Halloween is upon us, but the horror genre has gone beyond one day a year and blasted into the mainstream.
Horror movies were once the bastion of slasher and hacker titles, consigned to VHS videotapes in rental shops, but over the last two decades, they have developed into so much more. Horror covers many genres, from psychological horror such as Sixth Sense, to gross-out blood and gore from the Saw series.
It is not just film that helps drive horror home to fans. Across a range of media, horror has become big business, with scary music one vehicle by which you can get your frights as we explained in our article SoBros Network 2020 Halloween Playlist.
Another form of media that uses music as a mechanic for generating the scares is gaming, and video games have been a big part of the recent success of horror in pop culture. Titles such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil ended up spawning films themselves, such was the creativity of the writers in developing genuinely terrifying plots and new worlds. Other games have joined in too, playing on the same themes that keep people awake at night. The range of games on Foxy Bingo includes horror-themed titles such as Blood Moon Wilds and Book of Halloween, both of which use the horror genre to enhance the gamer’s experience. Another popular type of game at the moment are PvP hack and slash titles which put the player in the shoes of the antagonist, such as Jason Vorhees in Friday The 13th.
In recent years, the public has leaned towards television series for their entertainment, binging on box sets such as Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones. A series allows further plot development than a film, as they often span 15 hours or more. That works well with horror, a genre that often relies on slow and steady build-up, rising terror and a fondness for characters. Right now, you can stream some truly terrifying series direct to your TV, some of which we have recommended here.
Bates Motel – Netflix
Recurring characters are often part of the horror genre, with the like of Freddie Krueger, Jason Vorhees and Michael Myers. One rather plain character who still managed to have audiences covering their eyes was Alfred Hitchcock’s motel owner, Norman Bates. Whilst the culmination of his murderous ways was revealed in the classic film, this series explores his teenage years and his disturbing relationship with his mother.
Castle Rock – Hulu
Stephen King is the horror master, putting fear into us for a generation. His characters have largely been based in and around the state of Maine, and Castle Rock is one location we see several times. In this spin-off series, there are two seasons, and the second explores the backstory of psychotic nurse Annie Wilkes, played by Kathy Bates in the 1990 film Misery. This is a great series for any King fans.
Evil – Netflix
Evil does not fit the typical horror genre, there are no familiar characters, no backstories from books you might have read. Instead, it is a procedural with no hunt for one killer, but rather a monster of the week each week. It reels you in like any good series, but scratching under the surface it delves into your mind and delivers truly haunting stories that will keep you awake at night, and even looking over your shoulder in the day.
Ghoul – Netflix
This is Netflix’s first horror series to come out of India and it delivers a tight, choking experience across three genuinely creepy episodes. It is set in a military interrogation center where people are tortured for information, a setting that fits so well with the exquisitely crafted horror on show. It is as close to a movie as a series can be, with three episodes making it a quick watch for dedicated bingers, but one you will not regret.