  Horror/Scary
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Christian Bale as Patrick Batemen in the film "American Psycho".
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In the 1930s H P Lovecraft claimed the appeal of the horror genre was limited because it required imagination and a detachment from daily life. Those words may have been relevant then, but nearly 80 years ago modern horror is all around us. Our world has changed so much since Lovecraft’s statement daily life is now filled with evidence of horror. Horror inspiration is all around us, and the only restriction is how far we let our imagination go when crafting a story.
Knives, masks and slashes are no longer essential tools for a horror writer. Well written horror will chill readers to the bone, and a writer only needs look at the current state of the world for inspiration. News channels and the media focus upon the more sensational news events, and sometimes a negative emotion or state of mind can trigger a horrifying action. Analysing a news story and the rationale behind a protagonist’s actions can be interesting, because it demonstrates how easily negativity can overwhelm a person and cause him or her to carry out the most terrible acts. Rejection, loneliness, rage, frustration, jealousy and depression are just some emotions responsible for modern horror.
Which brings me to the horror within us. All of us do, to a degree, possess some level of insecurity or phobia, and we work hard to suppress these vulnerabilities. We can use our own beliefs, fears, guilt and instability to great effect in horror writing. Modern horror writing encourages the writer to explore the negativity, and express it in such a way the reader understands how easily our fears can take control. I know I often bring Bret Easton Ellis’s character Patrick Bateman into these newsletters, but for me Bateman is still one of the best examples of a modern horror character. The most outstanding aspect of “American Psycho” is not the gore and the depravity of Bateman; it’s his controlled, moderate and normal character that is truly shocking. Much like Thomas Harris’ Hannibal Lecter… a purely evil character hides very successfully behind the façade of a perfectly refined, cultured psychiatrist. The fact that he is trained to deal with disorders of the mind adds to the horror of his character.
Alterity is the ability to relate to someone or something we consider very different to ourselves. Also known as the concept of Other, it is perhaps better explained by our inability to deal with someone whose ideas and behaviour are different to our own: “He’s gone mad” or “She’s lost her mind” are some of the ways we deal with alterity. We also apply this to ourselves when trying to make sense of some of the choices and decisions we made, rationalising our behaviour with phrases like “I must have been out of my mind” or “I have no idea why I said that.” For a writer interested in modern horror The Other is a wonderful tool.
When applying The Other to horror fiction, it will share or exhibit one or more of the following traits:
Monster.
A real challenge for a writer, this character’s Other personality is dominant. The character may look like a human being, but his/her personality is devoid of any trace of humanity. In the most extreme versions of this trait the character is so malevolent it is not considered worth saving. It can display subtle, but obvious signs as to its evil – dressing in dark colours, obsession with evil symbols such as snake, and a blasé attitude toward taking another life. The individual can be representative of all the traits we dislike about ourselves – both as an individual and as a species. This psychological Monster is terrifying, because of their complete disregard for everything, and their unpredictability. Nobody can guess how this character will react to a situation, and whatever action is taken will be wrong. This makes it’s easy for your readers to feel uncomfortable as well as hate the character.
One Track Mind.
Normal life and routine behaviour is what makes people carrying out horrific acts scary, because we can relate to the individual. The more normal a person is the more you are able to frighten your reader. However, your readers will be able to see through the most basic example of obsessive compulsive behaviour, so make sure you do no use very obvious suggestions. You want to surprise and shock your reader, so don’t have your serial killer buying bags of cement or collecting knives and swords in order to satisfy his modus operandi. In Thomas Harris’ “Silence of the Lambs” Buffalo Bill (aka Jame Gumb) is fascinated by the metamorphosis of the moth, comparing their transformation to his belief that he is a transsexual. He kidnaps women, starves and murders them in order to make himself a “woman suit” from their skin. He places a moth inside his corpses’ throats when disposing of them. According to Hannibal Lecter, the book’s central character, the emergence of Buffalo Bill’s “Other” persona came forward through poor self-image, stemming from “years of systematic abuse.”
Immaturity.
Perhaps the most shocking application of The Other, this issue needs to be handled with care and originality. Perhaps the best example of this is the application of innocent and childlike qualities to the character. Both qualities will serve to emphasise the horror of its behaviour and actions – the thought of a child committing murder is dreadful, and not made any easier by putting a child’s mind into a adult body. It’s not easy for an adult writer to think like a child, either. While this character might well merge with the Monster it can also be the result of an obvious psychological disorder. The Immature Other will think and speak in short, simple sentences, and remain focussed on the benefit of committing an act of horror. Perhaps the childlike thoughts and logic only come forward when the character is faced with a stressful situation. After all, a successful horror character needs to be intelligent and organised in order to commit evil acts. The Immature Other will have a normal, day-to-day life filled with everyday activities like driving a car, shopping and watching television shows. Bottom Line – this is your character, and it’s up to YOU how much of its life is spent as a normal person.
In conclusion, The Other is a wonderful and powerful character for any horror writer, if you are prepared to take the time to develop it, and analyse what makes The Other so different from you the writer - its creator. Explore and study the reasons someone or something might appear to you as The Other. Now you’re ready to go and scare your waiting readers.
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billwilcox
Ohhh...how I love a good haunted house  . Houses have characteristics, attitudes, traits that make each one different from the next. You can see it when you pass them, sense it, feel it in your bones like a chill of icy water spiraling up and down your spine. Yes, haunted houses have their own personalities. They are watching...waiting.
Too right, and some of them – like the Amityville House – seem to have eyes that watch… and wait…
spidey 
Great newsletter! Haunted houses and spooky places rank up there with the scariest subject matters for me. The Amityville Horror story (and movie) is one of my faves!
It’s certainly an interesting story, and one I didn’t know too much about I have to say. Remember the house from the original “Poltergeist” film? Now that was a scary place!
Acme
*whimper* Great newsletter *gulp* Is it normal to not want to go to bed after reading a newsletter? Freaky eye animations and spooky houses? Now you really are spoiling me. My scariest fiction house? Pretty modern, but the kids’ animation 'Monster House' had me pretty freaked. Hey, Sarah, are you wondering what kind of horror fan can watch 18+ without batting an eyelid, but gets goosebumps over kid's films? Erm, that'll be this one  Ace newsletter, as per fabulous usual 
Well, I haven’t seen “Monster House”, but I used to get scared watching “My Favourite Martian” and “Space 1999”… pathetic, isn’t it? Thanks for the confession!
Tiffany Strife
I found your article about the house haunts interesting, however I feel I must dispute something that you wrote. You stated that (in reference to the Amityville Horror): "with the house seemingly affected by the murder of six members of his family by one Ronald DeFeo, Jnr." However, this is not completely true. The house haunting started before the DeFeos took up residence. It began back in the early history of the house, with a primitive torture chamber of a deranged Doctor hidden behind a wall in the basement. In fact, the house and the rage affected DeFeo to kill his family, not the other way around.
Well, I have to say I didn’t come across this information when preparing the newsletter, and it certainly is very interesting. Thank you for sharing this with us – it certainly makes DeFeo’s actions a bit more… logical? Not really the right word, but then how else does one explain a family murder like this? Or in fact any murder…
Maimai J Saves for Upgrade
Interesting newsletter. I know of the Manila Film Center haunting (since I'm from Manila), and I must say what Imelda Marcos did was very inhumane. Enough said.
Imelda Marcos… now that lady was a modern horror story, wasn’t she? Far more terrifying than any ghost or vampire. I was horrified to read about the Manila Film Centre disaster – very sad indeed. Power certainly does corrupt, doesn’t it?
Starr* Rathburn
LOVED the picture of the haunted house in this newsletter!
Starr*R
An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
- Benjamin Franklin
Yes, undocked22 is a very fine writer and a talented artist. I love it too! And your quotation is excellent too!
Spooky, Cute & staiNed 
Wicked cute, eyes Sarah! hehe!  Awesome! I am speechless, you just keeping getting better with the quality beings your newsletters and the things I learn.  You made haunted houses look interesting! And thanks so much for highlighting my sister zoom  ’s poem 
Encouragement like this helps, because at least we know we’re doing it write. Thanks for your continued support and your great writing!
Lauriemariepea
oooh, I love a ghost story! I even get sucked into that 'Ghosthunters' TV show...the potential for sighting something creepy, no matter how slim, pulls me in every time. I grew up hearing ghost stories from family and friends, and sharing is still one of my favorite ways to pass an evening. 
Thanks for the reminder, Sarah--how'd I ever forget how much I love ghost stories? 
I love ghost stories too, and haunted houses/places are great tools for a writer. All that history, and the reason the ghosts stay there, and what they do to avoid moving on is great writing fodder. Thank you for the support and your contributions!
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Horror/Scary: August 06, 2008 Issue [#2508]
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