Horror Genre Discussion

Gravy · Post by **Gravy** » 06 Oct 2015, 22:34

kio wrote:I finished mine as well: Angels and Demons by Delaine Christine, but I'm still reeling from the cliffhanger ending. I'll be back as well after I've digested it to further divulge into your guys' posts

@rssllue

I'm not the only one to digest their books!

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 06 Oct 2015, 22:46

I noticed that.

kio · Post by **kio** » 07 Oct 2015, 16:54

We probably all do and just don't admit it

Who else here does that? So on to Angels and Demons by Delaine Christine:

One fateful night, Veta Rohann survives a nasty car crash that kills her family. As a result, the car crash brings up dark parts of her past and leaves Veta feeling like God is telling her to start over. With nothing but her U-Haul of meager possessions, she goes to Kalispell, Montana. Things don’t quite as planned, however, when she arrives. Her U-Haul gets stolen and she almost dies in her rental house’s hot tub. She starts to have feelings for Drinian, but is afraid she’ll get hurt. As God’s angels try and stop the demons from attacking Veta, the reader soon learns that Veta and Drinian are destined to fulfill a prophecy that could save the world or destroy it. With love and the world on the line, will Veta and Drinian fulfill their destinies? Will their dark pasts get in the way of their future?

I'd say this book is more of a supernatural fiction book than horror.

Supernatural elements I noticed that tend to be universal throughout the genre include otherworldly beings or forces and the ability for the main character to see and/or interact with them. I also noticed that laws of physics/science tend to go out the window with relation to them. They're usually something you see from old legends and myths.

This particular book contained all of those elements and took the form of the angels and demons you see as you read the book. Most of the main character by the end of the book either have supernatural powers such as reading minds and/or can see the angels and demons. come in to account when you learn about the family's past and how Drinian is part of a triplet set where at least one is evil according to their family's traditions.

I liked the cliffhanger chapters and ending of this book. It left me reeling at the end and ended totally different than I expected. I've noticed this also tends to be a characteristic of horror/supernatural fiction.

At first, I didn't like trying to keep straight Veta's cat and the main character guy being called, Drinian, but this later played into the story's mystery. I think mystery and confusion also tends to be a natural characteristic of the supernatural and horror genres.

What do you think? Do you think confusion on the part of the reader is a natural part of the book or are there some books you've read that this isn't the case?

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 07 Oct 2015, 17:17

Well, I see what you're saying. Maybe it would've worked better if it was known that they had the same name, yet one had a regular nickname, like Drin, or Dri? Unless the author was trying to confuse you, but I hate that sort of thing--I get brain freeze easily.

dickens 100 · Post by **dickens 100** » 07 Oct 2015, 17:27

I find most modern horror, ridiculous and over the top. In my opinion, the last great horror book is the Shining by Stephen King.
The film was terrific as well, full of suspense, not lots of blood and gore. The old horror films, with Boris Karloff through to the
Roger Corman films of the 60's with the brilliant Vincent Price were masterpieces and if anyone has ever seen Fritz Lang's 1932 Freaks, that is pretty horrific but memorable

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 07 Oct 2015, 18:49

zeldas_lullaby wrote:Well, I see what you're saying. Maybe it would've worked better if it was known that they had the same name, yet one had a regular nickname, like Drin, or Dri? Unless the author was trying to confuse you, but I hate that sort of thing--I get brain freeze easily.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 07 Oct 2015, 18:54

Yeah, like that. Thanks for the visual!!

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 07 Oct 2015, 18:55

You are most welcome!

gali · Post by **gali** » 08 Oct 2015, 01:02

kio wrote:We probably all do and just don't admit it Who else here does that? So on to Angels and Demons by Delaine Christine:

One fateful night, Veta Rohann survives a nasty car crash that kills her family. As a result, the car crash brings up dark parts of her past and leaves Veta feeling like God is telling her to start over. With nothing but her U-Haul of meager possessions, she goes to Kalispell, Montana. Things don’t quite as planned, however, when she arrives. Her U-Haul gets stolen and she almost dies in her rental house’s hot tub. She starts to have feelings for Drinian, but is afraid she’ll get hurt. As God’s angels try and stop the demons from attacking Veta, the reader soon learns that Veta and Drinian are destined to fulfill a prophecy that could save the world or destroy it. With love and the world on the line, will Veta and Drinian fulfill their destinies? Will their dark pasts get in the way of their future?

I'd say this book is more of a supernatural fiction book than horror.

Supernatural elements I noticed that tend to be universal throughout the genre include otherworldly beings or forces and the ability for the main character to see and/or interact with them. I also noticed that laws of physics/science tend to go out the window with relation to them. They're usually something you see from old legends and myths.

This particular book contained all of those elements and took the form of the angels and demons you see as you read the book. Most of the main character by the end of the book either have supernatural powers such as reading minds and/or can see the angels and demons. come in to account when you learn about the family's past and how Drinian is part of a triplet set where at least one is evil according to their family's traditions.

I liked the cliffhanger chapters and ending of this book. It left me reeling at the end and ended totally different than I expected. I've noticed this also tends to be a characteristic of horror/supernatural fiction.

At first, I didn't like trying to keep straight Veta's cat and the main character guy being called, Drinian, but this later played into the story's mystery. I think mystery and confusion also tends to be a natural characteristic of the supernatural and horror genres.

What do you think? Do you think confusion on the part of the reader is a natural part of the book or are there some books you've read that this isn't the case?

I think confusion on the part of the reader is a natural part of some books. The last book I reviewed also had it and I believe it was intentional. Of course, some books are just disjointed.

kio · Post by **kio** » 08 Oct 2015, 09:20

Hmm, good point @gali. I agree, @dickens 100. I think in order to plsy pff people's primal fears, most horror authors do that

Gravy · Post by **Gravy** » 08 Oct 2015, 15:04

kio wrote:Hmm, good point @gali. I agree, @dickens 100. I think in order to plsy pff people's primal fears, most horror authors do that

I actually prefer the implied threat over the clear danger. Makes the work of the author easier because the readers mind creates the danger.
My brain can offer me a million different ideas of what could be behind a door, but once that door is opened, my mind is tied down into the authors idea of fear.

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 08 Oct 2015, 15:27

kio · Post by **kio** » 09 Oct 2015, 20:13

I third that

But, at the same time, a clear danger be necessary. Otherwise, it might not seem dangerous. I mean, you can only make a bunny so scary without the clear threat of danger, right. For example, James Howe had to make Bunnicula a vampire bunny to add some horror to his Bunnicula series, but still the bunny only sucked the lives out of vegetables. I think the author has to have a good knowledge of their intended audience to scare. After all, as far as I know, only 3rd to 4 th or 5th grader (pr younger) would be afraid of a vampire bunny who drains vegetables

Gravy · Post by **Gravy** » 10 Oct 2015, 00:34

I always thought Bunnicula was cute

-- 09 Oct 2015, 22:38 --

A good example of an implied, yet never (really) seen threat, in my opinion, is in The Shining, when Danny's on the playground.

That scene was very well done