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[Readers’ Choice] 7 Things You Should Never Say To Horror Fans!

Published

10 years ago

on

Horror Fand Twitter Survey

The horror genre isn’t exactly what you would call highly regarded, and the legions of fans that support it are no different. As horror  fans, we are occasionally looked down upon by the general population, but that’s probably because they’re jealous we have a legitimate passion for something, right? Telling someone you’re a horror fan (especially if you work in an industry that has nothing to do with horror at all like I do) can be a coming out process all on its own. People react strangely to it, and some people react worse than others. I decided to take to Twitter* and ask the horror community what they were tired of hearing from non-horror fans, and boy did I strike a nerve! Here are seven of the most prevalent responses I received from all of you.

*I plan on making this a recurring series of posts where I ask a question on Twitter and post the responses in a post here, so if you would like a chance to be included in a future post start following me on Twitter at @TracedThurman.

1. “There’s Too Much Gore!”

Lots of horror movies have gore. I personally love gore, but that doesn’t mean a horror movie has to have it in spades in order for me to like it. These people know what’s up.

 

2. “You Must Like Actual Blood Too!”

I actually get a little faint at the sight of real blood. I’m glad to know I’m not alone!

 

3. Anything Sexist

Not only is it offensive to act surprised when a woman says she likes horror, it’s fucking rude. Don’t assume that all women love romantic comedies and musicals (though it’s okay to love those things to…I do). Horror isn’t just a man’s genre. It’s everyone’s genre!

 

4. A Generalization of the Genre

There are tons of horror movies out there, and they all have a wide variety of traits. You can’t generalize any genre, and horror is no different. Also, it’s not as dumb as people make it out to be (though it certainly can be). And just because you didn’t like Saw doesn’t mean you don’t like horror. That is one type of horror film. Find the sub-genre that suits you. You’ll find something you like!

 

5. Insinuating That There’s Something Wrong With Us

Horror fans are people, just like everyone else. Just because we enjoy a good horror film doesn’t make us lesser people. If anything, our shared passion for an underrated genre brings us closer together as a community. Some of my best friends are horror fans. Don’t belittle us just because you don’t get it.

 

6. “Horror Is Stupid and For Stupid People”

Just because we like horror doesn’t mean we’re stupid. Many horror fans also liked films like The Revenant and Carol this year (Seriously, go see Carol. It was robbed at the Academy Awards). “Smart horror” also exists, and if you don’t believe that then you clearly don’t watch enough horror movies.

 

7. “X Movie Is Not Even Scary!”

Out of all of the responses I received on Twitter, this was the one that was brought up the most. People seem to think that if a horror movie isn’t scary, then it isn’t good. Our own Jess Hicks wrote a great piece on this exact topic a few months ago and I even wrote another one asking readers what even qualified as scary anymore. A horror movie doesn’t have to be scary to be good. Fear is subjective, and what one person may find terrifying may have no effect on a different person. And to all of you non-horror fans out there: jump scares do not qualify as “scary.”

Do you agree with many of these people? Let me know in the comments below and share what you are tired of hearing from non-horror fans! We need to be heard! 

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A journalist for Bloody Disgusting since 2015, Trace writes film reviews and editorials, as well as co-hosts Bloody Disgusting's Horror Queers podcast, which looks at horror films through a queer lens. He has since become dedicated to amplifying queer voices in the horror community, while also injecting his own personal flair into film discourse. Trace lives in Denver, CO with his husband and their two dogs. Find him on Twitter @TracedThurman

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Editorials

‘The Vampire Lestat’ Concert Event Launches New Season With The Ultimate Expression Of Fandom

Published

12 hours ago

on

June 3, 2026

By

Beacon Theatre's The Vampire Lestat Marquee The Vampire Lestat Concert

There are thousands of passionate fans decked out in gothic chic and champing at the bit like feral creatures. They’re screaming for Lestat, a legendary vampire-turned-rock star, as if the entire crowd has been glamored into submission.

The entire experience is magic, but not because some supernatural thrall has been activated. What’s going on is even more special. It’s the power of the effusive fandom that’s been authentically assembled by AMC’s sublime Immortal Universe, namely Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, now, The Vampire Lestat.

The Vampire Lestat is far from the first Anne Rice adaptation, and it’s not as if there’s been a lack of erotic vampire material for audiences to sink their teeth into. On June 2nd, during a one-night-only spectacle, New York City’s prestigious Beacon Theatre shook from Sam Reid’s bravado performance and an audience full of adoring fans who had already memorized Lestat’s songs.

It’s clear that The Vampire Lestat just hits differently than its predecessors. It’s become more than just a TV series at this point, and this opulent display of ego, swagger, and pure sex is the perfect way to premiere the new season and give back to the fans who helped make Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat such a breakout success. It’s exactly the sort of hyperbolized hedonism that would make Lestat cackle.

The Vampire Lestat Rolling Stone Cover

For all intents and purposes, AMC has successfully created the illusion that this concert/premiere is just one of the many destinations on Lestat and his band’s 54-stop tour that is simultaneously playing out on this season of television. It’s such a sophisticated and thorough level of interactive fan engagement that the audience doesn’t just understand, but also manages to accentuate through its involvement.

It’s a level of seamless synergy that’s not unlike the give-and-take relationship of vampire and victim. 

Before the concert started, “LeStans” were sitting in the Beacon and flipping through a fake Rolling Stone issue with Lestat emblazoned on the cover, complete with interviews with the undead frontman inside. Other fans were admiring the vinyl pressing of Lestat’s EP as they walked past a section of undead band merch. Fandom and fantasy blur together, and it all becomes this elaborate, immersive experience. Fan celebration, erotic gothic fantasy, and a lavish rock concert transform into one beautiful thing.

To this point, AMC Global Media’s Chief Content Officer and President of AMC Studios, Dan McDermott, introduced the event by reiterating to fans, “You are the heartbeat of the series.” That’s abundantly clear on nights like this as that heartbeat collectively pulses to this performance. In terms of how AMC engages with The Vampire Lestat’s fans, it’s as bold a reinvention as the season itself.

This intuitive gamble speaks to AMC’s creativity in this department and a fandom that is eager to seize such opportunities. It’s the same innovation that led to zombie walks for The Walking Dead and real-life Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant pop-ups from Breaking Bad. It’s a great way to pump up the audience for The Vampire Lestat and then maintain that enthusiasm for the whole season.

The Vampire Lestat's Sam Reid as Lestat at Beacon Theatre.

For most series, a rock ‘n’ roll concert just doesn’t make any sense as a promotional tool. The Vampire Lestat finds itself in a very unique position where it can deliver an excellent concert at an iconic theater, but also use it to showcase The Vampire Lestat’s music by Daniel Hart (who was shredding on stage alongside Reid and the rest of their band) and, more than anything, Sam Reid’s endless charisma.

The way in which Reid feeds off of the crowd’s energy, modulating his performance and giving different sections of the Beacon life, is a perfect distillation of the series’ thoughtful relationship with its audience and how it’s become such a breakout success for AMC. AMC Studios President Dan McDermott emphasized that the fans are the reason that the show is still here and why an event like this is even possible. It’s rare to see a series in which every single cog in the machine is so perfectly attuned to its fans. Reid’s fans already cheer whenever they see him, so why not translate that to a concert setting?

It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.

Now bring on the encore and get this show on the road!

 

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