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.
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting it’s gross! You’re gross!
— Carolyn Poddig (@SoCalRamen) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “I can’t watch horror movies because of all the gore.” So many great horror films are light on blood & gore.
— Alexandr S. (@alexsamocha) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman when the only thing non-horror fans talk about is the gore. There’s so much more to horror movies than JUST gore.
— Tim Schilling (@timjschilling) April 5, 2016
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!
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting a friend once cut her finger & I looked away & she said, “but u like horror movies, I thought you liked blood”🙄
— Efrain Franco (@efie) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting A co-worker, after finding out I liked horror films, recommended a site that showed crime scene & autopsy pics.
— Matt Wedge (@MovieNerdMatt) April 5, 2016
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!
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “Horror is for, and only watched by, teen boys.” Not historically true. Easy, tired way to denigrate the genre.
— Lindsey Decker (@alindseydecker) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “I’ve never met a woman who likes horror.” Bullshit. You probably just haven’t spoken to enough women.
— Theresa DeLucci (@tdelucci) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman@BDisgusting “How can a nice girl like you like horror?” Because being a girl and a horror fan are not mutually exclusive.
— Brittany Sandler (@besandler) April 5, 2016
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!
People making overarching generalizations about the genre based soley on wide releases like The Gallows, Ouija, etc. @TracedThurman
— Eric O’Polka (@Stickie_22) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman “Horror is only about mindless, emotionless deaths.” That horror can’t have depth, story, or meaning. Done hearing that.
— Matt Donato (@DoNatoBomb) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman@BDisgusting “I don’t like horror. The last horror movie I saw was Saw 3 and it sucked.”
— Suskel & Ebert (@bodegaboxoffice) April 6, 2016
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.
@TracedThurman “What is wrong with you.”
— girl introvert (@girlintrovert) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “Ha, I thought you were normal!” 😔 I get revenge by sending them scary gifs at night 😜
— The Horror Hunter (@horror_hunter) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “Why do you like horror? Is there something wrong with you, like, mentally?”
— Chad (@chadiscollins) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “You’re a psychopath”
— Michael Roberts (@michaelpavicic) April 5, 2016
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.
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting those movies are crap, no real story there. You should watch something like (insert dry art house film here)
— Candy Dax (@iamcandydax) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “horror movies are for dumb people who cant understand (insert any Best Picture nominee @ the Oscars that year)”
— bloodyblackout (@bloodyblack0ut) April 6, 2016
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.”
@TracedThurman Four dreaded words: “This isn’t even scary”
Note to non-horror fans: Horror doesn’t have to be scary to be fun.— Kevin Sommerfield (@krsommerfield) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “that’s the worst movie ever! it wasn’t even scary!”
— Cody Landman (@cody_landman) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman “Horror movies suck because they’re not scary. They are just blood and guts and jumpscares.”
— SKUNKROCKER (@skunkrocker) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman @BDisgusting “It isnt even scary…” Not all horror movies have to be scary to be brilliant!
— Dean (@z3anogo) April 5, 2016
@TracedThurman@BDisgusting When you mention your favorite movie & they say: “that’s not even scary, there aren’t any jump scares.” 😒
— H ä x a n (@Haxan_Aok) April 5, 2016
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!