I'm about to start running Ghosts of Saltmarsh for my players, and I like to try and get into the vibe of the campaign by watching movies or reading books that match the tone or setting. Looking for any recommendations for good stuff set in or around spooky fishing villages, cursed voyages, smugglers and fish monsters, etc. Fantasy is ideal but open to other genres. Shadow Over Innsmouth seems obvious and I have a copy of China Mieville's The Scar, any other ideas?
If you're interested in the creepy side of things, these could be useful:
John Carpenter - The Fog (1980) - a curse afflicting a seaside town results in a malevolent fog and zombie sailors. It's got some great examples of building suspense and drama.
Ghost Ship (2002) - salvagers discover a valuable ship floating and claim it, only to discover evil forces at work. Pacing can be a bit off on this one, but an interesting theme and portrayal of the inescapability of being stuck on a ship with bad things.
Might seem pretty basic, but revisit the first Pirates of the Caribbean. It's a great pulp adventure with swashbuckling, curses, ghost pirates (kinda), and when treated as a stand-alone I think it holds up.
Hardy Boys are honestly a pretty good primer for Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh. I've even watched an old Scooby Doo, to try to put the pacing together in my head. More just general Saltmarsh atmosphere: An old B/W movie called Man of Aran; The Lighthouse, which just came out, with Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe; an old Tom Baker Doctor Who called Horror of Fang Rock; the original Pete's Dragon; The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh; an old radio play with Vincent Price called 3 Skeleton Key; Perfect Storm (just to get a sense of fishermen's lives); Broadchurch; Jaws; If you want to do something with the fight between the fishermen and the miners, any number of old westerns.
If you're doing all the things in Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Ghost Ship will remind you a LOT of Salvage Operation. The Fog has some great imagery for Isle of the Abbey. I think I remember reading somewhere that The Styes was inspired by China Mieville.
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I'm about to start running Ghosts of Saltmarsh for my players, and I like to try and get into the vibe of the campaign by watching movies or reading books that match the tone or setting. Looking for any recommendations for good stuff set in or around spooky fishing villages, cursed voyages, smugglers and fish monsters, etc. Fantasy is ideal but open to other genres. Shadow Over Innsmouth seems obvious and I have a copy of China Mieville's The Scar, any other ideas?
Hmm... I can't think of any good ones, but would like to hear if anyone else does.
Pirates of the Caribbean comes to mind, but I would not put stock in its accuracy...
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D&D Beyond FoundersIf you're interested in the creepy side of things, these could be useful:
John Carpenter - The Fog (1980) - a curse afflicting a seaside town results in a malevolent fog and zombie sailors. It's got some great examples of building suspense and drama.
Ghost Ship (2002) - salvagers discover a valuable ship floating and claim it, only to discover evil forces at work. Pacing can be a bit off on this one, but an interesting theme and portrayal of the inescapability of being stuck on a ship with bad things.
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Might seem pretty basic, but revisit the first Pirates of the Caribbean. It's a great pulp adventure with swashbuckling, curses, ghost pirates (kinda), and when treated as a stand-alone I think it holds up.
Hardy Boys are honestly a pretty good primer for Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh. I've even watched an old Scooby Doo, to try to put the pacing together in my head. More just general Saltmarsh atmosphere: An old B/W movie called Man of Aran; The Lighthouse, which just came out, with Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe; an old Tom Baker Doctor Who called Horror of Fang Rock; the original Pete's Dragon; The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh; an old radio play with Vincent Price called 3 Skeleton Key; Perfect Storm (just to get a sense of fishermen's lives); Broadchurch; Jaws; If you want to do something with the fight between the fishermen and the miners, any number of old westerns.
If you're doing all the things in Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Ghost Ship will remind you a LOT of Salvage Operation. The Fog has some great imagery for Isle of the Abbey. I think I remember reading somewhere that The Styes was inspired by China Mieville.