The Joy of Horror

Most parents become overjoyed when their children first learn to speak or walk or write. And very often, later in life, these parents like to regale their offspring with fun stories of their first times doing such activities.

But I don't know what my first word was.

I don't know how early I mastered the art of placing one foot in front of the other.

All I know is that I would sign birthday and Christmas cards: Lots of Love,

Omen. XXX

It would be quite a few years later (when I was around ten) that I would finally watch the Richard Donner film: The Omen, but I was already gaining a quenching for all things horror. My favourite TV shows growing up were: Scooby-Doo, Mona the Vampire and Young Dracula. My favourite book series were: 'Skulduggery Pleasant,' 'Goosebumps' and anything by Darren Shan. My favourite movies were: Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island and Corpse Bride.

(I think my mum wondered what she'd done wrong.)

It should be known that my mum is completely anti-horror. Images stick with her and etch their way into her brain, never to be removed.

My dad will fall asleep as soon as the TV turns on, his head cradled uncomfortably far back, only to be awoken by the smell of food or beer (such a stereotype) at which point he'll find himself regretting his sleeping decisions when the searing neck pain kicks in. But he will stay awake for two genres; comedy and of course... horror. (An American Werewolf in London is his favourite movie).

When I was growing up I think my dad could probably sense my thirst for the macabre but knew there was a risk if he encouraged it; my mum. So one day when she was out of the house, my dad inched towards my room and poked his head around the door...

He said, rather awkwardly: "Do you wanna watch An American Werewolf in London? Of course I'll skip the unpleasant bits..."

I replied: "YEAH!"

And I loved it. And my dad loved talking to me about Rick Baker and his special effects. For weeks afterwards my dad would quote lines from the film to me: "Beware the moon lads," "Stick to the roads," "What's that sign on the wall for?"

My mum would just roll her eyes. It's amazing how much she can say with that.

Not long after, my mum was out one evening and my dad once again inched toward my room and poked his head around the door...

"Do you wanna watch The Omen?"

I replied: "YEAH!"

But this time he didn't forewarn me of scary scenes, he just let them play out. I was watching a proper horror movie, properly. Everything about the film creeped me out and I adored the feeling. I went to school the following day gloating to all my friends who really couldn't care less.

But there was still something missing; the cinema experience, and that wouldn't come until 2012, when I was 14 and The Woman in Black was released.

I remember sitting in my seat toward the end of the film and jumping so high that I almost burst into a full sprint up the stairs toward the back of the cinema. I'd never had a reaction like it before and I haven't had one since.

Some people ride roller coasters for thrills but I have always preferred the thrills brought on by horror movies. That slow creeping sensation up the back of my neck has always been an incredible feeling.

But alas, through my constant viewing of horror films, this feeling is dying down. I have been lucky to have had a very sheltered childhood but it was horror movies that made me feel alive. I had situations as a child where I struggled to make friends, but horror often became the friend maker; kids would come and ask me about the book I was reading all because it had a skeleton on the front cover. We all have a weird fascination with the demonic and with the monster under the bed and my childhood friendships seemed to rely upon it.

I think everyone has their own personal fears but horror allows us to put those fears somewhere and for those two hours where we sit and watch a scary movie and feel every emotion that comes with the fear, I think it acts as a form of therapy.

Watching the Oscars the other week I realised that Guillermo Del Toro is possibly the nicest person working in Hollywood today and quite clearly has a love for the macabre. This got me thinking about other horror directors:

Wes Craven

Often discussed as being one of the nicest guys in movies.

Directed: A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Hills Have Eyes, Scream, and The Last House on the Left.

George Romero

Sadly passed away just this last year. What followed was an overwhelming fanfare of how sweet he was.

Directed: Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead.

Not only are the ones who help to create the monsters often really nice people, but the monsters themselves can be also.

Doug Jones

Guillermo Del Toro's muse has now been in over 150 productions, mostly in horror and is often discussed as being a lovely guy.

Known for: Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, The Shape of Water, and Buffy.

I'm sure there will be plenty of arguments and research suggesting that horror is a destructive genre which only ever brings out the worst in us. But I can only speak from my own experiences and when I see people leaving the cinema after watching a horror movie, the majority have a smile plastered across their face.

Horror isn't a nasty genre to be avoided, we should all enjoy the fear, because when you come out the other side it's all smiles and laughs.

(Maybe just avoid the torture porn sub-genre.)