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Why We Crave Horror Movies By Stephen King Essay

697 Words3 Pages

horror movies can become an addictive habit, especially those of the great Stephen King. From his first novel Carrie (1974) to his most recent collection of short stories, Everything’s Eventual: Five Dark Tales (2002), King’s perspective on all things scary still strikes terror in his readers. In 1982, Playboy featured King’s article, “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” in which he explains why he feels people are drawn to horror films. King’s use of humorous tone helps him convey his opinion in a casual manner; whereas, his use of figurative analogies and examples give him the support and credibility needed to present his opinion in an educated and influential way.

According to Stephen King, horror movies can serve a valuable purpose. In King’s Playboy-published essay, “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” he examines the popular trend of attending horror films, and he uses various techniques of persuasion. Excluding the fact that he is America’s best-known most influential writer of horror fiction, to accomplish his goal of driving us into the world of horror he begins his essay with a very clever hook: “I think that we’re all mentally ill; those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better…”. By stating his claim in this manner, he attempts to catch attention of the reader, and sequentially persuade him to think as he thinks. …show more content…

It is explained over the course of essay in bits and pieces until the reader finishes the last line. The essay is also organized in an unorthodox manner and doesn’t comfortably fit the standard essay format. The essay isn’t trying to argue a point or compare/contrast two things. The essay is, however, proposing a cause and the effect it has. King examines the popular trend of attending horror films, and also provides several explanations for this craving

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