It’s an odd thing for me, horror. I have defended it, been scared by it, wanted to read it, watch it and write it, and by extension, share it.
Now I give more thought to why I feel the need. I would say my childhood was both molded and traumatised by horror films and books (mostly films), yet I cannot leave it alone. They have partly made me who I am, shaped my phobias and fears and set me upon this path.
But I wonder, should people like me share the story in it’s full unbridled horror, or should we filter it? For those who don’t have an imagination themselves or are limited with it, are we just putting unnecessary concepts and ideas forward? Ones that shouldn’t have ever got out? And after we have written it, it can take on a new form where the horror or idea no longer belongs to us, is no longer down to the imagination. Film and its brutal visual imagery assault can be both impressive and terrifying. But lets be clear, it is an assault on the senses. Just one we choose. But why?
All stories can evoke feeling and emotion, so why do we choose to put ourselves through heartbreak, love, horror, fear, intrigue and laughter, for something that is not happening to us or anyone we know. Is it because it is safe? Because it isn’t happening to us and we can just pause, identify from afar or turn it off? Unlike real life.
I am in two minds about whether we should, just because we can…
(c) K L Wicks
MKW Publishing 
I’m not a fan of out and out horror. Mostly because my brain doesn’t let the story go once I’ve walked away. Even as an adult. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a genre. There are tons of people that get a thrill out of it and it really doesn’t cause any lasting harm (to most people). If you cross that line, then it is something entirely different.
It is like amusement park rides. Some people really enjoy the thrill of that adrenaline rush. Others would be hurling just looking at the ride. As long as they are safe and people have a choice to get on or not, there are no issues. It is when you push the boundaries and it becomes no longer safe that you have to worry.
If what you are doing isn’t encouraging others to go out and commit horrible acts, on themselves or others, then it is just entertainment. As long as it is made clear from the beginning what your content is so that others have enough information to decide for themselves, then I say keep it going if it is what you enjoy.
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I know a lot of people who ‘don’t do’ horror, I’ve always been a bit on my own with that. But I like the psychology of it too. Interestingly enough, it was a point of subject when talking about Aphantasia – because like you, a film does not leave me when it finishes. But on the flipside, if the film doesn’t follow you, after the initial scare or jump, the concept of a creeping fear of something you can’t see – isn’t there! At all it would seem. I even asked about being scared of anything under the bed in childhood – or the movies where you couldn’t see the monster. Nothing. So the tension of what you ‘imagine’ wasn’t there. I guess it made me give even more thought to why horror can be effective or not in its goal of scaring people.
But everyone has their trigger. I don’t agree with encouraging terrible acts at all either, but as people are different and have different levels of suggestibility, it’s hard to say what’s really crossing the line these days. I find the news, media, people and current affairs more harmful and encouraging than any movie or book.
Definitely think people should be warned of what’s coming – even though i like horror, really does my head in late in the evening when you’re watching normal TV and a horror trailer happens and throws some random terror in your face for 10 seconds. Not cool at all, although may be great for some, not me.
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The Aphantasia angle is interesting. How does that tie in with noises you can’t place? My daughter has been absolutely creeped out by by some weird noises that have been happening at night (most likely a mouse somewhere). Normally, the scary stuff from movies or videos don’t bother her (she really hasn’t seen much, though), but this has really messed with her.
Yes, I’d absolutely appreciate a warning. I don’t like things that jump out at me. I once had someone ask me to review their book. I agreed, not knowing it fell into that category. I thought it was more of a suspense/thriller kind of thing, not an out and out horror. I got into it and was really bothered by the level of absolute detail in the gore pieces. Great writing, but truly awful for me as a reader.
I do think I can handle more through books than I can something visual like an image or a movie, but I still have my limits with it.
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Not sure about noises. I always found that my brain tends to imagine what it isn’t while trying to narrow down what it is. Same with horror, before the reveal my mind is working ten to the dozen imagining – then that stops when I know. My husband has to identify noises, usually is up in a second if needed, I thought this was because he doesn’t waste time imagining what it is? I guess everyone has a logical process, with or without imagery. Hops she found out what it was 🙂
Movies are worst for me to, with a book I’m limited by my own mind at least, and I don’t go for graphic extended horror in my books. I tend to lean towards heavily creepy horror not gore. I have read a lot of factual books about serial killers and have read some awful awful things. I don’t want to inflict that on others ever.
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