Summary
Acclaimed authorStephen Kingweighs in on discussions about creating horror and shares his advice about what makes a successful terrifying tale. Though his bibliography spans multiple genres, such as crime, sci-fi, and drama, the author is well-known for his storytelling of killer cars, malevolent entities taking on the forms of clowns, and hotels full of sinister spirits. With his success,King’s works have been adapted to television and moviesby various filmmakers, including Stanley Kubrick, Mike Flannagan, and Andy Muschietti.
Recently,Kingshared some of his experience in crafting horrorwhen weighing in on comments made by Joyce Carol Oates on X.
Oates suggested that the genre’s major strength and staying power resides in keeping viewers tense and engaged at the moment, as opposed to any storyline or lore taking priority. King replied to Oates' response, agreeing that fewer explanations are best in horror.
What Makes A Stephen King Horror Story?
King’s Horrors Are Varied & Tackles Many Personal & Relatable Themes.
King’s mastery over the horror genre is undeniable, asthe kinds of fear he invokes are not drawn from a specific action or subject. WhileThe Shining,It, andCarriehave their roots firmly within the otherworldly and supernatural,Miseryis a tale that focuses on what human horror obsession can bring about, whileMaximum Overdrive, which King personally had a hand in adapting fromTrucks, attributes its threat to horror. In each scenario, the scares feel in tune with the subject and fit each tale’s tone.
That isn’t to say that there isn’t any deeper subtext in King’s work, as the author has often shared his inspirations for the stories he pens.
That isn’t to say that there isn’t any deeper subtext in King’s work, asthe author has often shared his inspirations for the stories he pens. His style comes from elaborating on subjects or questions he finds in the real world, including events in his own life. These examples includeThe Shiningtackling questions he had when raising his children, orMiserytackling an author’s relationship with his audience. As such, no matter how uncanny or otherworldlyKing’s booksmay be, there is always something relatable about those stories that engage audiences.
10 Recent Horror Movies That Stephen King Enjoyed, From Barbarian To No One Will Save You
Stephen King’s taste in recent horror movies is broad-ranging and his enthusiasm for horror filmmaking in his recommendations is contagious.
With King’s legacy, any advice he may offer will be treated with respect. His advice isn’t limited to sudden shocks like jump scares and can be extended into having prospective writers expand on how they can present their horror aspects. Thus,King’s latest response opens up a discussion on how this guidance could apply to other beloved horror classics.
Source:Stephen King/X
Stephen King
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
