I really enjoyed this! Modern horror is a genre I tend to stay away from, but I also love classic gothic fiction (Frankenstein, Dracula, Edgar Allen Poe). I think you articulate why a lot of modern horror is tough for me-it can be excessively gory, explicit, or blur the lines between good and evil. But classic/quality horror doesn’t do that-same with classic detective fiction (my husband is always confused by the fact that I can’t handle horror movies but find Sherlock Holmes cozy). I also really liked your point that seemingly calm/light watches can be more dangerous for us than we think-I constantly am discerning where to draw the line with entertainment that I know is trying to promote moral/intellectual beliefs opposed to mine
I'm usually too creeped out by most horror films but I really appreciated "Nope" and some of M. Night Shyamalan's work ("Old" for instance). The only truly horrifying film I've ever seen, though, is "Requiem for a Dream," because what it shows is *really happening*. Yet despite the abjectness at that film's ending, it excellently portrays the consequences of bad decisions; its moral sense remains true.
Your point about balancing darkness and hope was well put—that's probably the reason I don't care for much of Lovecraft's stories. In them, the monsters remain undefeated; the stories are deliberately written to promote a sense of helplessness and despair, which are qualities that simply don't align with my Christian view of the world.
Yes, there are many horror films that are still not for me! I’ve never seen Requiem for a Dream, but that’s a good point: sometimes a “bad” ending can work. I think I just prefer the endings where good triumphs. I haven’t read Lovecraft yet, but I’ve read “Lovecraftian” stories. Stranger Things has the kind of ancient evil of Lovecraft, but does a good job of being hopeful (although the monster isn’t completely defeated yet, but hopefully by the end of the show!)
I really enjoyed this! Modern horror is a genre I tend to stay away from, but I also love classic gothic fiction (Frankenstein, Dracula, Edgar Allen Poe). I think you articulate why a lot of modern horror is tough for me-it can be excessively gory, explicit, or blur the lines between good and evil. But classic/quality horror doesn’t do that-same with classic detective fiction (my husband is always confused by the fact that I can’t handle horror movies but find Sherlock Holmes cozy). I also really liked your point that seemingly calm/light watches can be more dangerous for us than we think-I constantly am discerning where to draw the line with entertainment that I know is trying to promote moral/intellectual beliefs opposed to mine
I'm usually too creeped out by most horror films but I really appreciated "Nope" and some of M. Night Shyamalan's work ("Old" for instance). The only truly horrifying film I've ever seen, though, is "Requiem for a Dream," because what it shows is *really happening*. Yet despite the abjectness at that film's ending, it excellently portrays the consequences of bad decisions; its moral sense remains true.
Your point about balancing darkness and hope was well put—that's probably the reason I don't care for much of Lovecraft's stories. In them, the monsters remain undefeated; the stories are deliberately written to promote a sense of helplessness and despair, which are qualities that simply don't align with my Christian view of the world.
Yes, there are many horror films that are still not for me! I’ve never seen Requiem for a Dream, but that’s a good point: sometimes a “bad” ending can work. I think I just prefer the endings where good triumphs. I haven’t read Lovecraft yet, but I’ve read “Lovecraftian” stories. Stranger Things has the kind of ancient evil of Lovecraft, but does a good job of being hopeful (although the monster isn’t completely defeated yet, but hopefully by the end of the show!)
This was such an insightful piece - thank you! It helped put words to my love of most things True Crime and the Suspense/Horror genre.
Thank you! I’m glad it could help.