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Freak culture is making its way mainstream, and if I may be so bold, I think a great deal of that is thanks to horror movies. Think of how many normies you watched over the holiday get really into Nosferatu memes, or how even the most Star-Wars-and-Marvel moviegoer you know will tip their hat to a messed-up A24 trailer. But hey, don't take my word for it, listen to one of the most important names in horror today: Jason Blum.

in 2023, Blum sat down with Nerds of Color for an exclusive NYCC interview. Not long into the discussion, interviewer Sophia Soto asked Blum why he, personally, kept returning to that most genre of genres, and his answer was very much about working weird into the wider world.

"I love horror movies," said the Five Nights at Freddy's producer, "Because it’s a way to like, smuggle subversive stories into the mainstream. So often these strange unusual stories are relegated to independent releases and tiny releases, and no one sees them, but horror is a great way to get subversive stories supported and told in the mainstream. That’s why I love horror."

As Popverse's resident goth kid, I'm absolutely biased when I say I completely agree. But my bias aside, think about some of the most lauded stories in recent cinema - The Substance, Get Out, Sinners - they're all unique tales that capture the human experience via blood, guts, and plenty of jumpscares. And speaking of that last point, Blum does go on to say that another reason he keeps coming back to horror is not just the subversive stories, but the immediate reactions he gets from audiences.

"The fun thing of doing horror movies," Blum told his interviewer, "Is you get to hear people’s reaction. You know, you make a drama, they might love it, but you won’t know because the audience doesn’t move. So, with horror and with comedy, you know if the people like the movie or not by how much noise they’re making and that’s very satisfying, when they’re making noise."

Who said contemplation has to be quiet?

In the immortal words of Danny Elfman, "Life's no fun without a good scare." We couldn't agree more, which is why we've cobbled together a couple pieces to send a chill up your spine. Join Popverse as we explore:

• The best horror movies of all time, according to horror aficionado Greg Silber
• The most underrated horror movies from the past couple years
• All the new and upcoming horror movies for 2025 and beyond

And much gore. Er, more. Much more.