My favorite writers are Edgar Allan Poe, Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, Algernon Blackwood, etc. I also like works by modern writers such as Stephen King and Neil Gaiman. In addition, I love classic horror novels, like Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Picture of Dorian Gray, etc. I'm also a fan of the 1960s horror films, such as those produced by Hammer, etc. The thing is, though, that I absolutely deplore slasher films, torture porn, and a lot of the gore used in almost all modern horror films, and much of the literature as well. So, how can I describe the type of horror that I like, and is that even considered horror, or just dark fantasy?
It's still horror, in my view. Some of it may bleed over into dark fantasy. The lines become blurry there. While the gory, slasher-type horror has been fairly popular in the past couple of decades, it's not all that it out there. Those are just subgenres of horror, in my opinion.
I kind-of get what you're saying, but it's difficult, as you're comparing two different mediums. You like horror literature, but not horror films. Sure, you like some horror films, but only those of a certain era. What do you think of the films based on Stephen King's novels? And how do you imagine his novels as you read them? I picture the horrific deaths he sometimes describes as being far worse than they actually show in the movies. But that's all up to how your imagination works. What you picture will be different to what I picture. Neither of us are wrong. The same goes with Lovecraft's stories? 'ReAnimator' is pretty shocking. Either way, that's all just food for thought. Horror doesn't have to be gory. People don't have to get killed on every other page. You're still a horror fan.
Horror is inherently a schlocky genre, no matter how the schlock is delivered. I don't like slashers too much either, but anything with occults and paranormal oddities and I'm down for it! lol We enjoy horror for the stimulation it gives that the other genres generally don't, or can't. So maybe you are a horror fan after all!
Horror should be scary, not necessarily gore fest. Fear is key component along with a good build up filled with suspense and mystery. Clive Barker does a decent job playing either side: psychological, and shock value through gore. I recommend his book of short stories The Inhuman Condition, or his other collections of short stories series Books of Blood. Barker presents a mastery of horror that is very fun to read, as he has a very morbid imagination. Even Stephen King admits he is not as good as Clive Barker when it comes down to writing horror. In my opinion I agree as King is boring, and I like to be engaged and not articulated at when it comes down to the grit between the two. IDK perhaps I like to sit on the edge and let the plot run up to a great ending. In movies (at least the newer ones) within the genre are not really that great, and tend to be drawn out letting the horror be unveiled in the last 10-15 minutes that tends be anti climatic. The newest in the genre I thought was well balanced and had an decent twist was The Parlor. Yes it did have the same standard like every other modern horror movie: college kids partying and having sex, friends that go missing, etc. A lot felt like filler, but what was interesting was the villain/s in the story. Sad day when you actually find the "bad guy" of the story having more depth than the protagonists. I guess what I am getting at is it takes some imagination to find ways of unnerving your audience. Be it simply through shock value, or by creating a more complex thrill ride. Not a horror expert, just sharing an opinion.
Yes, you're a horror fan. And what's more you're a horror fan of impeccable tastes. Give me Hammer and Amicus, any day, over the despicable shite that masquerades as horror now.
I would probably call you a mainstream horror fan because everybody's heard of Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen King etc. Of course, everyone's also heard of Hostel and Saw, so maybe that's not accurate. If someone liked Jack Kilborn, Matt Shaw and Martyrs I would call them an extreme horror fan. For what it's worth, I'm a big fan of extreme horror and gore but they can't beat a good psychological horror. The idea of something incredibly scary and painful is usually so much more frightening than having something scary and painful described in great detail.
Your question reminded me of the occasion when I asked my dad, in my befuddled teenage state when you're really a little dumb: Dad, am I hungry? His response was, if you gotta ask, then don't eat. In Chinese it sounds even better. I can't quite think of an adequate translation I'm sorry, I'm very tired and should really be asleep. Ignore me. Story's true though.
Haha didn't see that! Now that reminds me of something else. When I first joined a student forum back in the days when I was applying to university, I didn't know a thing about forums or the fact that there are dates on every post. I just started replying to everything that sounded interesting. And then one day a member wrote somewhere, as a reply to an ancient thread I'd dug up, "Who's doing this all over the forum?!"
I'm sorry if this is out of place here, but have any of you horror writers, psychological and experimental included, used beta readers to get advice? Or would you? Should this be better asked in the critique thread?
