Horror Aficionados discussion

I was thinking about what it is in horror stories that I like. I read a short story recently that was pretty well written but it just didn't spark my interest all that much. Personally I like it when horror stories have an element of mysticism and mystery, where it's not just about the blood and gore but gives leaves something more behind after reading.

I tend to be drawn to horror stories as concept stories, as in what if that happened, how would people react to that? Stephen King once brought the idea of a story as in would it be funny if that happened... like for example if someone was to walk into a room and see another person levitating.

I like when supernatural (or sometimes not) elements are introduced, but introduced in a particularly chilling way straight out of left field.

Let me think of some examples...the vampire trailer-park baby wearing Dr. Dentons in 'Salem's Lot; a woman walking into her baby's nursery and seeing a female vampire nursing her undead baby (won't mention the book); a dead mute who communicates with pen and pencil who survives an 1800's gold rush heist but loses an arm and then loses the remaining healthy arm when she tells the doctor who's in on the heist all she knows (picturing her lying there as a torso with two healthy legs but no tongue and no arms makes me breathless); an angelic, curly-haired infected-with-alien-strands-from-outer-space blonde girl who takes over the household in a menacing way when her parents fall victim to the same body invasion. Little things like these.

I like things that look at the dark side, things that instill fear or a sense of dread. I'll read anything, regardless of whether it contains gore or the hint of menace without seeing anything. Both schools have something to offer, as long as the story is well written and the characters engaging, because that's the most important thing. An author can have the best idea in the world, but if the story isn't well written, or if the characters do stupid things, then I stop reading. Give me shocks, thrills and a well written story and you've hooked me to the end.

I like the battle between good and evil that is on a large, even supernatural scale, but that one small person or persons has/have an integral role in the battle. I like the protagonist having to face and conquer her or his worst fears. I like the idea that a person can be confronted with circumstances beyond their control and often beyond what they thought might even exist, and overcome it. As you can see, my tastes lean towards supernatural horror with optimistic endings.

Also, I love a good, old-fashioned scare.

I like optimistic endings, too. I might cynically say I don't most times, but it seems like a lot of movies and books are ending on bad notes, and then I'm sad and wish they'd just given me my damn "they all lived happily ever after" ending!

I love being scared. It's like an adrenaline rush. Obviously I scared more as a kid, but even as a late teen I'd get myself all worked up over climbing the dark basement stairs after watching The Howling on HBO.

When I was about 12 there was a movie on called Don't Look in the Basement. I mean, now I can see it for the joke of a bad movie it is, but back then I'd run into another room and yell for my mother to describe what was going on.

I just want to cut and paste everything Shaun said because those are all of the reasons I enjoy horror. All the gore in the world won't entertain me if the characters are not written well.

I love the adrenaline rush of a good scare. Have since I was a kid. I can get too scared, though. I have never been a slasher movie fan, and not because they scare me. I just don't like gore and seeing people get tortured or dismembered. The Ring scared the crap out of me and it wasn't a gory movie. I couldn't sleep for over a week after I saw that movie.

I hate that torture porn shit. Shows no imagination at all. The Ring scared me, too.

The Ring was creepy. Did you see the original Japanese version? You won't sleep for a month.

Have you seen The Grudge?

The original is more scary?? I don't think my heart could take it. I was too chicken to watch The Grudge after The Ring affected me so bad.

Much creepier, I thought.

The Grudge left me feeling uneasy and on edge throughout the entire movie (both versions).

I think "the scene" (you know the one) is much creepier in the original.

I like scary books, and if they happens to have blood and death then so be it. But I don't like over kill, blood and guts for no reason but the sake of having them, i'll just stop reading it. Books with adventure, mystery, the supernatural, vamps, werewolves, and a quest, if the main character is engrossing, the story tight, then i'm there.

The Ring was a pretty scary movie. I had to watch Coraline after watching Paranormal Activity, that movie scared the crap out of me.

Coraline scared the crap out of me. Wouldn't have thought of it as a palate cleanser after Paranormal Activity.

Coraline the graphic novel was scarier than the movie, IMO. Does anyone know why the movie Coraline is a younger girl with a black page boy haircut and the g.n. Coraline is an older girl with long blonde hair?

I guess they wanted it to appeal to younger kids. Something for everyone.

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I like the battle between good and evil that is on a large, even supernatural scale, but that one small person or persons has/have an integral role in the battle. I like the protagonist having to f..."

I'm with DTBH, the battle between good and evil. I wan't to see good struggle, learn a lesson, change and then defeat evil. I don't want fairy tales, I just want to see an average hero with their tragic flaw discover and fix the flaw and 'save the world'. Sometimes that good ending is very small in scale, but I still like that.

BarkLessWagMore wrote: "Much creepier, I thought.

The Grudge left me feeling uneasy and on edge throughout the entire movie (both versions)."

Maybe when I'm a little more brave I'll watch it.

I like to see the small person save the day.

I didn't realize Coraline was creepy. I need to watch the DVD! I have the book at home, too.

Danielle, the Other Mother's insistence that Coraline get buttons sewn onto her eyes is creepy. Plus, I've always been creeped out by alternate universes, where the hero/heroine is trapped by a bunch of freaky people and things and has trouble finding their way back home. Others see Coraline as an entertaining kiddie movie, I see something more sinister.

Damn T, i'm with The Huntress on this. I didn't know Coraline was scary, or creepy. My granddaughter happened to stay the night we watched Paranormal Activity, that's what was in the dvd in my room, so I watched it. It did the trick for me. I haven't read the book.

Surely I am NOT the only one creeped out by Coraline.

Maybe it's subliminal, and only for grown ups. Because that's her favorite move, and she's seen it countless times. For a 3 year old she's not scared by it at all. I've lost count how many i've seen it as well.

Well, not everybody's a homebody like me. Maybe they like creepy adventures. I'm not all that adventurous. *shrugs shoulders*

I haven't watched it yet. But I'll get back on you. I like creepy stuff, so I hope I find it creepy too, Tressa.

I find some interesting things creepy that don't bother others. Victorian dolls, for instance. Really long fingernails. People who wear lots of rings. The list goes on!

All dolls are creepy.

I can see how Coraline would be creepy for younger kids.

I find all dolls creepy. Especially victorian dolls, they send chills up my arms. I hate dolls, their right beside clowns.

I like Barbie dolls. They don't creep me out. But those collectable baby dolls, they give me the creeps. Clowns are the same.

Have you seen the movie Small Soldiers? Well ever since I watched it Barbie's are in the I hate dolls category. And I love this movie, watched it with my boys many times.

Barbie dolls are creepy in a different way.

I haven't seen Small Soldiers. I thought the Barbie parts were cute in Toy Soldiers, though.

How are Barbies creepy, Scott? Now I'm intrigued.

Oh I agree, Coraline is creepy. I think the kid has to be old enough to understand the malevolence of the 'other' mom. The button eyes.......

My daughter liked it except when she thought about the buttons, then she was creeped. out.

Reminds me of the movie May, the last thing she gives to her 'doll' is her eye.

They're just not right. Women who look like Barbie dolls are creepy, too.

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I have never been a slasher movie fan, and not because they scare me. I just don't like gore and..."

I don't like this generation of slasher movies like the Saw series. What do they call these? Gore porn? But back in the day I just loved the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm St series'. I'm not even really sure what the difference might be. Anyone?

Tressa wrote: "Danielle, the Other Mother's insistence that Coraline get buttons sewn onto her eyes is creepy. Plus, I've always been creeped out by alternate universes, where the hero/heroine is trapped by a bun..."

You are not alone here Tressa. I can't even imagine letting little children watch Coraline. 10 y.o. at minimum. I mean...I loved it. On the other hand. Parents know their own children better than I would. So there you go. :) The eye sewing and the other mother spider thing. Very creepy.

Scott you said the truth with that statement.


I'm a barbie girl, in the barbie world
Life in plastic, it's fantastic!
you can brush my hair, undress me everywhere
Imagination, life is your creation

I'm a blond bimbo girl, in the fantasy world
Dress me up, make it tight, I'm your dolly
You're my doll, rock'n'roll, feel the glamour in pink,
kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky...
You can touch, you can play, if you say: "I'm always yours"


That about sums up Barbie's and women who look like Barbie's.

Scott, you mean like Pamela Anderson? I don't know if I've ever seen such a fake, plastic woman in my life.

She's kind to animals, though.

I've noticed the ladies on the Hollywood diets have the Barbie doll head thing going on (in other words, their head is bigger than their body). Not attractive, IMHO.

They have some pretty cool collectible Barbies. Such as Greek goddess Athena. What can I say? I grew up playing with Barbies. I give them a pass.

Tressa wrote: "Scott, you mean like Pamela Anderson? I don't know if I've ever seen such a fake, plastic woman in my life."

She is pretty w/o all the makeup and the enormous, false breasts.

I've heard that big head thing called "lollipop" head. That dark-haired woman who dated Jack Nicholson for a short while suffers from it. She played in Twin Peaks. I'm too busy GRing (and working!) to look it up. Plus, I don't care.

Yeah, that's one thing going for it. It sure ain't wearing Ugg boots with daisy dukes in the middle of summer.

I can see the lollipop reference. That would be Lara Flynn Boyle. She was really pretty before she became excessively thin, like she is now.

I agree. Always loved her pale skin and freckles and her dark hair.

I recently saw a pic of Sarah Jessica Parker and she looked like a skeleton.

I thought Lara Flynn Boyle and Sherilynn Fenn were both beautiful in Twin Peaks.

Yes, I liked them both. Very pretty. Here's Fenn now: http://seriouslyomg.com/?p=13580. Still very pretty.

Tressa wrote: "Yes, I liked them both. Very pretty. Here's Fenn now: http://seriouslyomg.com/?p=13580. Still very pretty."

She looks healthy and happy. Have you seen recent pics of Lara Flynn Boyle? Yikes, she has completely obliterated her beauty with excessive plastic surgery. Her face looks frozen and her lips are overly pouty and unnatural. Scary stuff.

http://www.bittenandbound.com/2009/01...

OMG what happened to her face? She looks bad.

Dayum, I can't tell the difference between Boyle and Priscilla Presley! Where does one chipmunk cheeked trout pout face start and the other begin?!