By Marcus
Davis
Ever since I
was a child I’ve had a fascination with the horror genre. I was introduced to
my first horror film by a baby sitter when I was about 5 or 6 years old. Every
time I was dropped off at her house she would pull out a selection horror
movies on VHS. The first one she made me watch was Tremors. While watching the
film I couldn’t help but think of what I would do if these large worms that
terrorized a small town were real. I kept thinking about what I would do
differently. This fascination led me to become obsessed with the Sci-Fi
channel, turning it on and tuning in every chance I had. It was on the Sci-Fi
channel that I discovered movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th,
and John Carpenter’s The Thing. There was something about these films that
stuck with me. That something was the feeling of fear.
As I grew older I started to recognize the
importance of fear. Fear is a human emotion that triggers the release of
adrenaline and endorphins in the body. This feeling is important to me because
it reminds me that we are human and there are things that are out of our
control. I enjoyed the way I felt while
watching horror films. I was addicted to that feeling. The way the score of
John Carpenter’s Halloween added to the terror that is Michael Myers. The way
corpses were reanimated and brought back to life in Fulci’s Zombi2. Even how
the gritty lifestyle the Sawyer family embodied in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
made me want to shower immediately. All of these elements are important because
they remind us that not all movies have to have a happy ending.
The great thing about horror films is they
allow us to use our imagination more than any other genre. It’s our imagination
that allows us to think outside the box and think beyond the laws of reality.
It’s in our imagination that our city can be overrun by zombies or we can save
the damsel in distress from the clutches of a demonic killer. It’s these ideas
that separate horror from drama, comedy, and romance films where the simple
love story can be altered and reused over and over again.
Aside from watching horror films another way
I get my horror fix is by attending haunted houses. Haunted houses give you a
unique opportunity to live out some of your favorite horror fantasies in real
life. Whether it’s walking through scenes from the films or a completely
original idea you’re always guaranteed a good scare with the use of the same
elements of the films. Haunted houses have harnessed the senses of sight, sound,
and sometimes smell to completely engulf you in an atmosphere of pure horror.
Most haunts don’t open until the fall season so I always plan accordingly to be
able to attend as many as possible.
Not too long after I met my significant
other, we discovered the phenomenons that are horror conventions. I couldn’t
believe these conventions were taking place and I had no idea about them. I
couldn’t help but notice how close to home I felt at these events. After
attending my first horror convention I knew what I wanted to do with the rest
of my life. I wanted to promote any and all things related to the horror
community with the hope that there are others out there like me that love
horror but didn’t have a proper outlet to get the enjoyment I was looking for.
Now
that I’m older I still watch horror films and in fact collect them. I collect
autographs and memorabilia of the films that stuck with me ever since I was a
child. While sometimes criticized by others around me about my interests, I
still continue to pursue my dreams in the genre that has given me so much in
return. If I could give one piece of advice to anyone reading this that feels
like they are alone because of their interests in horror, speak up and do
something to preserve what you love. Whether it’s holding an event or showing
someone a horror film for the first time, get out there and do it and help keep
horror alive.
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