Welcome To Horror Month!

Hi all!

Welcome to horror month! It’s the spookiest time of year and I have a lot planned for October. I’m going to be saving all of these posts under my You’ll Read Too Bookclub category if you wish to access them at a later date. Today I’m going to give you a little outline on what to expect on this blog during Halloween season, a brief background on how I first got into horror, insight into why I love it so much and a quick guide to this underrated genre. We have a lot to cover so let’s get into it!

ALSO: This month we are reading ‘The Carrow Haunt’ by Darcy Coates. If you wish to learn more, you can check out this post here and join us for a LIVE show discussion on November 1st AEST. The official Instagram page can be found here.  

What To Expect During Horror Month…

At the beginning of every week, I will be posting my top 10 favourite horror games, films, television shows and books. On Thursday’s, there will be some extra fun posts. I won’t reveal every detail but you can expect a Halloween snack exchange, a ranking post, a creepy tag and a full review of The Haunting of Bly Manor. I hope you’re excited because I sure am! 

How Did I Get Into Horror?

How does one even become a horror fiend? For me, it all started when I was a teenager. My best friend would come over almost every week and share the latest scary film in her collection. We watched The Shining, The Exorcist, House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, A Clockwork Orange, Saw (multiple times), Secret Window and so much more. At the time, I would act horrified; like she was trying to traumatise me (she did a little, let’s be honest haha) but I was secretly thrilled. I wanted more. I started searching for the scariest jump scenes on YouTube and watched people play through some of the most terrifying games. When I was particularly anxious, I would stream horror films on my laptop in my room. That was where I discovered the original IT and fell hard. I kept my passion to myself because I didn’t want to appear ‘unladylike’ (ugh!) or get judged. Now, as an adult, I don’t care about ‘appearances’ anymore. I love horror! There, I said it! 

Why Do I Love Horror? 

Let’s face it, horror doesn’t have the best reputation. It is typically misunderstood as a tacky genre that lacks depth or substance. I’m here to tell you that that couldn’t be further from the truth. Horror is surprisingly deep, powerful and compelling. Now I can accept that it isn’t everybody’s cup of tea but if you have avoided horror purely because of the misrepresentation, I would recommend dipping your toe in and making up your own mind. Why do I love it? 1.) It actually calms me down. I know this sounds crazy but studies have shown that some people with anxiety find horror soothing. It is a fear they can control. This definitely rings true for me. I like that I can distract from my real-life nerves by choosing to feel scared rather than having it thrust upon me unexpectedly. 2.) It’s like they say in The Nightmare Before Christmas: “life’s no fun without a good scare.” I enjoy the thrill and anticipation of an impending jump-scene or gruesome display. It’s exhilarating & 3.) Horror isn’t a one-way street. There are many different kinds of genres within horror that can appeal to varying audiences. This brings me to my next point…

A Quick Guide To Horror…

If you’re new to horror, it’s best to figure out what type you’re partial to. Here is a list of scary categories with a few corresponding examples: 

• Paranormal: (The Haunting of Hill House) – possession (The Exorcist), demonic activity, ghosts, spirits, poltergeists, witches, occult, curses and the supernatural.
• Killer: (Scream) – slasher, crime, redneck (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), cults, home invasion (Hush) and targeting.
• Monster: (Dawn of the Dead) – zombies, vampires, werewolves, aliens, classic (Frankenstein), mythological, creatures (Godzilla) and animals (Jaws). 
• Psychological: (Psycho) – madness, paranoia, phobia, mental illness and distorted reality.
• Gore: (Saw) – torture, splatter, cannibalism (The Silence of the Lambs) and extreme.
• Survival: (Gerald’s Game) – the elements/nature, apocalyptic, virus (The Happening) and hostage situations.
• Body Horror: (The Fly) – mutation, mutilation, disease and unnatural movement.

There’s so much to choose from! I like all of these genres but my absolute favourite is paranormal. I’m a sucker for a good haunted house story. What about you? 

Thanks so much for reading. Tell me in the comments what you look forward to the most every October? I’ll see you all soon with a new spooky post! 

Peace & Love xoxo