Celebrating Horror: Thoughts on Horror’s Past/Present/Future

Past

What piece of media (film, book, TV show...) first got you into horror?

I think it was likely the Goosebumps and Fear Street series. Short stories I read in school, like The Lottery by Shirley Jackson or There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury also felt like horror to me and I loved them. The dark fantasy of Labyrinth may have also played some role too!

What's your favourite classic horror?

I guess it depends on how classic we are looking at… For a modern classic book, I would probably say Pet Sematary. I think it is filled with a lot of dread and is very creepy.

What pre-21st century horror would you recommend to someone just starting to get into the genre?

I often like to recommend gothic stories to folks who have decided to get into horror, so I would suggest books like Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wuthering Heights or the works of Edgar Allen Poe.

Present

What do you think is the best horror book/film/podcast etc (take your pick) of the last year?

For films, I very much enjoyed The Substance from fall 2024. Sinners and Bring Her Back from this summer would probably be my picks for 2025. There were some other great films released this year, like Companion, but those were the ones stuck with me the most.

What do you think is so great about current horror?

I think that although we still have a long way to go, there is more room for people at the table to tell their stories. That makes me happy since fear is one of the greatest universal emotions and I enjoy getting the chance to see/read what makes people from many backgrounds afraid.

What horror from the last 5 years would you recommend to someone just starting to get into the genre?

It would heavily depend on the person, if I’m being honest! However, in addition to the three I mentioned in an earlier question, I would recommend these to people looking for well-done but bleak horror films: the Australian film Talk to Me, the Thai film The Medium, and the Argentinian film When Evil Lurks. These films were all excellent and really lodged themselves in my head with their strong endings and takes on the genre.

If someone was looking for something more fun with humor or ridiculous bloody kills, then The Menu, Nope, or Final Destination: Bloodlines would be my suggestions. Nope received a lot of unfair criticism and has some genuinely upsetting moments despite being fun overall. FD: B doesn’t really require a great depth of knowledge of the franchise.

Are there any recent trends you've noticed?

I think there may be too many creatives trying to do “elevated horror”. I enjoy that style when it is done well but not every film should try to be Get Out or Hereditary. One of the reasons I liked The Substance and Sinners was in spite of their strong social commentary, they weren’t afraid to get a bit schlocky at times. They weren’t afraid that going hard with ridiculous amounts of blood and using some comedy would lessen the story’s impact. In comparison, Opus and Heretic were trying too hard and while there were good performances and some well-done moments, they just didn’t nail it overall.

Future

Where do you see horror going next?

I see more and more people telling scary stories that are meaningful to them. I think we still need a lot more input from many communities to tell their own stories in book and films. We are seeing some of that now, but I want to see more of it and think horror is an excellent sandbox to explore so many meaningful aspects of what it means to be a person.

Are there any trends you hope appear in the future?

I hope to see more cosmic horror in general and folk horror from outside of the West.

What are your general thoughts on the future of the genre - are you hopeful? Is there something you'd like to see more of, less of? 

I’d like to see less of people complaining about horror being “too political” when the genre always has had an element of social or political commentary even in the goofiest, goriest slashers. I worry about franchises overtaking original stories or new takes on remakes. In general, I am hopeful though!

By Dee
Twitter: @Sirenofscience