The Debate Among Horror Enthusiasts

Long have horror aficionados passionately discussed what makes a good horror movie. Do visual effects make nightmarish visions that were once impossible possible? Or do practical effects alone stand the test of time? Is a good story unnecessary when you have iconic characters, or is an incredible narrative the whole point of a good film or a captivating chronicle?

Does it have to be bloody to be scary? Or is creating just the right unsettling and disturbing atmosphere more important than anything? Is it too much to have both?

Blood and Gore vs Suspense

Some of the scariest films I have ever seen do not have a drop of blood in them, while some films that are absolute blood baths fail to create even a little fear. Of course, I have also seen very gory films that do an incredible job of making the mayhem feel raw and real.

It often comes down to the lens through which you are viewing the story. Writers, creators, directors, and editors all play a hand in making the final product the experience it is. Some can terrify you with just a few well-placed violin strings, while others can use gore so effectively that they make you squirm and look away.

Like any good art, horror is measured by its ability to make you feel something. Perhaps fear, but great horror—like any great art—cannot be reduced to mere words.

Bloodruth: What to Expect

With Bloodruth dropping soon, audiences are keen to see if the Rippaverse’s resident Queens of Halloween, us Soska Sisters, are going to go the way of gore for Sydnee’s first scary story. Will it be a slow seduction of creating a creepy atmosphere where danger lurks around every corner or a bloody spectacle?

Since there are two of us, we are pleased to say that Bloodruth’s debut solo book will be a bloody and beautiful blend of the best parts of both.

The Importance of Tone and Atmosphere

Without crafting a terrifying environment through tone and atmosphere, a horror story or movie simply will not be scary. Whether the images on screen or on the page are horrific or not, without being thoughtful with how you set up your scene, it won’t sell.

Think of the Halloween films. The John Carpenter original, when watched on mute, is nowhere near as scary as it is with sound on. Carpenter’s score creates an undeniable atmosphere—you can hear it outside of the film and still get shivers.

In a comic book, the images, panels, inks, and colors need to be used to their fullest to create the right tone, much like in a film. Rich inks can mimic the effect of low lighting, and what appears in each panel is essential to engaging the reader. Every scare must be carefully set up and executed.

In Bloodruth’s world, we were tasked with giving her a dark, gothic playground to thrive in. The cast of characters surrounding her fleshes out her world as Sydnee engages in her own battles of good versus evil. From her sacred mission to her gothic lair, every aspect of Sydnee’s life is filled with imagery and villains inspired by beloved horror tropes.