Why We Crave Horror Movies

The essay was written in the early 1980s, when societal fears were different. How would you apply King’s ideas to the current societal context? What fears are prominent today that show up in recent horror movies? To what extent do King’s ideas still apply, and in what ways are they outdated?

King refers to the best in the horror genre as having “anarchistic, reactionary, and revolutionary” qualities “all at the same time” (Paragraph 11) because they confirm a sense of “normality” while also fighting against it and promoting change. What are the anarchistic, reactionary, or revolutionary aspects of horror movies that you have watched? Do they appeal to fears of things like the dark, heights, and death? Cite the text in your response.

Which of King’s horror novels that were adapted into movies connect most closely to his arguments? Which do not, and why?