Hey, everyone, I'm thelitcritguy. I co-host the horror movie podcast Horror Vanguard, have been a regular guest on Revolutionary Left Radio, and make Youtube videos on culture and aesthetics. I write on horror, capitalism, and cultural criticism (you can read my last piece here https://readpassage.com/the-horror-of-capitalism-squid-game-and-the-gothic-trap-of-debt/)
Ask Me Anything!
Do you have any tips for how cowards can enjoy horror? Asking for a friend.
Oh man, this is a super interesting question. I guess the deeper issue is what you feel your own relationship to horror (and maybe fear as an emotion is) -- some people really enjoy the rush of a good horror movie and for some people, horror can be a way to explore and work through our own fears. I guess I would suggest starting with the classics -- try something like the 1931 Frankenstein and see what you think and fuck anyone who tells you that you aren't a real fan if you don't like or won't watch a certain film or style of film (I personally don't enjoy films which feature a lot of violence toward animals which in some cases is real) Hope this helps!
Personally, I stay away from torture porn.
Interesting, I don't have any big problems with gore and such. It's usually the paranormal stuff that gets to me, because you never know what to expect or what the limits are. Body horror is awful but at least there's a hard limit in that you have some idea of how e.g. skin and flesh interact with sharp metal tools, while paranormal stuff could conceivably be hallucinated by my own brain at any time or place.
I'm not fond of the paranormal stuff either. I don't like it when you can't even count on basic natural laws.