Let’s get the big news out of the way first.
Eh emmm….
I do NOT like horror.
I know. I know. I can hear your gasps of astonishment through the computer screen. How can I not like horror but write horror filled stories? I know it’s weird. But there it is. I learned at an early age after watching Pet Cemetery; as it was immediately followed by several nights of nightmares. From that point on I concluded that horror was not for me. Heck, I even learned to avoid books with scary covers, like the Goosebumps series. To this day I haven’t read a one of them. And if I’m honest the only reason I read the Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe was because I didn’t know it was horror and most importantly it was for a school assignment. By the time I had figured it out I had to finish it. If nothing else than to make it to the end.
That is one thing I have always been able to say about horror. Once I start a story, I will finish it. No matter how much screaming, eye covering and blanket cowering is required to get through it (movies). Or how often I have to stop reading and hide the book far away from me. Read something light, nice and sweet and then go back to finish reading the scary book (books). I have always managed to tough it out through sheer stubbornness. Looking at you Jurassic Park and Aliens vs. Predators movies.
Why do I put myself through such torture? Because I have to know whether or not the good guys win or somebody lives. It’s the only way I have found to successfully stop the nightmares.
It has taken over 30 years but I have finally found a scary book that I actually enjoyed. One with evil, death, bad and good people. But I didn’t feel any of that existential dread that I usually have while reading/watching horror books/movies. I had no nightmares, no need to sleep with a night light or immediately scrub my mind clean by reading/watching sugar sweet books/movies.
In fact, all that happened was thinking. Deep introspective thinking. Thinking about the world, my place in it and how I would be judged by a non-human entity that held the power of life and death along with the ability to see your numerous sins. Thoughts about assumptions I had made while reading the book, some good, and some, I have to admit to being both surprised and upset to find existed within me.
This was the first horror book that I have ever enjoyed without feeling darkness closing in. What is the title of this book you ask? Why it’s called The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco.
It tells the story of a Hollywood film crew that are ghost chasers and want to prove the Legend of the Dreamer god true or false. The locals want nothing to do with them or the legend. But that doesn’t dissuade the producers. And so, hiring the only local that will help the mysterious Alon they step forth on the island to film and discover once and for all if the legend of the Dreamer god who sleeps, waiting to grant unimaginable powers in exchange for eight human sacrifices is true.
Ooooh, spooky sounding right?! If you want to read it check it out at your local library or if you can’t wait then check out the Amazon link for the book above.
What is the first horror movie/book that you ever watched/read that you actually enjoyed?
Commentaires