Could You Love Horror and Not Know It?
Chances are good you've read/watched horror without knowing it . . .
Quick: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say, “horror?” Bloody knives? Disturbing chase scenes through dark places? Teenagers at sleepover parties scaring themselves silly?
You might want to think again.
Why?
Because horror is a very large, very diverse genre. It’s made up of the books and movies you typically think of. Slasher movies like Friday the 13th (all 50 of them), and Halloween, and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
But the horror genre is so much more. And chances are you’ve read or watched it, maybe without even being aware.
Did you know, for instance, that the original Dracula, penned by Bram Stoker, is a horror book? What about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein? The Picture of Dorian Gray is considered horror. Some people even call Jurassic Park a horror movie.
Come on, you might be saying. Jurassic Park?! (Check out this video by Benjamin Kreis for an interesting perspective on this.)
Defining Horror in Literature
To understand what constitutes a horror book, we first need to define horror. What is horror and what elements make it up?
Literary Terms offers this definition (paraphrased):
In literature, horror is a genre of fiction that creates a feeling of fear, dread, repulsion, and/or terror in the audience.
As I mentioned earlier, the horror genre is large and diverse. There are a variety of takes on what goes into a true horror book. On top of that, there are subgenres within the larger horror genre.
I like this list of subgenres via Masterclass:
Gothic
Occult
Paranormal
Dark fantasy
Survival
Science fiction horror
I’ve talked in a previous article about gothic horror, as it’s one of my favorite genres. But there are certain elements that a horror story needs to have to set it apart from other genres, say a thriller or suspense novel.
Elements of Horror
Savannah Gilbo is a fiction editor, course creator, and podcast host. She gives a brilliant list of key elements every horror novel should have. I recommend reading the full article, “The 10 Things Every Horror Novel Should Have” as Savannah has some great explanations on why these things need to be included in a solid horror story.
The element that stuck out to me most from this list was that the monster (or evil force) is extremely strong and powerful. In many cases, the hero isn’t fighting against another flesh and blood person. Often, in the horror genre, the protagonist wars against a dark entity, an evil spirit, or in some cases, a real live monster.
This is different than in suspense novels, where the good guy or girl is often battling another human. Maybe the bad guy is extremely powerful (or has very powerful friends) but he doesn’t have supernatural powers.
Another key element is that there is often a sense of claustrophobia in the horror genre—whether physical or in one’s mind.
Are You a Secret Horror Fan?
In this way, it’s easier to see how something like Jurassic Park could be considered a horror book/movie. It has monsters, a sense of fear and dread, and there is a claustrophobic feeling as the humans are marooned on an island with animals that want to eat them.
And often do.
Even if a book or movie isn’t considered “straight horror” it may have horror elements that cross over into it. Take, for instance, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (my favorite of her novels).
Ten strangers are invited to a beautiful home by an acquaintance . . . Only to realize soon that they are trapped on a remote island with a serial killer. Or is one of them the killer? As the guests are picked off one by one the reader is filled with dread. Who is the killer? Who is next?
My own books have been described by one reader as “cozy horror” and I love that description.
Whether or not you call yourself a horror fan or simply enjoy fast-paced thrilling books with a sense of dread that builds until the conclusion, I hope you’ll be more open to exploring this genre. It’s so much more than blood and guts and jump scares.
I'd love to hear your opinion on this. Do you consider yourself a horror fan? Or do you shy away from that title and if so, why?
J.P. Choquette is the author of cozy horror books set in Vermont. Atmospheric pageturners, her novels are gothic inspired and frequently tie in the themes of art, nature, and psychology. Her 11 novels have been downloaded nearly 25,000 times across multiple platforms.