Why Do We Love Horror Fiction?

Appropriately, for the time of year, I am currently reading a novel in the Dracula genre.  This is Dracul, co-written by Dacre Stoker (the great-grand nephew of Bram Stoker) and J. D. Barker.  It is written as a prequel to Bram Stoker’s original Dracula, inspired by Stoker’s own notes and journals.

It is deeply chilling, darkly gothic, with that build-up of tension that you know is going to end with something bad…

Every time I pick up the book it is with a mixture of feelings.  On the one hand I feel apprehensive, wondering whether I should be reading this late at night.  On the other hand, there is a thrill; a compulsion to continue to read. 

I ask myself, ‘Why?’  Why do so many people love the horror genre?  To be honest, I don’t watch a lot of horror films – they tend to be a little too gruesome and graphic for me – but I do like a dark novel, as long as it’s well written.  But what is it about the genre that holds so much fascination, and makes writers like Stephen King so popular?

The answer lies in much the same reasons that I touched on in my blog post, ‘Ursula le Guin and the Fantasy/Science Fiction Genre’ (https://www.rosamundebott.com/ursula-le-guin/).  Any fantasy, horror included, is a way of exploring our emotions, while remaining detached.  In fantasy, we have the ability to explore human themes such as heroism, courage or companionship (for example) in a way that is engaging and entertaining, lifting these themes out of the every-day mundane, whilst at the same time being able to apply them to our own realistic world. 

In horror, we are able to explore our own fears, whilst remaining detached and safe.  We are in control.  We can put the book down, or turn the movie off.  We can reach into and acknowledge the dark depths of our psyche without actually having to come face to face with real demons.

In horror, we are able to explore our own fears, whilst remaining detached and safe.  We are in control. 

In reality, we like to be safe.  We spend a lot of our time making sure that we, and our loved ones, are safe.  We worry when we think they might not be safe.  We don’t put ourselves into life-threatening situations if we can help it.  The trouble with this is that life can become a little too safe and mundane.  We miss out on the adrenalin rush – the ‘fight or flight’ state that happens when we do meet a dangerous situation, which actually gives us a buzz and makes us feel alive.  That is why so many people love roller coasters, so they can experience that feeling under a controlled and safe environment.

There is also the learning element. To some extent, we feel that by reading something scary, we are better able to deal with the scary things in real life. As Stephen King said, ‘We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones’.

We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.

Stephen King

But it’s just kind of fun to read something terrifying, whilst knowing we are safe. We can read or watch horror, and get that deliciously thrilling chill, knowing that if we wish we can look up from the book and know that we are in our nice, comfy, safe bedroom. 

Except… wait… what was that cold draught?  And what is that shadow in the corner of the room…?

Happy Halloween!