“Oh well I saw Vampire Hunter D uncut and unedited when I was four.” or, “I read lots of horror and fantasy stuff as a kid, so it’s only natural.”
Umm. Let's see. The Dark Movies and horror I watched consisted of:
1) Jaws - I don't know about you, but after seeing that movie, I didn't want to go near the lake or sea shore for a year or so. The sight of that fin meant someone was gonna die.
2) Cujo - There's just something wrong about a dog that gets rabies and starts hunting people.
3) Christine - Haunted demon possessed car, do I need to say more?
4) The Original Stand was pretty dark.
Dark Fantasy is an interesting genre. The Idea that the world has fallen to darkness and the only hope is a plucky group of broken adventurers. :)
Jaws was a big one for me, too, especially since I used to think Captain Quinn looked like my Dad. He didn't, the only things he had in common was the mustache and the bald spot, but that was close enough for me to freak out when the shark chomps down on him at the end. Pretty sure I screamed "The shark killed Dad! I have to warn him!" He was in his room napping and that's the moment when my Mom realized I was out there watching it. (I was seated in a chair behind hers so she didn't see me.)
An interesting discussion comparing and contrasting fantasy, dark fantasy, horror and other stories with dark elements. I won't automatically write off dark fantasy anymore. By your definition, though, I'm still not interested in horror at all. Dark I can handle. Dark without hope is of zero interest to me.
Your views on horror is certainly understandable. It’s a genre that can be difficult for some to crack into by its nature alone, and it’s certainly not helped by the colossal overabundance of media which strays so far into the realms of the shocking as to be ridiculous. Though I enjoy them for what they are, the first two Terrifier movies are most certainly like that, being more gruesomely comedic than genuine horror despite being labeled as such.
It’s unfortunate that dark fantasy is also so heavily oversaturated with similar kinds of slop, but there are still some gems to be found. Hopefully we’ll find more of them in the future.
Horror is not about a lack of hope, but traditionally the fight for hope. The idea of Dracula is that just as all seems hopeless is when we most need courage. This is the idea that the Hammer movies also perpetuated and pushed forward. Though I must admit that modern horror stands in total contrast to these ideas.
Fantastic essay, I really like your comment how Conan, Narnia, Solomon Kane and the rest became permanent fixtures in our cultures.
I really do like the contrast between the different subgenres, the different ideas in all of them. I daresay you've written your own 'On Faerie Stories' with this essay ;)
I think I could have given higher praise, I really gotta work on it tbh. Not enoguh is said about your deep insights and understanding of the genre and of writing in general Dave. I mean it.
“Oh well I saw Vampire Hunter D uncut and unedited when I was four.” or, “I read lots of horror and fantasy stuff as a kid, so it’s only natural.”
Umm. Let's see. The Dark Movies and horror I watched consisted of:
1) Jaws - I don't know about you, but after seeing that movie, I didn't want to go near the lake or sea shore for a year or so. The sight of that fin meant someone was gonna die.
2) Cujo - There's just something wrong about a dog that gets rabies and starts hunting people.
3) Christine - Haunted demon possessed car, do I need to say more?
4) The Original Stand was pretty dark.
Dark Fantasy is an interesting genre. The Idea that the world has fallen to darkness and the only hope is a plucky group of broken adventurers. :)
Jaws was a big one for me, too, especially since I used to think Captain Quinn looked like my Dad. He didn't, the only things he had in common was the mustache and the bald spot, but that was close enough for me to freak out when the shark chomps down on him at the end. Pretty sure I screamed "The shark killed Dad! I have to warn him!" He was in his room napping and that's the moment when my Mom realized I was out there watching it. (I was seated in a chair behind hers so she didn't see me.)
An interesting discussion comparing and contrasting fantasy, dark fantasy, horror and other stories with dark elements. I won't automatically write off dark fantasy anymore. By your definition, though, I'm still not interested in horror at all. Dark I can handle. Dark without hope is of zero interest to me.
Your views on horror is certainly understandable. It’s a genre that can be difficult for some to crack into by its nature alone, and it’s certainly not helped by the colossal overabundance of media which strays so far into the realms of the shocking as to be ridiculous. Though I enjoy them for what they are, the first two Terrifier movies are most certainly like that, being more gruesomely comedic than genuine horror despite being labeled as such.
It’s unfortunate that dark fantasy is also so heavily oversaturated with similar kinds of slop, but there are still some gems to be found. Hopefully we’ll find more of them in the future.
Horror is not about a lack of hope, but traditionally the fight for hope. The idea of Dracula is that just as all seems hopeless is when we most need courage. This is the idea that the Hammer movies also perpetuated and pushed forward. Though I must admit that modern horror stands in total contrast to these ideas.
Fantastic essay, I really like your comment how Conan, Narnia, Solomon Kane and the rest became permanent fixtures in our cultures.
I really do like the contrast between the different subgenres, the different ideas in all of them. I daresay you've written your own 'On Faerie Stories' with this essay ;)
Well if that's not the highest praise I don't know what is. Thank you, good sir, it's deeply appreciated 🙏
I think I could have given higher praise, I really gotta work on it tbh. Not enoguh is said about your deep insights and understanding of the genre and of writing in general Dave. I mean it.