Mexico is a culturally rich country with welcoming people, delicious food, and gorgeous scenery—and is also a land of storytellers.
Although I was not born in Mexico (unlike some of my family members) I did grow up listening to stories from my tata, who was born in Jalisco, Mexico. He wanted not only to pass down personal anecdotes of his early years living in his cherished home country but also to share with me the eerie folktales and popular legends that his grandparents had disclosed to him when he was younger.
Now, whether these unsettling stories were told to ensure he remained well-behaved or whether they actually did occur might be up for debate (although my great-grandmother used to swear she witnessed the legendary ghost of La Llorona as a young girl), these creepy tales were some of my favorites while growing up. It was my introduction to the horror genre.
Latinx and Hispanic horror authors honor these frightening stories that have been passed down throughout generations by putting their unique spin on ancient tales, while others, like those on this list, also take inspiration from Mexico by placing their characters within its diverse landscape.
From rural, haunted estates in 19th-century Mexico to the remote, sweltering desert of Baja California to the neighborhoods near the Texas-Mexico border, horror authors bring us exceptional stories ranging from slightly unnerving to undeniably terrifying that highlight the country’s history, showcase traditional paranormal legends, and also discuss the real-world fear of navigating an existence shrouded by systemic racism and xenophobia.
Blending the ancient with the modern and the supernatural with the real, the horror authors below capture the wide range of eclectic tales that Mexico has to offer and will have you shrieking (much like my late paternal grandma would have),“¡Ay, Dios mío!”
The Hacienda
A historical gothic horror novel set not long after the Mexican War of Independence follows Beatriz who, after her father’s execution and the loss of their home, accepts a proposal from the handsome Don Rodolfo Solórzano, hoping to regain a sense of security and social prestige that his countryside estate will afford. She’s willing to overlook the gossip concerning his late wife’s passing to gain a stable home in Hacienda San Isidro.
However, it proves to be an extremely unwelcoming place. After Rodolfo leaves to work in the capital, her housekeeper and her new sister-in-law treat her coldly, and if that weren’t bad enough, Beatriz begins to hear voices and see disturbing visions. There is a darkness that permeates the hacienda.
Determined to find answers, she enlists the help of Padre Andrés, whose skills as a witch may be her only chance of protecting herself against the evil residing in her new home. Atmospheric, engaging, and frightening while offering a slow-burn romance, The Hacienda is a must-read for those looking for a chilling story that includes Mexican history and folklore.
Piñata
This unsettling horror story is set in Mexico and New York and follows architect Carmen Sanchez as she travels to Mexico with her two daughters to complete renovations of an old abbey to transform it into a hotel, where she accidentally discovers centuries-old artifacts.
When they return home to New York from their trip, something decides to travel back with the three of them—something sinister and searching for vengeance. Those who are fans of possession stories will appreciate how the author examines historical violence and includes Mexican lore to create a disturbing, thought-provoking novel.
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the bestselling author of the historical horror novel Mexican Gothic, brings readers another captivating story. This time it's an unnerving sci-fi horror novel set in 19th-century Mexico, loosely inspired by H.G. Wells's The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Carlota Moreau, the only daughter of Dr. Moreau, has grown up on a secluded estate in the southern peninsula of Yucatán with her secretive, scientist father, who works with his assistant Montgomery Laughton on his hybrids but keeps the details of the part human, part animal experiments under wraps.
The unannounced arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, a son of the powerful family who makes it possible for Dr. Moreau to continue his unethical work, suddenly disrupts the precarious, fragile state of their lifestyle.
The story masterfully explores feminist themes and discusses social inequality through its well-developed, empathetic characters, who contribute to this engaging read and whose story will leave you reeling after the shocking final reveal.
The Houseguest and Other Stories
Mexican author Amparo Dávila’s macabre horror stories have been compared to those of exceptional storytellers such as Franz Kafka, Edgar Allen Poe and Shirley Jackson.
In this 12-short story collection, Dávila presents tales of the uncanny that force her characters into states of intense paranoia and fear. Paranormal forces lurk within her stories, alongside mysterious figures who stalk individuals to the brink of insanity.
This skilled psychological horror writer knows how to blur the edges of reality, keeping readers as unsettled and disoriented as the protagonists of her stories. This disconcerting collection will get under your skin, making you contemplate them long after you finish the final tale.
Desert Flowers
It’s the 1960s in Baja California, Mexico, and Rose and Elmer have created a peaceful life together with their daughters in the middle of the desert. Being cut off from the hustle and bustle of city life has its upsides and downsides; for instance, the family bond is as close as can be, but having only your siblings and parents to talk to can often be lonely.
Therefore, when a hiker named Rick stumbles upon their house and asks to stay the night, it’s a refreshing break from their monotonous routine—until they realize that Rick may be hiding his intentions. But Rose and Elmer have some secrets of their own and are willing to go to great lengths to protect their close-knit family unit from this intruder who threatens to ruin their serene existence.
Twisted and unexpected, this horror thriller will have your heart racing as the truth slowly unravels.
Aura
Remembered as the father of modern Latin American literature, Carlos Fuentes uses horror and magical realism to weave a dreamy yet unsettling story in this 1962 short novel that has spurred controversy in Mexico due to its blending of sexuality and religion.
Felipe Montero accepts a job that appears strangely ideal and seemingly made for him—working for an aged widow to edit her husband’s memoirs, who has passed away. The only downside is that he must live in the house to complete his project. What ultimately sways his mind is Aura, the breathtakingly gorgeous green-eyed niece of his employer.
As he begins falling for Aura’s alluring magnetism, Felipe starts to wonder if this new job is too good to be true and whether the mesmerizing young woman is being completely truthful about why she and her aunt have enlisted his help.
Splendidly surprising, this gothic horror story will alter your expectations and leave you completely satisfied with its startling conclusion.
The Devil Takes You Home: A Novel
Described as a “Barrio Noir,” taking place within the border towns of Texas and Mexico, this brutal horror thriller from Puerto Rican novelist Gabino Iglesias is a journey through the deterioration of one man’s moral compass, a weary soul drawn to violence out of the desperation that poverty, racism and an inadequate health care system breed.
Needing to find a job fast to keep up with the mounting medical bills of his young daughter, Mario becomes a hitman, well aware that, despite his guilt, he is fully capable of killing anyone to support his family.
But after Mario’s worst nightmare comes to fruition, he agrees to a dangerous job involving the Mexican cartel that will either leave him with $200,000 or a dead man.
You’ll want to tear your eyes away from the page but will feel compelled to bear witness to the unapologetically raw reality of human cruelty in this fantastic supernatural horror crime novel.
Monstrilio
This brilliantly bizarre debut literary horror novel examines how far we are willing to go in the name of “unconditional love” by exposing a heartbroken mother’s odd grieving process.
After their 11-year-old son Santiago passes away, Magos returns to her childhood home in Mexico City from New York. There, she is told a folktale by their housekeeper that eases her pain.
According to the story, a piece of flesh can transform into a sentient being if someone devotes time and energy to nurturing it. Unable to disregard the story, she decides to begin feeding a piece of Santiago’s lung that she had been safely storing.
Eventually, the tiny portion of her deceased son develops into a carnivorous Monstrilio and then slowly begins to resemble her child’s appearance, but unfortunately, not his sweet temperament, as “M” grows into an impulsive, volatile man.
Through four perspectives broken into four acts, readers witness love’s contradictions—the selflessness and selfishness it elicits from those desperate to hold onto their loved one's presence in whatever form they may take.
