On Tiktok, the hashtag #scarystories gained popularity during the month of October. Videos under the hashtag had 55 million views over the last seven days, with 19 billion views since it started. However, telling a horror story is bigger than just social media shares.
From authors like Edgar Allen Poe to Stephen King, horror not only is a trending genre in entertainment, but in literature too. A 2021 book sales report found that horror was the fifth most popular fiction genre the year before, bringing in $79.6 million dollars.
The stats are consistent with the rise of horror popularity that’s been occurring since 2016. Nielsen Bookscan figures showed that the genre was up “29% in value and volume” in 2017 compared to the year before.
Here are six reasons why horror is a year-round genre, including conversations about society to deep dives on characters.
1. You can connect with the character’s inner turmoil
Compared to horror movies and television shows, readers are able to take a deeper dive into the inner workings of the character, according to author Ai Jiang.
“With TV shows and movies, there is less opportunity for interiority in that we don’t often hear the character’s internal thoughts and development,” Jiang said. “With stories and written horror, we can dive deeper into the characters’ psyches, brew on the imagery, atmosphere, and setting, and let the ideas settle or unsettle within us.”
This ability is very important, Brenda Helmbrecht, English professor at CalPoly, said.
“Literature asks us to empathize with a character’s fears in unique ways,” Helmbrecht said. “Readers construct images in their minds when they read, but they also get to know characters in very intimate ways. While films may ask us to watch someone who is afraid, literature can ask us to step into a character’s mind and experience the horror alongside them. And I find that process incredibly valuable.”
2. Fear can help your brain
Fear, often perceived as a…
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