Who Is The Father Of Modern Horror?

Who Is The Father Of Modern Horror?

Sweetdeath's picture

Who is the Father of modern horror? In my opinion it is Mendal Johnson author of 1 book Let's Go Play At The Adams'. He died shortly there after. He inspired horror with 1 book than anyone else I can think of. Suburban kids are the monsters, bondage was made acceptable for print and they never caught the murderers. This set many new trends.

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TheMorrigan's picture

I had never heard of him. I'll definitely check this out. I'd doubt he could claim the entire of the genre based on one book, I'd have to think that would fall to people like HP Lovecraft and the others that were writing back when it was the serial magazines, but I'm really curious to read and see what boundaries he opened. Thank you for the tip

horrorgirl's picture

I would have to say that Richard Matheson could be considered so.

antichris's picture

I've got to go with H. P. Lovecraft. Most modern horror writers cite him as an influence, and a lot of them have used his mythos in stories.

Sweetdeath's picture

I guess by modern horror, I'm talking about the 1960s on. HP would definitely qualify as the Father of horror up to that time.

antichris's picture

Still voting for HP. Steven King cites him as an influence. So does Dean Koontz. John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness was a tribute to HP.

But if you want someone who's been writing since the 60's, I'll have to go with richard Matheson. (I probably spelled his name wrong)

matt chiavelli's picture

Lovecraft definitely is one of the greatest influences, as is Poe. But I think people like M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood, Ambrose Bierce and Sheridan LeFanu deserve mention too -- and let's not forget Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley! Or Shirley Jackson.

And Richard Matheson is a great force too, especially since his influence extends beyond the page into TV and movies.

"Modern" is a pretty broad term, and when you use it for literature it usually starts to apply in the late nineteenth century. Maybe King, Barker and so on are actually "postmodern?"

Sweetdeath's picture

As I said modern IMO is the 1960's and after. Almost half a Century. HP Lovecraft was great but he died in 1937 I think. His horror was emulated by a small group of horror writters including Dereleth. However, Mendal Johnson caused many more horror authors to go from monster novels to The innocents will get you every time, and get away with it. Stephen King was more influenced by this concept than by Lovecraft but even he may not be ware of how much impact this novel had. However, he did write the introduction to The girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum which used this theme.

matt chiavelli's picture

I don't agree with you about "Modern." I think it starts way before the sixties.

And I think when you call someone "the father" of a whole genre, it implies a degree of across the board influence. Earlier books to deal with "the inoocents" as a theme include Henry James' "The Turn Of The Screw," for instance. Earlier books certainly influenced "Let's Go Play At The Adam's."

Just my opinion.

Sweetdeath's picture

Good Point and it looks like you read LGPATA. Good for you.

Muphukka's picture

Don't leave Robert Bloch offa this list!

And nobody better forget Poe either.

Matheson...yes.

Lovecraft....yes

Shelley....Yes

Stoker....yes.

The topic is too broad.

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