A Little Dab of Horror Does It
I can’t write horror, but I love to dive into a good scary book or film every once in a while and scare myself. I love it when I can’t wait to turn the page, but dread it at the same time. I love it when the next scene makes the back of my neck staticky. And I’m a real sucker for fangs and claws-in stories.
There have been a lot of theories about why people buy books guaranteed to keep them awake at night or flock to see films like Psycho or Dracula and Dr. Hannibal Lecter. For me these are places to be scared, but safe. If I had to go mano a mano with a Zombie, you’d better believe I’d beat any sprinter’s time on the planet.
How about a little Ghoulash?
Quotes of the Week (2 in honor of my favorite holiday): “Horror films don’t create fear. They release it,” Wes Craven
“Where there is no imagination – there is no horror.” Arthur Conan Doyle
Now go out and make something terrifying. It’s October! See you in December. And if I have internet at all, I’ll be around to say hi before then.
My first horror was The Amytiville Horror, after which I started looking after my shoulder at every bump!
I've never tried writing horror before, but who knows, someday I might give it a go. I do like to be scared (on occasion and not too much, lol).
Also, I love those quotes! Especially the one about horror films releasing fear. That is such an interesting concept.
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbositybookreviews.wordpress.com
Just dropping in to wish you and yours a happy day today. I'm thankful that writing has brought me the opportunity to get to know you. Be well.
I can't write horror. My characters tend to say "pfft!" to scary things, so it doesn't make it very scary for the reader. I do enjoy reading them from time to time, though.
See you in December!
Same here, I read horror, but can't write it. I love the "atmosphere" of a good horror story, and therein lies the essence of a good horror book/film…at least I think.
Bravo! Scary stories are the best. I love writing them.
I read a book years ago (and can't remember the title!) about this demonic character who would stalk his victims, sitting in their rooms in the shadows for weeks before striking. The victims would never know he was there. I don't know why that creeped me out so much. but boy did it!
I don't like horror quite as much as I used to, but a well done horror film can still be a treat now and then. There is plenty of horror in the real world to keep us unsettled.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
SOTL is one of my all time favourites. Strangely, I never thought of it as horror until I saw it under that genre. Horror to me is Halloween, Friday 13, Rosemary's Mary, and let's not forget C A R R I E. Never watch them before bedtime!
If you get used to horror/thrillers and the page-turning fervor they inspire, it's kind of hard to read Contemp or Fantasy with the same interest. The stakes just aren't high enough, the scenes not as exciting. I wonder if that's what adrenaline junkies feel when they sky-dive or whatever. Normal working life pales in comparison.
I went through a phase of gobbling Stephen King and every scary movie I could get my hands on. Now, if it's even a little scary, I barricade the door and sleep with my 9 iron under the bed.
I still remember leaving the theater after seeing Silence of the Lambs. I was shaking like a leaf. I do like reading a good scary thriller!!! Though, not too crazy about tons of realistic gore…
Hey superstar author and totally awesome celebrity, Lee,
I can write horror. Every time I write something, anything, folks read it with horror.
Ghouls just wanna' have fun. Yes, my celebrity author friend, you were Craven for a comment from me…
Gary 🙂
Well, I can't write horror either.
But I've been reading A LOT of horror stories in the last few weeks.
It's good to stretch the imagination… *shivers*
Amazingly, I can read horror but I can't watch it. Doesn't make sense…
I've allowed myself to read a scary book and watch a scary movie a time or two. But I always pay the nightmare price for it. So trying to stay away from the truly frightening nowadays.
Hannibal's quote always gave me shivers.
I loved "Norman Bates" in psycho. Great post.
Yvonne.
I like the Conan Doyle quote. Dorianna, my twist on Dorian Grey was wicked fun to write because I didn't have to hold back the dread.
I used to read a lot of horror books when I was little. If I find a good one, I will now too, but it's not something I seek out as much. Horror movies are a no, though. I'm too big of a wuss.
Sacred but safe-that's it right there.
I do enjoy horror movies, as long as there isn't too much gore, but I don't think I've read too many horror books! The only one I can think of is Dracula. I guess I'll have to branch out more. 🙂
I do like the eerie in a limited way. I prefer mysteries to horror. Look forward to your return in December.
The good ones are fun to watch or read, but just gore or something stupid like Saw or Hostel, yeah, pffft to those.
That line for Hannibal Lecter gives me the chills every time. Such a great ending to the movie.
It's the unknown that scares us.
One of my favorite authors is H.P. Lovecraft. He knew how to write an unnerving story.
I have to agree with Craven on that.
Not much into reading horror, but I do like a good horror film.