So what is it about creepy characters that cause such an intense reaction? Is it the subject itself? Perhaps. Anyone that might meet the character face to face would surely feel frightened. However, I believe it is the author’s ability to play on our fears and give us just the right balance between scary and entertaining, which allows us to create a long-term connection with the ghoulish and disturbing.
With the ever-changing cinematic technology, our fears are brought to life on screens all over the world. Bold colors and graphic gore make our nightmares come to life with disturbingly real special effects. However, there is something about picking up a horror novel that is distinctly different from the slasher movies of today. Words flow off the page and into your imagination, creating suspense and an endless possibility of outcomes. Your connection with the characters, good and bad, grows with each turn of the page. Authors are able to delve deeper into the thoughts and motivations, allowing you ample insight into the character’s state of mind, that I feel is often lacking in movies.
That is not to say that horror movies are not great. In fact, if it were not for the film reproductions of many great novels, some of the creepy characters that have become a part of pop culture probably wouldn’t be as well known today. As a whole, humans have propensity to scare one another as entertainment, through various means. The act of overcoming a challenge or facing our fears, creates and adrenaline rush and an actual physical response to the achievement. Which is why, whether from a book, a movie, or folklore passed down through the ages, creepy characters will always have a place in society.
What is your favorite creepy character? Do you think seeing it on a screen vs. reading about it makes a difference? I’m interested in your thoughts!