Vampires, werewolves, zombies, and witches; a mummy here and there for old time’s sake—the tried-and-true icons of the horror genre are still biting, slashing, and conjuring their way into our nightmares as effectively as ever. But over a decade into the new millennium, in the aftermath of an online revolution that has changed the way we live and think, it’s time for a completely new horror character to claw its way out of cyberspace and into the horror canon.
Some of the most enduring horror icons were born out of the fear and fascination of social change: Dracula and the blood threat of the Other; the power and perils of science brought to life in Frankenstein’s monster; Romero’s zombies dragging through the shopping mall. So for the Facebook age, the next great horror monster will probably reflect something of the strange new realities that come to life behind our computer screens.
One of the best offerings so far is Star Trek’s Borg, those creepy human-machine hybrids whose detached ruthlessness and hive mentality capture the essence of, say, a marathon Twitter binge. But the Borg are specific to a particular franchise, whereas an enterprising monster needs to branch out. With that in mind, let’s take a look at four basic job requirements for aspiring horror icons:
- Consistency/Adaptability The best horror characters have consistency: vampires may run the gamut from sparkly to savage, but they all drink blood. Werewolves have that full moon thing, zombies like human hors d'œuvres, and so on. But a character also needs to be general enough to transcend a particular story or era in order to adapt to the uniquely deranged imaginations of each new generation of writers, artists, and fans.
- Looks Count Powerful visuals are a key ingredient in any horror recipe, and a memorable monster needs the perfect combination of simplicity, originality, and impact. In other words, will it look good on a T-shirt?
- A Monster By Any Other Name Here again, simple and catchy rule the day. Think of it like dating—are you going to call back if you can’t even remember his or her name?
- The Psycho-logical Edge Your English literature teacher was right—all great stories have conflict and complications. So put your monster on the couch and see what makes it tick. What does it most desire? How does it understand itself in relation to others? What is it feeling when it’s ripping out your guts and eating them with chopsticks? Know thy monster, know thyself.
So… writers, artists, and imaginers of all things strange and twisted, let’s have some of your ideas for the next great horror icon. Those vampires and werewolves could use some competition.
