Guest Speakers: Marc L. Abbott, Robert Jeffrey, Misty Massey, Shannon Strucci, Kenesha Williams – Geek Horror Program Director: L. Marie Wood
The essence of fear is the unknown. There’s a scene in a movie where a father and child are quickly leaving their home, and the father urges his son “Don’t look behind you – only focus on what’s ahead!” For long excruciating seconds, the camera focuses on the boy’s perspective – leaving the pursuer to the audience’s imagination.
Some of us fear being alone… others fear the inability to escape. Loss of control, or being helpless. This can manifest in several forms, such as spirit possession or the inability to save a loved one. Loss of Reason via internal madness or fighting against a force that can’t be reasoned with (natural disasters, aliens, cults, etc.)
“Fight or Flight” – Why are people willing to gather in a dark room together and collectively watch something that will scare them for about two hours?
Perhaps it is instructional like the fairy tales of The Brothers Grimm. These stories often demonstrated to young children what not to do – such as going into the forest alone at night, or blindly trusting strangers.
Maybe it’s the adrenaline rush – an escape from the monotony of life? Or is it an escape from something more sinister still… such as the horrors we face in reality? Perhaps people desire reassurance that their current circumstances could always be worse?
What is it in trailers that encourages people to go subject themselves to a horror movie? That there’s not always a happy ending, and therefore more relatable? That the odds are truly insurmountable and there’s no escape? Jump-scares, slashers, religious horror, stigmata?
What is the more effective horror – cinema or TV anthologies? Some may prefer to draw out the horror in longer form, creating an experience that lingers over time.
Other forms of horror include culture shock, virgins exploited, and hacking technology. Large government or corporate powers in control, the cheapening of human life.
What are some emotional motivation factors when writing horror? Anger, hate – revenge horrors. Fear – of others or of yourself?
Remember contrast – horror can sometimes be more frightening in daylight as opposed to the dead of night. Crafting terror in a “normal” environment can prove to be more disturbing.
Violence simply for the sake of violence is not particularly terrifying, since many people have generally become desensitized in modern culture to viewing bloodbaths. Consider the difference between ominous horror vs. gore – setting up the ambiance is key!
What are you thoughts? Why do you enjoy being scared? What draws you to read and write in this genre? Have you ever been so terrified and fascinated that you were unable to pull your eyes away from a screen or page? When did this happen, and how long did it haunt you?
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Featured Image source – https://www.insider.com/why-people-afraid-clowns-phobia-coulrophobia-it-movie-2017-9