The Enduring Nature of Horror and Why it is the Best Genre

Some folks seem surprised by my defence of the horror genre being the best. I have loved horror since I was tiny. My first taste of horror was Thomas the Tank Engine. Yep, you heard right (see it here for a laugh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIDDXvywl3Q&t=268s ). The episode decided to spice up the narrative with a ghost train; I was both excited and scared. The music. The fog. The echo of the Ringo Starr’s voice. Okay, there wasn’t an actual ghost train. It was just a story told to Thomas to spook him. But I loved it regardless. After that, I chased any story that contained the supernatural, with the hopes it would illicit delicious fear. Surrounded by family and friends that find the genre off-putting, and being surrounded by colleagues at school who read literature that would be classed as far more sophisticated, I wondered why it held such a fascination for me.

I have given some thought to the reasons why horror is simply, in my opinion, the best genre. In the list below, I discuss horror and the gothic with some overlap, as the genres are so closely intertwined. Let me know, via the comments or social media, if you agree with my reasons. Or, indeed, if you have reasons why you think horror is not the genre for you.

1. Let’s start off with a reason that was directly discussed in Scream VI by Samara Weaving’s character, alongside being explored in several other films. Horror reflects the social attitudes and fears of particular time periods. Each film, TV show and book is like a little time capsule. You only have to watch the sci-fi horror classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers to see the terror the American people felt over the idea communism could take over their way of life if the Cold War became something more substantial. Scream, of course, explores the fear of technology, both suburban and city living, teenagers, and fandoms across its franchise. Horror evolves to meet the fears of the modern day, and that keeps the genre fresh.

2. One reason horror endures is the classic villains. More than any genre, the villains are iconic- more so than the protagonists. We see sympathetic beings like Frankenstein’s monster, unstoppable creatures that don’t respond to reason, such as the mummy, and vengeance fuelled harbingers, such as the Grudge. Each can be scary, but they also have their own appeal. Often, the appeal with such monsters is their eternal life. As mentioned above, horror reflects human fears. One lasting fear is that of death. To have a creature that is capable of escaping death, and maybe even bestowing that gift upon you, is appealing.

3. This next one is there for the health buffs. Watching and reading horror can actually burn calories. Fear can increase your heart rate and oxygen intake, which in turn makes you burn calories. A study from Westminster University has shown that a 90-minute horror film can burn as many as 150 calories. Not bad for an activity that just requires you to sit down and be entertained!

4. Horror is a genre which keeps you thinking. Of course, other genres (such as crime) can also do this. But not only can horror keep you gobbling up the enigmas peppered throughout, it allows you to do so while exploring the darker side of human nature in a safe environment. Our brains get a workout while also allowing us to consider what taboo actions and attitudes might be like, without getting ourselves elbow deep in blood and guts.

5. It is a genre which teaches writers valuable, transferrable skills. Scaring people, like making them laugh, is a skill that not everyone can pull off. Fear is subjective, and even though there are general human fears that unite us, there are just as many that may not concern fans. For example, if a story even so much as mentions tarantulas, my skin crawls. But throw in a snake and I think it’s awesome; their faces are so cute! To convince fans that something is to be feared can be tricky. Additionally, authors and directors alike learn about pace. The dramatic payoff can only be fully realised with a steady build up of tension. We’ve all seen horrors that blow their payload far too early.

6. Finally, as an English teacher, this one is close to my heart. It is a genre that is perfect for reluctant readers. Largely, I have found that the group that is hardest to get into reading is teenaged boys. As this comprises half of my students, I encourage anything which remedies that. When I was young, it was Darren Shan who pulled pre- teen and teenaged boys into reading (and me!). Reading a genre where risky attitudes and actions are not taboo can simultaneously give young males a chance to be entertained, and to explore ideas that they might not feel comfortable discussing elsewhere. More importantly, it is a genre in which this age group is widely represented. Teenagers and their worries are the bread and butter of horror films, TV and books alike.

No matter what, I think horror should get the credit it deserves, rather than being treated as the cess pool of genres. Horror stories are clever, fun and really are good for us!