I’ve already written one novel that had horror over tones. But when I started my current WIP, I really wanted to go all out. I can’t do gory horror. I don’t like to watch/read it, so I’m definitely not going to write it. I like paranormal horror that makes you think. With a little mystery and a specific reason or purpose behind it. I’m addicted to all those ghost story shows, and some of the reality ghost hunting shows. (Though sometimes those are more for giggles than anything else).
I wanted something that would maybe not be scary when you read it at first, but later when you went to bed your mind might turn back to it and make it in to something even bigger. You know what I mean?
But the question then becomes, what exactly is scary? I hang around teenagers all day and the definitions of what is truly horror changes from person to person. I can remember when the Ghostbusters movie gave me nightmares. Granted, I was in elementary school and secretly watching from the hallway when I was supposed to be in bed, so it serves me right. That giant head with the liquid bubble gum goop was terrifying!
Now, though, that’s a laugh. The things that scare me now are ghosts and creatures that you can’t always see, but who are watching you all the same. Sometimes their reasons are valid and the victim is just in the way. Sometimes the spirit is just dark and wants blood. But they’re still scary.
What do you find scary? Why?
What books or movies have you seen that gave you the willies? Mine is still the Ring (I’d
like to add – I didn’t see this by choice. I went with friends, and got outvoted. Since they were the ones driving….) I actually remember staring at the TV screen in my Aunt’s house a week later telling myself that if I made it past midnight and the creepy girl didn’t pop out, I was safe. I can’t admit how old I was when that happened…. And that stupid scene in the grudge where the woman does that weird walk down the stairs with that noise…. *shivers*
Evil ghosts and serial killers. The evil ghost thing cause I always get the creeps after reading or seeing something about them and I go around waiting for a door to slam shut and the lights to go off.
Serial killers. Just cause they scare the crap outta me. The whole idea that they could be anybody. (i know it’s not paranormal but still creepy!) I cannot watch or read anything with them in it. I get paranoid and have to double check all the rooms in the house when I come home alone etc.
Thanks for stopping by! I’m with you on the evil ghost thing. And paranormal or not, serial killers are freaky. I still can’t handle Jack the Ripper stuff, because I find it extremely creepy!
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always found mental illnesses and all that they entail really frightening. Not just from an outsider perspective (think mental health social worker or someone who has to work with people who are lashing out for no reason or cops searching for some sort of psycho serial killer), but also from the mentally impaired person’s perspective as well. The whole process of shifting from a sane person to someone who is increasingly consumed by the disease and the hallucinations or what have you has always struck a really creepy cord with me as well. Just throwing some ideas at you
Thanks! Its so funny you mention mental illness, because one of the characters in the new WIP is bordering on having one of his own…..
Love the Jack the Ripper stuff *wink*
What really creeps me out on film is seeing the ghostly thing the main character doesn’t realize is there. The same thing happened on one of the ghost story reality shows not long ago. These people were showing pics of some ghostly something and I was yelling at the TV because they were totally missing the other thing in the corner.
Scariest book moment was eons ago reading The Shining. I was all alone it was a gray rainy day, house was quiet and I was on the part where the little boy was being stalked by some unseen thing, very tense section and I was really into it. Something made a noise outside and I almost died. Jumped, dropped the book and everything. LOL.
And its a testament to how well you write that I’ll read it! lol. I’ve totally had those moments with books. Good to know I’m not alone!
Hmmm. I like psychological horror more than the gore too. Sometimes the gore on Supernatural has me squeezing my eyes shut, but I LOVE the show. Thirteen Ghosts is one I remember. The one they called the Wolverine and yeah, you can imagine why. Freddy, Jason, & Michael are classics. Though I don’t usually like the fanatical killer/ghoul ones, these ones haunt me. Oh, and I forget the title but the one where Kate Hudson plays a woman mixed up with evil spirits and hoodoo. I really like to READ my horror though as opposed to watching it. The imagination is so much more powerful. Anything from Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Richard Matheson, Shirley Jackson, etc. can give me nightmares that are nightmares, so to speak. Lol.
I remember Thirteen Ghosts. I liked the premise, but the ghosts were more than a little gory. I think I know the Kate Hudson one…. Skeleton Key? Something like that? I liked that one.
Thanks for stopping by!