Wes Craven, Shadow People, and Why we Watch Horror
Why do you enjoy Horror? Since you are here, reading my ramblings, I feel confident going one step further and asking – why are you obsessed with Horror? It was answering this question myself that sparked a particularly interesting journey, one I’d like to share.
The Horror community has lost a number of icons over the past few years. One in particular that sent me down this introspective spiral was Wes Craven. Having grown up on his work, and been shaped by it, his death hit me hard - his unique brand of storytelling and adroit handling of prose and dialog always made an impact, whether I was shaking from fear or laughter. It started relatively young, when I first saw A Nightmare on Elm Street, and kindled in me a love of terror and all things horror – much of who I am as a self-professed horror nerd is thanks to the work of Wes Craven.
In fact, we share a common inspiration.
It started for me many years ago, in my bed, sometime just before dawn. I was frozen. My whole body trapped while my mind struggled to break free, a prisoner in my own flesh. I can’t exactly remember how old I was the first time it happened – it’s happened so much over the years - but I still get goosebumps when I think back to that first night when I saw Them.
Straining in the pre-dawn darkness to break free, able only to move my eyes and barely capable of breath, I spotted movement near the foot of my bed and absolute terror set in, a chill blanket wrapping me. There was a man, cast in shadow and wearing what appeared to be a long coat and bowler hat, standing perfectly still. I’d often seen similar figments of my imagination that revealed themselves to be piles of clothes or some sort – but this was different. I had all the time in the world to examine this man in detail…and the more I focused his form and clothes popped into stark relief, with exception of his face. His face was smooth, shrouded in shadow. Blank, but deeper than any well.
These visits persisted over the years, ranging in length and number of visitors. Eventually I came to terms with Them, even being peaceful when they came, gripping my terror by the throat and staring into its depths. There were young children, older women, and the Man with the Hat. There were only two incidents that left me unable to sleep for days, and one recurring visitor with malicious intent, but that can be a story for another article.
I’m sharing this bizarre story for a reason, one that oddly connects back to Wes Craven.
The inspiration for A Nightmare on Elm Street came from two places, according to Wikipedia – but the inspiration that really caught my attention, in the documentary “Never Sleep Again“, was a story that Craven caught in the NY Times about men in South East Asia who were reportedly dying, in their sleep, from Nightmares.
That really made my hair stand on end.
Since then I have sought to understand terror, to figure out this primal emotion so much of us are obsessed with experiencing; the adrenaline high following a good scare, sitting on the edge of your seat so tense your teeth could be heard grinding in the next county.
There really isn’t a single reason for watching Horror, something I have discovered time and time again interacting with the horror community (a community, by the way, of some of the coolest and kindest people on the planet). But that didn’t stop me trying to find one. I wanted to dive deep, get into the base attraction, but I continually found myself confounded. For some, horror is an expression of a side of themselves they could never act on. For others, it’s a perverse thrill garnered through witnessing the infliction and suffering of terror, being able to experience something they would never naturally (or legally) be able to. Others enjoy vicariously living through scenarios (think your zombie apocalypse fanatics) and imagining themselves there, and what they would do. Then there’s folks that just… like getting scared.
Or the less discussed ‘Fear Boner’ crowd (image from Cabin in the Woods)
I think the closest commonality we may have is our obsession with that adrenaline rush, and the darker side of the world infrequently seen. The threat of the ancient unknown that darkness brings, and the terror of human potential.
Movies are themselves an escape, a chance to shed the worries of day-to-day life and get away from the bullshit drama and endless stress; to live free for a few hours. For that, then, horror is an escape in its purest form. This other world where serial killers stalk the streets, the boogeyman lurks in the closet, and you don’t dare look under the bed – while the reality of this world may not be sustainable, or something we necessarily want to live with, it’s thrilling to visit.
For me, Horror has always had a special place in my heart. I find beauty in the obscene and the grotesque, unshakeable fear at humanities natural propensity for violence, and comfort in the familiar battle between Good and Evil. I love laughing at ridiculous CGI slug monsters, marveling at brilliant practical effects that bring nightmares to life – I even love jumping at cheap scares when the killer is inexplicably behind the hero when she closes the medicine cabinet.
We all have our reasons, and while I can’t say confidently exactly why we all watch horror, I can say that no other genre of entertainment has gathered quite so unique a following and fanbase – and that I am proud to call myself a horrorphile.
Why do you love Horror? Let us know in the comments below!
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