 Horror/Scary: April 26, 2023 Issue [#11928] |
This week: Horror is relative Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week:
"Walls have ears.
Doors have eyes.
Trees have voices.
Beasts tell lies.
Beware the rain.
Beware the snow.
Beware the man
You think you know.
Songs of Sapphique"
~Catherine Fisher, Incarceron
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For many people, family relationships can be a nightmare. Well known horror stories that involve twisted families include "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson and "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. Both of these stories revolve around strange families who live in isolation, are touched by mental illness, and harbor dark secrets.
Extremely dysfunctional families such as these are great subjects for horror stories because many people can relate to them on some level. While most families are not as twisted as the ones in these examples, many families have secrets they do not want revealed to the rest of the world. Here are some examples:
*A child was conceived out of wedlock or is the result of an affair.
*A wealthy family came from humble beginnings.
*An ancestor or living family member committed murder or some other crime.
*A family member suffers from mental illness or substance abuse.
*A well respected politician has accepted bribes or is guilty of other corrupt acts.
*A seemingly happily married person has had several extramarital affairs.
Some of these secrets, such as murder or corruption, would have damaging consequences if revealed. Others might seem trivial to most people outside the family. Most people would admire a rich man who started out with nothing, but family members might not want their aristocratic image destroyed. Many of the second type of secrets are rooted in the past, when greater stigma surrounded subjects such as illegitimate birth or mental illness.
Many of Shirley Jackson's horror stories, such as We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Sundial involve aristocratic families who live in isolation on large estates near a small village. The families in these stories are ostracized by villagers. The villagers do not trust the family because they see them as different. Gossip about the family might be based in truth or might result from unsubstantiated rumors. The villagers in these stories are small minded individuals who are jealous of the family's wealth or education.
Other notorious horror story families are not wealthy or aristocratic, but are just plain evil. One example is the Sawyer family in the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" movies. This family lives in isolation due to the nature of their criminal activity. In this case the family is corrupt and outsiders are innocent victims.
Something to try: Write a horror story that revolves around a secretive family. |
| | Enthralled (E)
Paranormal Romance Short Story Contest Entry December 2021 - 3rd Place
#2263768 by Lovina  |
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