A Slasher Theater Editorial: What does it mean to be a horror fan?

Picture this: You’re at the movie theater, surrounded by a few friends, here to see the latest big-budget studio horror film with all those creepy commercials and posters all around the cinema, talking about whatever it is that’s on your mind to pass the time. And then, all of a sudden, the house lights dim, the screen adjusts and everybody quiets down. What are you feeling?

To many people, it’s just that slight hint of relief that the wait is over. It’s now time to get your money’s worth by simply watch the movie.

For some, however, it’s an entirely different feeling. It’s excitement. It’s a slight adrenaline rush. Sometimes it may even be a slight nervousness. Whatever it may be, that big dark room invokes something within people. People who’ve been waiting for this, who knew exactly what they were doing today a week in advance, people who would’ve come to see this movie alone if they couldn’t find any friends who wanted to see it. It is these people who pack midnight premieres and exclusive screenings. It is these people who knew the director, producer, stars and composer of the score before seeing the movie. It is these people who already know that there’s a sequel in the works. It is these people who have been home reading all the horror blogs (like Slasher Theater!) before leaving for the movie theater.

So who are these obsessive fans who show up at 11:30 at night for midnight screenings in their Evil Dead t-shirts with glassy eyes from staring at a computer or TV screen all day? These are horror fans.

But what, exactly, makes a horror fan any different than the average movie-goer? The obvious answer is the devotion to one genre; however, it’s so much more than that.

Horror is more than a movie-type, it is an entire culture.

With the exception of Sci-Fi, no other genre of film has such a profound impact on its fans. No other genre has sparked websites, books, conventions, music, comic books, and art devoted entirely to the films.

Many horror fans have been true since a very young age. Whether it be because of an accidental viewing of Halloween at age 5 or just a lot of junior high school angst, it’s not often that you find someone who’s been a fan for a year or so. Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying though, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with new fans, in fact, it is new fans that keep the genre alive. All I’m saying is that horror is filled with some long-time veterans.

One thing that differs between Horror fans and Sci-Fi fans is that we are much more accepting of each other. There are plenty of Trekkies that hate Star Wars fans and vice versa, but horror doesn’t have this internal animosity. Whether you’ve been watching horror movies for three weeks or thirty years, everyone gets along just fine.

Horror fans do still have it pretty rough though. There are tons and tons of great horror films, however, with every passing week, there are also tons and tons of bad remakes and movies. The classics will always be there, but it’s not easy to find good horror films with real substance these days. Although, sometimes it is these bad films that help us appreciate the great ones, but no one likes having to sift through to dirt in search of diamonds.

Another hardship of being a die-hard is people who don’t understand it. “Why do you like movies with so much blood? Are you an angry person? Are you violent?” Some people don’t and never will understand it because it can’t be explained. I don’t know why I hate happy endings or why I root for the killer. I don’t know why movies like Hostel and The Human Centipede don’t gross me out in the slightest. I suppose horror is not an acquired taste, you’re either a part of it, or you just don’t get it. And it’s as simple as that.

Another important thing to remember about horror fans is how damn fun we are! We like to actually enjoy our movies, not just watch them. We like to poke fun at zombies with movies like The Return of the Living Dead and laugh about alien clowns with cotton candy guns. I mean come on, we have our own section of the comedy genre reserved for films like Ghostbusters and Shaun of the Dead. We don’t take ourselves seriously because life is fun, and we know it. Everyone else can live their lives like a mindless zombie, but we’ll save that part for after we die.

People can say and think that horror films have a negative impact on society all they want, but this is due purely to ignorance. Think about it, what social, racial, or economic group is associated with horror? Can’t think of one? My point exactly. Horror fans are the most unrestricting group of people you could ever meet. People claim horror films degrade women, but let’s look at the facts here: Who was the protagonist in Halloween? Scream? A Nightmare on Elm Street? All women, all bad ass. If anything, horror is empowering for women, they’re the ones conquering these hulking masked madmen while their boyfriends piss themselves in the corner.

However, despite our unique taste, we’re never pretentious or snotty about our choices in films. I would never look down on someone because they’ve never seen Evil Dead and when I ask someone whether or not they’ve seen a film, I’m not doing it to seem more cultured than who ever I’m talking to. I want to share my interest, not force it. And if I suggest a film to you and you end up not liking it, I won’t question you or tell you you’re wrong, horror’s not for everyone, that’s what makes it special.

To sum up, being a horror fan means being yourself. And if you’re not a horror fan deep down on the inside, you’ll never understand it. We’re a diverse group of people who are in no way insular or unwelcoming, we just want to love what we love and if you do too, then that’s pretty cool.