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Stephen King’s essay about why we crave horror story hit some core points and really shed
light on why I find the fascination that I do in horror movies and stories alike. I found that
the points at which I get most entranced into the story is when the author introduces the
fear or horror in the story. For example, in Stoker’s “Dracula’s Guest" when Johann starts
crossing himself and attempting to veer away from the “inviting" path it piqued my
interest. I found it hard to stop reading and this desire to see how the story played out
unfolded within me.
King says that we need the horror and the abnormal to stay sane. That by feeding our
desires for these twisted ideas through entertainment we keep it at bay and then are able to
live healthy and normal lives after that.
Horror stories give us some darkness to the light in the world, and offer up something to be
afraid of when things go bump in the night. I feel like the adrenaline that rushes through
my body as I read or watch a horror story is an addicting rush and for some this rush is
what feeds their “alligators" and keep them sane.
King outlines clearly why we keep making and keep watching or reading these stories. He
compares them to modern day lynching. Maybe this is so, maybe by watching and reading
these shows we keep our own demented impulses down so that we can interact normally
