I can definitely say that I grew up on a lot of horror films -- and it wasn't always a good thing. I remember when I was younger my older sister, two older cousins, and I would stay at our grandparents' house after school while our parents were at work. I was about five years old at the time, and I can remember very vividly the worst experience I've had with a horror film, ever. I was completely terrified of Stephen King’s "IT," but being the youngest I had no say in what we would watch. So, of course, my cousin would put on "IT," and I would always say, “tell me when IT is not on the screen.” What would happen? He would pause the movie to where IT’s face was directly on the screen and tell me that the scary part was over; to this day, I still have that little fear in the back of my mind of IT coming for me.
To some extent, I think my dad's love for horror may have rubbed off on me. I still remember his collection of the Halloween movies, as well as the collection of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (which is now mine). It way beyond the movies, though. I remember when I was very young, he went all out on his Halloween costume: Michael Myers. My family went out and bought every piece of clothing that Michael Myers wore in the movies, and his costume was flawless.
So why is it that I've grown to love horror so much? It isn't just about the films. It's also about the art, the literature, the music, etc. For me, it's all about the idea of going into depths from which most people stray away. For lack of better words, being able to get a taste and delve into the dark side. The creativity of horror makers goes beyond many other genres, and my love for horror always grows stronger. From the literature of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, to 80s slasher films, I have gained a huge appreciation for horror. But like any other things, there are pros and cons to being a horror enthusiast.
PRO: The adrenaline rush of watching something scary.
No matter how much you love horror, there will always be something that scares you, and that just makes it all the better. If you weren't even the least bit scared, it wouldn't be as enjoyable. No matter how much a horror fan tries to mask their fear, there are things that go beyond that of the human imagination and give you chills. It's only natural.
CON: The stigma around being a horror fan.
Much like with metal music, when some people hear that you love horror films, their reaction is, “Oh my god, you're so scary,” or they'll automatically assume you're a devil worshiper, or that you're some type of serial killer. It's really not like that, at all. I can honestly say that I've been watching horror films since I was born, and have not killed a single person, thank you very much. People's reaction to horror is often negative, but our love for horror is no different than your love for Justin Bieber, or whatever else you may be into.
PRO: The amazing community.
The community of horror fans is such a great one. When you meet someone that loves horror as much as you, the conversation can be endless. We're also just a really fun group of people to be around. Being able to talk about the grossest things without sounding weird, it's a good feeling.
CON: Modern horror movies.
Maybe it's just me, but I feel like horror movies nowadays are just so unoriginal. Every horror movie that seems to come out in theaters is always about exorcisms, religion, and the paranormal. It's getting really old. I also feel like it's pretty obvious how fake the graphics are. One of my favorite horror films is "The Evil Dead" because of the creativity with props. They use grits and barbecue sauce! What's not to love?
Nonetheless, horror lives forever!
