Never been a horror fan, but I managed to write a horror short story that will be in the "Gore 3," an anthology of horror/gore stories coming out in Oct 2023 from Poe Boy Publishing. It's easier to write horror and gore than to read or watch, or so I learned. Interesting experience, stepping outside my usual genre of literary fiction.
I did the story after seeing the call for entries and as a challenge to myself. I also prefer the quieter horror. One of my faves is "Night of the Demon" (the uncut British version).
Oh the darkness inside of us! Horror fiction is an exorcism in itself, allowing us to go places we’d rather not acknowledge. Well written, Martine! And I love gazpacho!
I've really come around to horror the last few years, I think it took a little while for me to recover from a far too early exposure to slashers and killer sharks. Still not much for "torture" porn, but I loves me Meg movies! 🦈
I'm not a big fan of "in your face" horror movies, I think they're silly. I enjoy the Final Destination kind of stuff and the tension-filled kind, like the old The Hitcher with Rudger Hauer, that's a treat! And the first Alien is one of my all-time favorites... don't tell me it's not a horror movie :)
I love the way horror evolves with the times. The Cold War had a huge impact on the horror movies of my childhood in the 50s and early 60s. Those alien invasion movies, with the intellectually superior but soulless creatures (often with hive minds), defeated by the scrappy, ingenious (American) earthlings were pretty obvious allegories. Invasion of the Body Snatchers reminded us that the Commies were living amongst us. The fear of the bomb inspired a lot of horror. The warning at the end of The Thing--Keep looking! Keep watching the skies!--definitely struck a chord. The challenge of horror writers is to take the horror we see on the news and find a way to make it digestible in the safety of fiction.
The safety of fiction, I love that. Telling ghost stories by the camp fire because it's so dark out there. The essential role of storytellers to cushion the fear.
The Gothic really took off late 18th century/early 19th. Horror Gothic dates back to The Monk and involves being disgusted, shocked, grossed out. Terror Gothic dates back to Ann Radcliffe and involves surprise/suspense/what's around the corner? Sometimes movie makers blend both.
Ah yes, I overlooked the Gothic branch that leans heavily on folk tales, hauntings, etc. I guess I need to write an addendum :) Your comment reminded me of Charles Perrault (late 17th century), some of his fairy tales have strong horror vibes: Bluebeard, in particular, Little Red Riding Hood.
For a long time Northanger Abbey was my favorite Austen since I'd spent a whole year reading dozens of Gothics, some of them in their original printings (a friend at Columbia borrowed them for me).
Never been a horror fan, but I managed to write a horror short story that will be in the "Gore 3," an anthology of horror/gore stories coming out in Oct 2023 from Poe Boy Publishing. It's easier to write horror and gore than to read or watch, or so I learned. Interesting experience, stepping outside my usual genre of literary fiction.
Ah, gore, you're getting deeper than I do... I like the quiet, insidious kind... very little blood, lots of anguish!
I did the story after seeing the call for entries and as a challenge to myself. I also prefer the quieter horror. One of my faves is "Night of the Demon" (the uncut British version).
Oh the darkness inside of us! Horror fiction is an exorcism in itself, allowing us to go places we’d rather not acknowledge. Well written, Martine! And I love gazpacho!
I also write horror occasionally, and like you, I love the freedom it gives me to play with the supernatural. Great post!
Thank you, Janet. Exploring the meaning of mystery!
I've really come around to horror the last few years, I think it took a little while for me to recover from a far too early exposure to slashers and killer sharks. Still not much for "torture" porn, but I loves me Meg movies! 🦈
I'm not a big fan of "in your face" horror movies, I think they're silly. I enjoy the Final Destination kind of stuff and the tension-filled kind, like the old The Hitcher with Rudger Hauer, that's a treat! And the first Alien is one of my all-time favorites... don't tell me it's not a horror movie :)
LOVE Alien, all of them, any of them, don't care 👽New one coming next August...
Crouton caught 😂
They're not safe near me...
I love the way horror evolves with the times. The Cold War had a huge impact on the horror movies of my childhood in the 50s and early 60s. Those alien invasion movies, with the intellectually superior but soulless creatures (often with hive minds), defeated by the scrappy, ingenious (American) earthlings were pretty obvious allegories. Invasion of the Body Snatchers reminded us that the Commies were living amongst us. The fear of the bomb inspired a lot of horror. The warning at the end of The Thing--Keep looking! Keep watching the skies!--definitely struck a chord. The challenge of horror writers is to take the horror we see on the news and find a way to make it digestible in the safety of fiction.
The safety of fiction, I love that. Telling ghost stories by the camp fire because it's so dark out there. The essential role of storytellers to cushion the fear.
The Gothic really took off late 18th century/early 19th. Horror Gothic dates back to The Monk and involves being disgusted, shocked, grossed out. Terror Gothic dates back to Ann Radcliffe and involves surprise/suspense/what's around the corner? Sometimes movie makers blend both.
Ah yes, I overlooked the Gothic branch that leans heavily on folk tales, hauntings, etc. I guess I need to write an addendum :) Your comment reminded me of Charles Perrault (late 17th century), some of his fairy tales have strong horror vibes: Bluebeard, in particular, Little Red Riding Hood.
For a long time Northanger Abbey was my favorite Austen since I'd spent a whole year reading dozens of Gothics, some of them in their original printings (a friend at Columbia borrowed them for me).
Love this, Martine! I generally don't think of myself as a horror fan, but I like some of the films you mentioned, so I guess I am. ;)