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Stephen Graham Jones on what makes horror work: it's more than fear

Confirmed1 source · Oct 25, 2026

Horror writer Stephen Graham Jones says the genre's current moment draws power from elements beyond fear alone.

Stephen Graham Jones on what makes horror work: it's more than fear
Image via NPR

What happened

Horror writer Stephen Graham Jones has made a statement about what constitutes effective horror, asserting that fear is not the only engine driving the current state of the genre.

Context

The claim that horror's power extends beyond fear alone suggests the genre may be operating on multiple registers—psychological, emotional, or narrative—that resonate with contemporary audiences. This reflects a potential evolution in how horror is constructed and what audiences seek from it.