at the same time.

A collage featuring some of the best '80s horror movies (clockwise from top left): 'The Thing,' 'Poltergeist,' 'The Shining,' and 'The Beyond'

The Best ’80s Horror Movies

In a decade filled with genre gold, these are the cream of the '80s horror crop.

Valak the Demon (Bonnie Aarons) takes the form of a nun and frightens a French schoolgirl in ‘The Nun II.’

REVIEW: ‘The Nun II’ Brings Double the She-nun-igans, Double the Fun

This sequel expands the action, expands the victim pool, and milks the big bad monster for smarter spooks this time around.

Gayle Rankin in the horror film 'Bad Things'

Shudder’s Latest Streaming Hit Is Filled With References to a Horror Classic

Folks watching Bad Things are sure to pick up on references to a Stanley Kubrick classic and the Stephen King bestseller on which it's based.

John Watson (Martin Freeman) and Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) in BBC's 'Sherlock.'

‘Sherlock’ Could Still Return for Season 5—or a Movie

While the stars of Sherlock are incredibly busy these days, there's still hope that the game could be afoot again soon.

A collage featuring photos from some of the best indie horror movies of the decade so far (clockwise from top left): 'Titane,' 'Barbarian,' 'Relic,' and 'Men.'

The Best Indie Horror Movies of the Decade (So Far)

The 2020s are well underway, and these are the best independent horror movies to emerge from the era so far.

Characters from 'American Horror Story,' 'Channel Zero,' 'Twin Peaks,' and 'Hannibal' on a glitchy TV screen background

The Best Horror TV Shows of All Time

From anthologies and adaptations to limited series that’ll leave you shaken and wanting more, the horror genre is thriving on TV.

A collage featuring stills from the best horror movies on Netflix right now (clockwise from top left): 'His House,' 'Annihilation,' 'Crimson Peak,' Incantation,' and 'Cam'

The Best Horror Movies To Watch on Netflix Right Now

From reboots of old classics to menacing mumblecore and foreign found footage, Netflix has something spooky for everyone.