Personally, I'm a horror fan because I enjoy books that tackle darker and more taboo subjects. I don't mind gore - so long as it's fictional - but I don't like jump scares. If it's clearly not real then I can cope, but when it enters the realm of plausibility, that's when I step back. Gore is fine because obviously that actor wasn't killed in the film, but demons and ghosts are a no-no because what if they're real? I'd rather get my horror fix through books so that I can let my imagination make things as wild(or, rather, as tame) as I like. I don't often watch scary films because I'm actually a massive wimp, prone to seeing shadows in the dark and thinking monsters are standing over my bed.
So why is Stephen King one of my favourite authors? Why do I want to read all of his novels when I'm still not over the hedge animals in The Shining? I'm sure there are real and scientific reasons for why we enjoy being scared, but I'm more interested in the personal ones. For me, horror is a bit of fun, but also eye-opening and thought provoking. I like to be a little creeped out when I read, so long as it doesn't seep into the real world.
What about you? Do you like being scared?
I totally agree that if it seems fictional, I'll be ok but once we get into the based on a true story stuff, I will not continue! I don't play that game!
ReplyDeleteThe only true story things I'd pick up would be autobiographies and true crime - nothing to do with ghosts though!
DeleteHave you read Pet Sematary?! If you haven't - DON'T, it's far too plausible!
ReplyDeleteYes, I have! Didn't think it was scary for the zombie aspect, more for the dreams and setting.
DeleteIt was the cat that did me in - how it was the same but... not quite right :/
DeleteAh see, Draco was hit by a car a few years ago and came back from it surprisingly well, so that doesn't bother me ;) It was more Victor Pascow that creeped me out!
DeleteI'm not a fan of horror at all. I don't mind reading and watching things that include gore or anything like that. Anything based on reality that is specifically horrible, I can handle. But it's when things aren't plausible, like ghosts and whatnot that you mentioned, creeps me out. Not because I think what if they are real.. but just because I have a very very wild and intense imagination that runs away even when I try to keep it on a leash. Oh, and I really like horror in books though. Just not movies.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm like ghosts and things that aren't real - it's easy to imagine someone bleeding because I know what that looks like, but a ghost? It's like my brain goes 'how creepy can we make this?' on purpose.
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