So it was that I re-read The Danforth Account once it made its way to my website. The story is about a man who prepares himself with the knowledge that he will soon be coming face to face with a serial killer who preys on those of his namesake. In reading this short tale, I thought to myself: serial killers are no longer scary. I mean, think about it, the two words strung together, "serial killer," do not provoke much fear in the horror genre. After all, it's plain as day what such a character is going to do...kill, right? Not to mention, as a society, we see serial killing on a regular basis (at least in the metropolitan areas); therefore, readers may easily identify the literary serial killer as a part of "normal" day-in/day-out life.
The serial killer character has lost its edge in the horror genre. I feel that we can attribute this to the increase of serial killing in reality, along with the psychoanalyzing of such made available to the public through television news magazines and two-hour documentaries that immortalize those who have taken the lives of others. We know that serial killers crave attention, they almost always leave a calling card, and their motto of murdering is usually the same.
That being said, how can the serial killer be brought back to life in horror fiction? After all, werewolves, vampires, and other such monsters have survived horror fiction for decades, even centuries. The wise fiction editors of various horror publications advise to make antagonists unique and different. Yet, there's only so much you can do with a serial killer. I don't feel the serial killer in my story, The Danforth Account, is different from any other serial killer. In fact, the theme itself may be considered "common." So why did I write it? Well, let's say that I always wanted to write about a serial killer in short fiction and this was my rendition, perhaps my personal taking on the scenario.
Analyzing my writing, I realize that I have a serial killer personality in a couple of other short stories and in my first novel. However, these differentiate the serial killer character by moving him into a secondary character position within the work. What I mean by this is that (besides The Danforth Account), my other serial killer characters are simply sub-plots and act as a minimal driving force to the main plot.
So it is, that this is where serial killers end up in the horror genre--as secondary characters. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Secondary characters can help drive the main plot. Will I use a serial killer as a character in an upcoming novel? Sure, because the novel will not be about or revolve around such a character. Will I ever write a full-length novel centered around a serial killer? Absolutely not! To me, the serial killers are no longer terrifying in the horror genre. They are a by-product of evil. I prefer to write about the evil itself. Perhaps I may be mistaken...but I see the horror genre going back to its roots and providing a modern theme--a place where inexplicable monsters no longer lurk in the shadows, but lunge from the acts of everyday events. This makes me wonder how long before such creatures are no longer antagonists in the horror genre either.
If you want to read a tale about a serial killer, feel free to read this month's free short story, The Danforth Account. Feel free to comment or email me about what you thought of the story.
Also, I would love to hear your take on serial killers in the horror genre. Comment on this blog and let me know.
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andrew_wolter- Andrew Wolter
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