Why Twilight is Good for the Horror Genre

Edward, Alice, Esme, and Jasper Cullen. Those names usually are enough to make horror fans sick to their stomach. Most horror fans like their vampires evil, soaring through the night, looking for a soft neck to turn into their next meal. A heartthrob vampire that falls in love and glitters in the sun is sacreligious to the horror loyalist. Though make no mistake about it, the 'Twilight' series has been an absolute cultural phenomenon, and has changed the way a lot of people see Vampires. When the younger generation hears the word "vampire", Dracula and Lestat are no longer the first names on their tongue. Edward, Jasper and Carslisle are what the new generation considers to be the definitive vampires. That may drive the more traditional horror fan mad, but whether they like it or not, the horror genre may very well benefit from the existence of the Twilight series. 


Twilight has more than peaked an interest in vampires for a new generation of readers and movie goers. In the last couple of years, vampire series such as HBO's "True Blood" and the CW's "The Vampire Chronicles" have hit the airwaves and quickly became very popular shows. If you walk down the teen aisle of your local Barnes and Noble, you will quickly notice the onslaught of books and series about vampires. And vampires are not the only ones benefiting from twilight's populatity. The Quillete clan in the 'Twilight' series have also introduced a new audience to a new generation of werewolves, which is sure to spawn several new books and movies. 


For this new audience, this new fascination with vampires and werewolves may act as a gateway to other horror movies. Maybe these new fans may want to see further battles between vampires and werewolves and rent a copy of "Underworld". Maybe they want to find out more about vampire lore and maybe buy a copy of Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire". Maybe their interest in the macabre will expand their horizon and bring them to watch a 'Saw" movie or even rent a "Friday the 13th" film.


You may hate the thought of a twinkling vampire but whether they want to admit it or not, horror fans can only benefit from the explosion in popularity of the Twilight Saga.