Necessary Death: What Horror Movies Teach Us About Navigating the Human Experience

by Preston Fassel, Chris Grosso

Based on very real and practical commentary, life experience, and occasionally, tongue-in-cheek-misfortunes of horror legends, Necessary Death explores how the horror genre, its motifs, and its characters offer individuals a unique opportunity for insight and understanding of their own lives.

Necessary Death looks back on several iconic horror films and finds that maybe the genre wasn’t ever really just about men in hockey masks chasing good looking coeds through old dark houses. Even a cursory examination of the horror convention will reveal a plethora of stories from recovering addicts, survivors of trauma and sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and minorities. So what, then, can this genre so concerned with death teach us about being alive—and how can we apply those lessons in our day-to-day existence?

Using some of the most quintessential movies in the genre, Chris Grosso and Preston Fassel invite readers to an in-depth examination of the human condition—its fears, anxieties, hopes, joys, sorrows, and everything in-between—and how it’s all grist for our personal and collective evolutionary mill. A hallmark of the genre is how horror films force their characters to find some semblance of inner strength and wherewithal in order to stand up to the monster, ghost, or villain that is trying to take their lives. Through fascinating discussion of this and other elements, Fassel and Grosso relate these films’ dark subject matter and characters to real world issues people face every day, showing that there’s something deep within us that, if even just metaphorically, can relate to the pain in these stories. This sharp analysis is complimented by exercises that prompt readers to consider gratitude, forgiveness, determination, and bravery in the face of adversity.

An unusual mix of film study and self-help, Necessary Death might surprise or even shock readers, but it will also enlighten, educate, and most importantly hearten those looking for an unexpected source of inspiration.

Genres: Horror, Nonfiction, Self Help, Death, Psychology, Halloween, Adult

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2023

About the author

Preston Fassel is an award-winning novelist and journalist whose work has appeared in Fangoria, Rue Morgue, and Screem Magazine. He is a two-time winner of the Independent Publisher's Gold Medal for Horror, for Our Lady of the Inferno (which was also named one of the ten best books of 2018 by Bloody Disgusting) and The Despicable Fantasies of Quentin Sergenov. His debut nonfiction book, Landis: The Story of a Real Man on 42nd Street, the first published biography of film critic and magazine founder Bill Landis, was nominated for the 2022 Rondo Hatton Award for Book of the Year. He graduated Cum Laude from Sam Houston State University in 2011 with a BS in psychology. He held the Tetris world record for like five months in 2009.

Reviews

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know that „The thing“ movie could be a metaphor for the whole AIDS situation at the time of its release? That Freddy (yes; that horror movie Freddy) is forcing us to develop our strengths and the shark in „the jaws“ shows us that it’s easier to separate bigger problems into smaller ones?
Well, if not (and even if you did know) you should read this book.

It’s a crazy mix of horror movie summaries with psychological commentary mixed with the authors personal experiences and a little exercise prompt like meditation and journaling.

I now have a list of movies I definitely need to (re)watch so I can look at them more detailed and closer while simultaneously doing my little exercises.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self help through horror - I dig it!

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came into this book thinking it would be more about horror and the analysis of it rather than personal anecdotes from the authors, but I did still enjoy it.
The movies they chose to dive into were good examples of common psychology issues (and movies I’d pick as favorites of mine).
The book also mentions how we can handle these issues and gives us practices at the end of each chapter to help, like how to practice mindfulness, how to set good boundaries, etc.
However, one thing holding me back from a better rating was the writing. I felt like at times an entire paragraph was just one sentence, making it confusing and hard to read or keep up with.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a you've-got-chocolate-in-my-peanut-butter kind of moment, Fassel and Grosso have combined a love of horror movies with a desire for self-help. The results are more striking than you might expect, giving some basic self-care ideas to readers more comfortable meditating on graveyards than blue skies. I was especially fond of how they used Leatherface as a way of challenging yourself to break free from your masks. Or how Pinhead can teach you to be happy with what you have. Or how the Predator serves as a reminder to watch out for the people who prey on your better instincts. You'll have to read the book to see how it all comes together. My favorite was an analysis of Jason Voorhees as the dream self of an abused child - giving him far more poignancy than scores of exploitive filmmakers ever did. Great gift for the horror fan in transition to the "grown-up" world.

[Lisa Davidson]

From the title and description, I expected something completely different. This is more of a self-help book that uses horror movies as illustrations for life lessons.
There are simple analyses of why bad things happen in some popular horror movies, and the author even said that Carrie is one of the movies that could have had a happy ending if people acted differently.
The author discussed his own struggles and uses horror movie situations to describe better ways we can cope in the real world. Maybe a younger person could get more from this.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate Chris Grosso's ability to venture into the realm of horror and find ways to interpret the metaphorical meanings of chosen films. Our subconscious loves metaphors and what better ways to express and receive then through the arts of film and genre of horror. Chris offers great insights and suggestions on how to cope with areas that are discussed in each chapter. He also gives great references from personal experiences.

[lizzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! I felt that it was well-written, moved quickly, and the information inside was fascinating. I enjoyed the deeper psychological dive into what drives us to watch and enjoy horror movies, along with what lessons we can draw from them. There is actually a class taught just like this at my local community college, and now I want to take it even more!

[Josh Mosley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the idea behind it, but found the execution to be lacking. As a horror-obsessed person with a psych degree I have often loved the way horror reflects mental illness, trauma, and the atrocities of society. This book plays into real world conversations I’ve had with friends and acquaintances.

I wish there was more here, that’s all.

[Matt McAvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a horror movie fan, like I am, you’ll love Chris and Preston’s intriguing, in-depth and insightful analyses of the most famous villains, from Freddy to Jason, Candyman to Leatherface and even the shark from Jaws (though that vilification feels a little unfair to me, as an animal lover). It is full of surprises, the biggest being the turn these essays all take: this book, perhaps a little unlike the blurb might suggest, is rather a psychologist’s guide to self-help with various mental issues, and the horror characters are rather more metaphors for the conditions: Jason is born of neglect, Pinhead and the Cenobites represent ingratitude and excess, Candyman is a symbol of discrimination, etc. (though, of course the latter is much more explicit than implied in the film). In fact, the horror movie aspect of this book begins to appear somewhat secondary in focus when each of the chapters moves in the direction of offering self-help exercises that you can use to address your own experiences with each of the respective conditions and disorders referred to; you get the impression that the authors are simply associating the horror movie genre because they love it and want to write a book about it. Furthermore, it is great that they did, because the fact is that this is a fantastic book and I enjoyed it a great deal.

Chris and Preston are truly gifted analysts and creative writers, whilst also very obviously well educated in the subject of psychology from a sociological viewpoint, as well as the school of life. They absolutely know their stuff in every respect. Perhaps as the chapters go on they do feel a little too heavily weighted toward the self-help aspect, with their proposed exercises, affirmations, etc. And one area in which the book non-plussed me a touch was the authors’ very thickly applied subjective anecdotes; they talk about their personal experiences a lot, more than I felt was really relevant, and at times felt rather autobiographical. This book is at its best when the writers are dissecting the psyche of the masked maniacs with their expert analysis.

Necessary Death is wonderful, and if you are a horror movie fan it is pretty much a must-read, as it is if you are an elementary psychology or sociology student. And, far from a cliquey-niche movie geek-fest, it is a genuinely well composed dissertation on the real-life psychological basis of the horror genre and its most successful characters. A fantastic book, highly recommended.

[William Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the potential to save someone's life, and I can't think of a more genuine, honest reason to give Five Stars to a book.

Necessary Death expertly matches fun, interesting commentaries about some of the Horror genre's most beloved movies with meaningful practices for self-help/self-improvement, and it all works incredibly well. Fassel and Grosso's expertises combined to give us something wholly unique, deeply personal, and intensely important.

I'm going to be recommending it forever.

[Jacs Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is extremely personal and cute and positive in a way I really wasn't expecting!!! it's full of fun personal anecdotes of each author plus some little self-help/mental health exercises related to the horror content they're discussing. I thought it was such an interesting idea for a book!! a quick read, too!

[Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I expected but still enjoyable. Definitely made for someone else out there but I am still able to appreciate what was put into this book and the amount of work it took to get out there.

[Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another obligatory glowing author review.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did it take this long for a self-help book using horror movies to navigate the process??

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
So fun to mash scary movies and self care