“Everyone’s entitled to one good scare”: Horror for the Hesitant

I work in a K-12 school library. My favorite moments are when a kid approaches me and asks me for book recommendations, and I am especially happy when one of the other librarians passes a horror-inclined kiddo my way. They have found the right person. Some of us are more inclined to like horror than others, and it usually starts pretty early. Some of us are just drawn to it. I’m not exactly sure why or what the psychology is behind that inclination, but we just have it and can’t quite get enough. I’m always looking for something that I’ve never seen before. It’s taken me to some weird places and helped me draw some lines.

Then, there are those who feel a little drawn to horror, just want to be part of the fun. They know horror is fun, but they can’t quite bring themselves to read it or watch it because they’re intimidated. I might be talking to you. Yeah, you. Some people stay away because they really are very sensitive to violence or have triggers. I don’t recommend stuff to you if that’s your situation. It’s okay! It’s amazing that you’re reading this. You must really love me! Thanks for my ego boost.

I personally don’t like an excessive amount of realistic gore or torture. If there’s going to be gore, it better have a purpose beyond just being titillating to teenagers. At least be in French so I feel like it’s deep. I will never watch certain films because I read the premise and know that it is something that I don’t care to watch. Don’t ever watch something you’re uncomfortable with straight from the premise.

I’m gonna to dare those who want to join in to watch or read some of these. They may be lighter on gore and nastiness, but they are heavier on the terror and dread.Soon, you’ll be able to contribute to horror conversations at a party, which probably means you’re at a party I am attending and you are speaking to me.

Note: Of course, don’t watch something that you’re obviously uncomfortable with just from my bad and short synopses and then blame me for your nightmares.

Watch

• The Others: Nicole Kidman plays a woman isolated in her large, misty estate along with her light-sensitive children and her household help. Secrets on secrets on secrets. The quiet, slowly unfolding story (along with the beautiful filmmaking) result in a creepy movie that feels like an old classic.
• It Follows: This story mostly follows a young woman who discovers that her bizarre date/one-night-stand landed her with something beyond morning-after regret. There is a sexually transmitted curse going around, and . . . well, I don’t want to spoil too much, but basically, the afflicted is followed. This one is best left mysterious in description, but put your thinking cap on for this one. Don’t be cynical.
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night of the Living Dead, and Halloween originals: HEAR ME OUT. These have the well-earned reputation of being among the scariest movies ever made, and they are. But the slasher genre has gotten much slashier since these kicked things off. Most of the gore and violence is off-screen, so you’re just left with your own imagination and suggestion. These movies were made by smart men who wanted to do something different. They understood that leaving off the onscreen gore was more effective for their audience. Or they couldn’t afford the effects. Either way, you win! You get the opportunity to watch these classics and be part of the club without having to torture yourself.
• Pan’s Labyrinth and The Orphanage: Guillermo del Toro has a talent for blending childlike wonder and fantasy with very scary adult themes of war and violence. He blends the two spheres in beautiful ways, creating young heroes and heroines right along with monsters, both human and nonhuman. There is some violence, but it’s nothing that you wouldn’t see in war movies, and it isn’t excessive. Keep the tissues close by.
• The Ring, The Grudge, Dark Water: Go with the originals except for The Ring. American is fine. These female-focused supernatural thrillers give you a visual treat and thrill while imparting doses of sympathy for the ghosts. Honestly, I could care less about the living characters in the movies, but dang those girl ghosts kick butt. I love a vengeful spirit story, and these do it best. If you can handle creepy disjointed limbs and some loud disturbing noises, you can hold on and rock this. You too can watch Japanese horror!
• The Conjuring movies: Only if you can handle demons. They are a lot of fun and well made. James Wan has a lot of love and respect for the genre and his audience, and it really shows in his films. He wants you to be scared and have fun, but he’s not going to treat you like an idiot. What a relief for beginners and experts alike!
• What the hell, watch Stranger Things already! What’s wrong with you? It’s perfect for literally everyone.

Read

• We Used to Live in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson: We all read The Lottery in school, and Miss Jackson just has that touch. She builds suspense like no one else and scares with subtlety. She allows you to work through the story, gently moving you along with her excellent pacing, letting you just build and build with fear without maybe not completely understanding why you’re scared.
• Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill: The premise is a good time: an aging rocker loves buying creepy stuff on ebay. He hits the jackpot when he buys a haunted suit that comes with a ghost. It’s fun but has dark moments as the rocker is forced to face his own despair that can’t be ignored any longer.
• The Woman in Black by Susan Hill: Moody moody moody moody. Classic Gothic story, and it’s quite short. A young lawyer heads to an estate in the middle of a misty swampy place to collect the papers and possessions of its deceased owner. Ghosts are there obvi.
• White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi: Now, I will say that I did not give this a fantastic rating on Goodreads. However, I think this book strikes many people. A young woman has an odd eating disorder, one that was shared by her deceased female family members. Her family home shows malice to anyone outside of this female order, and it sends everyone into a bizarre state. I couldn’t get used to the style, though I recognize that the author is incredible. It’s very Yellow Wallpaper to me.
• The master of horror, Stephen King: I recommend starting with Salem’s Lot, The Shining, or Misery first. They are all beloved classics that will help introduce you to King’s writing and get you situated firmly in horror fandom.

Etc.

Give the podcast Lore a shot. It’s written and produced by Aaron Manke, who possesses a true writing talent and a lovely, relaxing voice. He researches and writes about creepy and tragic historical events, some of which were the basis of the folklore (hence Lore) we’ve known and loved for a long time.

 

What will you dare to try? For horror fans, what do you like recommending to future fans?