The Horror Genre Analysis

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The horror genre has captivated audiences and readers alike since the fourteenth century (Mathers). Tales of terrifying beasts and surprises waiting behind every door keep readers mesmerized. Books in the horror genre generally contain two important elements; one or more characters demonstrate the evil, malevolent side of humanity, and there are typically sudden, unexpected events. Authors in the horror genre are oftentimes inspired to write by life events in their past. Because so many authors write about their own fears or about life events, literature in the horror genre can be best analyzed under the biographical lens. The horror genre typically encompasses books that seek to evoke fear from the audience, and little is scarier than the …show more content…
Wilkes’ behavior is an effective way to terrify readers because she demonstrates a side to some individuals which irrefutably exists. She is capable of creating immeasurable suffering and has no empathy. The sadistic way in which Wilkes abuses her power over Paul Sheldon resonates with readers because they see similar behavior every time they turn on the news. There is little difference between Annie Wilkes and the terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and murders that plague everyday life. The cruelty that Wilkes demonstrates is mirrored in everyday occurrences. Wilkes epitomizes the evil tendencies of humans, and because there are individuals out there in the world who hurt people in the same manner as she does, makes Misery all the more horrifying. Similarly, in Intensity, by Dean Koontz, serial rapist and killer Edgar Vess embodies the darkest traits in humanity. Vess, when describing his philosophy on power over others, says “Power is cool indifference to their suffering. Power is taking nourishment from the deaths of others, just as the mighty redwoods draw sustenance from the perpetual decomposition of what once lived, but lived only briefly, around them” (Koontz 43). Vess murders neither for profit nor revenge; he murders solely for the …show more content…
They move the plot forward and keep the audience guessing what will happen next. In “Black Swan”, directed by Darren Aronofsky, the protagonist Nina is home alone and turns on a light in her kitchen, exposing a bloody figure in the corner. Regardless of appearance, the figure helps scare audiences because it is unexpected. By surprising audiences, media in the horror genre prevents the plot from becoming too predictable and thus less scary. Unexpected events also help develop the plot, as seen in Intensity, by Dean Koontz. In the novel, the protagonist Chyna Shepard is fleeing a ruthless serial killer in a motorhome. While driving away, a police car pulls up, but Shepard soon realizes that what should be a godsend is actually her worst nightmare. During the scene, Shepard notes “[t]he officer had gotten out of the cruiser. Edgler Vess” (Koontz 43). Koontz’s choice to create a beacon of hope then quickly snatch it away keeps readers guessing about what is going to happen next. In order for a horror book to achieve what it is intended to be, namely scaring people, readers should not be able to predict how a scene or the book as a whole will end. By having events like terrifying figures unexpectedly appearing and seemingly positive events morphing into nightmares, horror media captivates audiences. Because of their terrifying nature, unexpected plot twists and events are an important element in the
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