There are a few things in my life I feel I have to explain to people more than I should find the need. One of those such things is my passion and love for the horror genre as a whole. For those who have never really understood the genre or even given it a real fighting chance, I get asked over and over…why horror?
Honestly, this is nothing new for me. Ever since I can remember I have been a fan of things that might be considered slightly fringe or a bit outside the mainstream to friends, family, and co-workers. A skateboarder in my younger years, listening to heavier music which included screaming, distorted guitars, double bass drums, and breakdowns–which came along with gauged ears and black clothing, my enjoyment in reading comics, and now I would include my love for horror. All things that I have felt the need to explain my reasoning for my enjoyment, more than I felt my friends and family needed to for their own passions.
My love for horror grew as I got older, but have always had at least some sort of draw towards the genre. When I was younger I loved to dive into a good R.L. Stine Goosebumps book such as The Haunted Mask or One Day at HorrorLand and dabbled a bit with Are You Afraid of the Dark? on Nickelodeon, but it wasn’t until my adult years where I found myself engrossed in the genre unable to escape.
Reading horror comics is where my journey in the genre took a big jump, as I had already loved reading single issue superhero comics based in the Marvel Universe, it felt like an easy transition to reading horror comics. After getting a real taste of what was offered in comics, I found myself looking to catch up on classic horror films, and then eventually reading Stephen King and other horror novels. Now, if it’s horror then I want it.
Horror is a genre that has many sub-genres, and while its not the only genre like this, it feels to me as one that can get away with more when it comes to mixing various categories. Over the years we have gotten horror-romance, horror-comedy, horror-mystery, horror-heist, and so much more. While other genres can add romance or comedy to their tale, it’s mostly feels fleeting and doesn’t always feel right to me. When it comes to horror, it’s another way to tell something frightening and terrifying but add more to it. Bloody kills and jump scares can be featured around a romance or even a musical, and it becomes something unique and special.
It’s the blurred lines of real-life horrors and fiction stories that brings me close the genre the most. Telling stories that have real world implications, but also feature something supernatural or takes the real-life terror and brings it to the next level is where I find most of my enjoyment lies. We live in a crazy and mostly terrifying world these days and what the horror authors are doing these days with taking these issues and crafting iconic and wonderful tales around them has been something amazing. These underlying stories can be featured in slashers, splatter-punk, monster feature, and more. It’s what makes this genre special.
My story doesn’t feature a terrifying childhood experience, a terrible upbringing, or a close family member who introduced me to horror, but each story on why horror means something us matters in the end. To me, I guess I find myself always gravitated to horror because I have always like things where people question my passion and while I might get annoyed with people questioning my passion for this wonderful genre, it’s likely I started down this path because I enjoy being questioned…why horror? However, now many years into reading and watching these scary books or flicks, I enjoy the genre as the work of art they all are.
From the low-budget film to the indie comic to the major book publication, horror is for us all.
Once you get a taste of the wide variety there is to offer in horror, you will be introduced to the amazing community that is horror fandom. Horror authors are not only passionate for storytelling, but also for the readers that follow their careers. The book release events, horror panels, spooktastic book fairs, and Halloween book festivals are something you have to experience to understand. These authors, fans, readers, and bookstores have a passion for this genre and–for the most part–have each other’s backs. A collaborative section of life like I rarely see these days.
My why horror essay is the result of reading and discussing Why I Love Horror with editor Becky Siegel Spratford. This amazing book explores the relationship of 18 horror authors and their love for the genre. It wasn’t easy to write this why horror essay, not because I needed to justify my love for the genre, but because I found it hard to explain in words my love for horror. However, if you liked this essay, check out Why I Love Horror from Saga Press.
Loving horror is finding comfort in the uncomfortable. Finding enjoyment in the frightening. Things most of us live with each day. The horror community, from the authors to the publishers to the readers, is an amazing place to be and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Why horror? Honestly, because I feel like I have found my place.
