Guest Author - Andy Boxall

This is a question that many horror fans field every single day. Combine this question with the ones about how all the films are the same or whether you get scared and the chances are you won’t mention a horror movie to anyone ever again. But it really doesn’t have to be like that, especially if you do your homework first.

The horror film is as much of an art form as any other film, particularly in the right hands. The genre is often a birthing ground for new directing and acting talent, plus when you explore the world of Euro and Asian horror, you will see many films that simply pass the uninformed by. Being a horror fan adds another dimension on to being just a film fan.

Horror can give you a heads up on whom to watch out for in mainstream movie making too. Peter Jackson is a household name after the fabulous Lord of the Rings trilogy, but horror fans have been with him since Bad Taste, Braindead and the Frighteners. The same can be said for Spiderman director Sam Raimi. After the Evil Dead trilogy, his fans made a point of seeing Darkman, Crimewave and The Quick and the Dead. Say what you like about horror fans, but they are a loyal bunch.

People watch horror for different reasons. Some fans really get scared during a horror film and can’t wait for the adrenaline buzz that goes hand in hand with fear. Others like to watch films that others dismiss as tacky, boring, offensive or all three, presumably too not conform. I know fans that like to see films that their country’s censorship laws forbid them to see, to assess for themselves if they are worth the fuss. There are also the individuals that seek out the goriest of the horrors to attempt to shock themselves and others. In truth, I think that the true horror fan is an amalgamation of all of these reasons.

Essentially, when you are a horror fan you become a member of a big club. If you are a fan of romantic comedy, costume drama movies or any other niche section, you don’t get one of these. You won’t go to a convention to get your original VHS copy of High Society signed by a cast member; neither will you queue to see the premiere of the latest budget production from Rogers and Hammerstein. All this joy is available to the horror fan if they want, plus a huge Internet community and a large amount of new releases each year. Not to mention several thriving DVD companies releasing great editions of previously hard to find movies.

Horror fandom can mean stereotypes, which I shall avoid going into, but provided you sidestep these, read up on the history and influential directors and most importantly, watch as many different types of horror films as you can. Not just those at your local rental shop, check the late night cable channels too and buy a few DVD’s to get started. Soon, you will be able to give an answer to those hated questions that will recruit another horror fan!