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Be Scared of Everything: Horror Essays
Horror essays that read like Chuck Klosterman filtered through H. P. Lovecraft.
Slinging ectoplasm, tombstones, and chainsaws with aplomb, Be Scared of Everything is a frighteningly smart celebration of horror culture that will appeal to both horror aficionados and casual fans. Combining pop culture criticism and narrative memoir, Counter’s essays consider and deconstruct film, TV, video games andtrue crime to find importance in the occult, pathos in Ouija boards, poetry in madness, and beauty in annihilation.
Comprehensive in scope, these essays examine popular horror media including Silent Hill, Hannibal, Hereditary, the Alien films, Jaws, The X-Files, The Terror, The Southern Reach Trilogy, Interview withthe Vampire, Misery, Gerald’s Game, The Sixth Sense, Scream, Halloween, The Blair Witch Project, The Babadook, the works of H. P. Lovecraft, Slenderman stories, alongside topics like nuclear physics, cannibalism, blood, Metallica, ritual magic, nightmares, and animatronic haunted houses.
This is a book that shows us everything is terrifying—from Pokémon to PTSD—and that horror can be just as honest, vulnerable, and funny as it is scary.
Slinging ectoplasm, tombstones, and chainsaws with aplomb, Be Scared of Everything is a frighteningly smart celebration of horror culture that will appeal to both horror aficionados and casual fans. Combining pop culture criticism and narrative memoir, Counter’s essays consider and deconstruct film, TV, video games andtrue crime to find importance in the occult, pathos in Ouija boards, poetry in madness, and beauty in annihilation.
Comprehensive in scope, these essays examine popular horror media including Silent Hill, Hannibal, Hereditary, the Alien films, Jaws, The X-Files, The Terror, The Southern Reach Trilogy, Interview withthe Vampire, Misery, Gerald’s Game, The Sixth Sense, Scream, Halloween, The Blair Witch Project, The Babadook, the works of H. P. Lovecraft, Slenderman stories, alongside topics like nuclear physics, cannibalism, blood, Metallica, ritual magic, nightmares, and animatronic haunted houses.
This is a book that shows us everything is terrifying—from Pokémon to PTSD—and that horror can be just as honest, vulnerable, and funny as it is scary.
182 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2020
19 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Peter Counter
2 books19 followersPeter Counter is a non-fiction author and critic living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His criticism has been featured on Motherboard, Art of the Title, Toronto Music Scene, That Shelf (formerly Dork Shelf), and his horror blog Everything is Scary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
October 2, 2020
"Each life is a haunted house with its own wallpaper— full of ghosts, goblins, angels, and giant trickster dogs— that keeps us from wandering into darkness."
A fantastic collection of horror essays, which at first seem unconnected (well.. except that they're all about elements of horror), but soon it becomes clear that the book coalesces around a horrific real experience in the author's life.
So, horror essays! They're a thing, who knew. And they're quite a lovely thing too - frequently very funny, just as frequently built up around poignant ideas, and just as just as frequently written in quite beautiful prose.
"Like life, horror begins with oblivion, is animated by human resistance to that terrible lifelessness, and finally urges us to accept death as inevitable."
Some of the subjects that are taken apart: ouija boards, the Alien franchise, Lovecraft and his racism, Hannibal Lecter, a group of people discussing cannibalism. And then there is the author's trauma I mentioned earlier, which I feel you should take in yourself (although I'm sure other reviews will - I wouldn't say "spoil it", bu .. demystify it.
"Will Graham and Clarice Starling both want the same thing: they want to be normal. Hannibal Lecter’s gift to them is denying what they want on principle, saying that the source of their pain and confusion is that they’re right and the normative world is wrong."
Not all of the essays work, they sag a bit in the middle, I thought. But there are a lot of them, so none of the essays really outstays its welcome.
(Kindly received an ARC from Invisible Publishing through NetGalley)
A fantastic collection of horror essays, which at first seem unconnected (well.. except that they're all about elements of horror), but soon it becomes clear that the book coalesces around a horrific real experience in the author's life.
So, horror essays! They're a thing, who knew. And they're quite a lovely thing too - frequently very funny, just as frequently built up around poignant ideas, and just as just as frequently written in quite beautiful prose.
"Like life, horror begins with oblivion, is animated by human resistance to that terrible lifelessness, and finally urges us to accept death as inevitable."
Some of the subjects that are taken apart: ouija boards, the Alien franchise, Lovecraft and his racism, Hannibal Lecter, a group of people discussing cannibalism. And then there is the author's trauma I mentioned earlier, which I feel you should take in yourself (although I'm sure other reviews will - I wouldn't say "spoil it", bu .. demystify it.
"Will Graham and Clarice Starling both want the same thing: they want to be normal. Hannibal Lecter’s gift to them is denying what they want on principle, saying that the source of their pain and confusion is that they’re right and the normative world is wrong."
Not all of the essays work, they sag a bit in the middle, I thought. But there are a lot of them, so none of the essays really outstays its welcome.
(Kindly received an ARC from Invisible Publishing through NetGalley)
November 13, 2020
This collection of horror essays from across the pond covers everything spooky and scary, from ouija boards to sharks, sleep paralysis, the enduring fame of Hannibal Lecter, creepypasta, the films of Ari Aster, haunted houses and yes, even horror novels, including way too much about famed racist H.P. Lovecraft. Rather than a singular collection, Be Scared of Everything reads like a series of 29 blog posts with one connective thread, a real-life traumatic event that still haunts the author.
January 4, 2021
* I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Content Warnings: PTSD, gun violence, suicide, suicidal ideation, mental illness, trauma, discussion of horror movies and content that includes torture, mutilation, cannibalism, self-harm, etc.
It's been a while since I've enjoyed reading a book that filled in the dots between traumatic real-life events and searching out scary make-believe things. As a cis-woman with PTSD (several traumatic life events) who is drawn to horror, this is something I've noticed in other survivors -- from SA and DV survivors to a varied range of traumatic life events.
Not only does this book talk intelligently and empathetically about horror content, it also connects the dots between seeking out fictional horror as a means of coping with lived horror.
The essays are easy-to-read, would make an excellent podcast or an audio book, and though they are smart, well-researched, and often a bit academic, they are accessible to everyday readers and this part is super important -- the essays never condescend to the reader. These essays talk to you one-on-one about fictional horror narratives and then anchors it in real-life events, fears, and lingering problems related back to the horror of the everyday, the banality of horror, all the things we can't control -- but that we draw strength from in the fictional because we can put the book down, pause the movie, switch to another channel -- we have power in how we experience the fictional horror.
If you've got trauma and/or PTSD in your life, go into this book knowing there is a lot of content that might be disturbing, but you can just bookmark it for later or skip it (for example, the Hannibal chapter is pivotal to the essays collection, but might be difficult for those affected by real-life accounts of violence.) That said: it is also really empowering (it was for me, anyway) to be able to work through some of the icky feelings about how trauma manifests much later in ways that are wholly unhelpful and socially isolating. To be able to harness the lexicon of horror for the right words to express what it feels like to live with horror and survive horror and still have to find ways to keep fighting that horror in your everyday life. It gave voice to survivor's guilt and made sense to make the connection between being drawn to fictional horror after having lived through trauma.
Definitely an author I'll be following, a book I'll be purchasing and gifting, and I hope that the author's next work picks up where this leaves off.
Content Warnings: PTSD, gun violence, suicide, suicidal ideation, mental illness, trauma, discussion of horror movies and content that includes torture, mutilation, cannibalism, self-harm, etc.
It's been a while since I've enjoyed reading a book that filled in the dots between traumatic real-life events and searching out scary make-believe things. As a cis-woman with PTSD (several traumatic life events) who is drawn to horror, this is something I've noticed in other survivors -- from SA and DV survivors to a varied range of traumatic life events.
Not only does this book talk intelligently and empathetically about horror content, it also connects the dots between seeking out fictional horror as a means of coping with lived horror.
The essays are easy-to-read, would make an excellent podcast or an audio book, and though they are smart, well-researched, and often a bit academic, they are accessible to everyday readers and this part is super important -- the essays never condescend to the reader. These essays talk to you one-on-one about fictional horror narratives and then anchors it in real-life events, fears, and lingering problems related back to the horror of the everyday, the banality of horror, all the things we can't control -- but that we draw strength from in the fictional because we can put the book down, pause the movie, switch to another channel -- we have power in how we experience the fictional horror.
If you've got trauma and/or PTSD in your life, go into this book knowing there is a lot of content that might be disturbing, but you can just bookmark it for later or skip it (for example, the Hannibal chapter is pivotal to the essays collection, but might be difficult for those affected by real-life accounts of violence.) That said: it is also really empowering (it was for me, anyway) to be able to work through some of the icky feelings about how trauma manifests much later in ways that are wholly unhelpful and socially isolating. To be able to harness the lexicon of horror for the right words to express what it feels like to live with horror and survive horror and still have to find ways to keep fighting that horror in your everyday life. It gave voice to survivor's guilt and made sense to make the connection between being drawn to fictional horror after having lived through trauma.
Definitely an author I'll be following, a book I'll be purchasing and gifting, and I hope that the author's next work picks up where this leaves off.
September 18, 2020
TW: suicide, self-harm, gun violence
Also: Spoilers for a lot of horror movies
Be Scared of Everything is an essay collection about the horror genre. They read like a compendium of blog posts, like most collections, they are hit or miss. I think the most effective ones are the ones that got the most personal. My personal favorite is an essay about how the Hannibal TV show gave him hope and solidarity about dealing with his PTSD There were a few essays that had interesting nuggets of ideas that I wanted to see explored further, but then deviated into other directions. Like the essay on zombies had a great snippet about how we use the "what would you do if zombies" situation to relate to others, and place ourselves in that set world. I enjoyed the essays that included movies like Mandy and Hereditary. The last few essays were great in that he explored how horror has helped him cope with dark realities of everyday life, and living after trauma.
Also: Spoilers for a lot of horror movies
Be Scared of Everything is an essay collection about the horror genre. They read like a compendium of blog posts, like most collections, they are hit or miss. I think the most effective ones are the ones that got the most personal. My personal favorite is an essay about how the Hannibal TV show gave him hope and solidarity about dealing with his PTSD There were a few essays that had interesting nuggets of ideas that I wanted to see explored further, but then deviated into other directions. Like the essay on zombies had a great snippet about how we use the "what would you do if zombies" situation to relate to others, and place ourselves in that set world. I enjoyed the essays that included movies like Mandy and Hereditary. The last few essays were great in that he explored how horror has helped him cope with dark realities of everyday life, and living after trauma.
November 4, 2020
This was literally the perfect book for a horror-loving Canadian millennial to read on Halloween. Mostly I felt like I was reading versions of conversations between my sister and I: references to a ton of the horror media (and rock/metal music) we've consumed and loved; general insight about the human condition; personal tangents. The [mostly quite short] essays aren't even remotely scary (except one, about the author's night terrors), so if you're hoping for spine chills, you'll have to look elsewhere. But they are a love letter to the narrative, creative, & therapeutic potential of the genre -- whatever you love in horror, you'll find something for you here (my personal soft spot is found footage horror, and I got a whole essay bish). A deeply fun, quick read.
Read
July 1, 2021Insightful essays that look closely at horror and pop culture, mental illness and healing, and how we find meaning in the connections between these things.
September 3, 2020
trigger warnings
In his essay collection, the author uses plots and characters from horror movies, tv series and sometimes games to illustrate his points. He draws parallels from his life to fiction and back, including ghosts, demons, cannibals and other human monsters.
As I requested this book I was kinda in the mood for an essay collection, and not so long ago I watched a lot of TEDx talks about the importance and role of the horror genre. How zombies may teach you things about yourself, how this particular form of escapism might teach you a thing or two you could use in extreme circumstances that don't even have to be global.
Also I fell in love with the cover. Kudos to the person who made it. If I had the wall space I would like to hang it up there.
If you start this, you'll see the most amazing thing: This book comes with trigger warnings. They are very general both in terms of what's warned about and what they say about where you'll find it. It's one warning for the entire book, not per essay.
I was able to jump over the self-harm thing because it was quite clear in that essay where we were going.
Thank you for the warnings. It needs to be normalized.
So, the essays. The first half of this was a four star, the second half a two star. I arrive at three. And let me be honest, my problems are nitpicky, because I am that kind of person.
Two things stood out to me, both generalisations not based on facts:
1. He says that old books of magic have always been written on skin. It made me want to hurl a clay tablet at him, or maybe poke him in the eye with papyrus. In later essays it became clear he's been raised catholic and I do know how that warps the supposed knowledge of a western person and how you tend to ignore everything earlier than the high middle ages.
We could talk about oral history, but... I am an archaeologist who's especially interested in magic-belief. I am used to people not knowing what they're talking about. What bugs me is that he is reinforcing the reader's preset notions.
2. In the long essay about cannibalism he quotes a guy saying that cannibalism is a taboo both in human and animal kingdom, and it's left standing as it is. First, no. Second: Do animals have taboos? Not even every human group has that taboo, so why would you project your own ideas on beings we have no idea of how their mind works?
There is this weird thing going on where it all reads like blog posts but you can't interact and discuss what is said because there is no real two-way conversation going on with the author. And because I can't simply go and ask: Hey, what are your sources for your claims? they really annoy me, again, because someone will believe it.
For essays as such I liked this book. I like how he talks about his bipolar disorder, his PTSD and the event that set it in motion, how he compares consuming horror to a mild form of PTSD. How it feels validating when your hypervigilance pays off, when you try to find the underlying pattern to get a clear cut exit strategy. How fictional horrors can help you deal with the real ones.
I liked the recollection of supernatural events that happened to him because I am into that kind of thing at the moment. It's like there is this whole world I never credited before 2020.
Read it if you like horror, but don't take everything he says as true.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
In his essay collection, the author uses plots and characters from horror movies, tv series and sometimes games to illustrate his points. He draws parallels from his life to fiction and back, including ghosts, demons, cannibals and other human monsters.
As I requested this book I was kinda in the mood for an essay collection, and not so long ago I watched a lot of TEDx talks about the importance and role of the horror genre. How zombies may teach you things about yourself, how this particular form of escapism might teach you a thing or two you could use in extreme circumstances that don't even have to be global.
Also I fell in love with the cover. Kudos to the person who made it. If I had the wall space I would like to hang it up there.
If you start this, you'll see the most amazing thing: This book comes with trigger warnings. They are very general both in terms of what's warned about and what they say about where you'll find it. It's one warning for the entire book, not per essay.
I was able to jump over the self-harm thing because it was quite clear in that essay where we were going.
Thank you for the warnings. It needs to be normalized.
So, the essays. The first half of this was a four star, the second half a two star. I arrive at three. And let me be honest, my problems are nitpicky, because I am that kind of person.
Two things stood out to me, both generalisations not based on facts:
1. He says that old books of magic have always been written on skin. It made me want to hurl a clay tablet at him, or maybe poke him in the eye with papyrus. In later essays it became clear he's been raised catholic and I do know how that warps the supposed knowledge of a western person and how you tend to ignore everything earlier than the high middle ages.
We could talk about oral history, but... I am an archaeologist who's especially interested in magic-belief. I am used to people not knowing what they're talking about. What bugs me is that he is reinforcing the reader's preset notions.
2. In the long essay about cannibalism he quotes a guy saying that cannibalism is a taboo both in human and animal kingdom, and it's left standing as it is. First, no. Second: Do animals have taboos? Not even every human group has that taboo, so why would you project your own ideas on beings we have no idea of how their mind works?
There is this weird thing going on where it all reads like blog posts but you can't interact and discuss what is said because there is no real two-way conversation going on with the author. And because I can't simply go and ask: Hey, what are your sources for your claims? they really annoy me, again, because someone will believe it.
For essays as such I liked this book. I like how he talks about his bipolar disorder, his PTSD and the event that set it in motion, how he compares consuming horror to a mild form of PTSD. How it feels validating when your hypervigilance pays off, when you try to find the underlying pattern to get a clear cut exit strategy. How fictional horrors can help you deal with the real ones.
I liked the recollection of supernatural events that happened to him because I am into that kind of thing at the moment. It's like there is this whole world I never credited before 2020.
Read it if you like horror, but don't take everything he says as true.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
April 28, 2022
I adored this collection by Peter Counter and recommend it to anyone who wants to see why they are drawn to horror - maybe due to the horror in their own life - and how horror helps you sort out how hard it can be to be a human. Highly recommend. Counter's own personal trauma is weaved throughout his takes on Silent Hill, Hannibal, Hereditary, the Alien films, Jaws, The X-Files, The Terror, The Southern Reach Trilogy, Interview with the Vampire, Misery, Gerald’s Game, The Sixth Sense, Scream, Halloween, The Blair Witch Project, The Babadook, the works of H.P. Lovecraft, and Slenderman stories (plus topics like nuclear physics, cannibalism, blood, Metallica, ritual magic, nightmares, and animatronic haunted houses).
This slender volume is jam packed with a lot of refreshing views on why we are drawn to darkness.
This slender volume is jam packed with a lot of refreshing views on why we are drawn to darkness.
February 26, 2021
Calling all horror fans who can recite all the Friday the 13th movies, who root for the cosmic forces, who love slasher films, and for those who think Midsommar and Hereditary were about way more than pagan sacrifice.
This is the perfect collection of reflections on the genre and what they mean to people who love the gore, the scares, and the monsters. Also an analysis of post-traumatic stress, togetherness, and recovery.
I find that this slim volume is a great stocking stuffer and go-to birthday gift for horror fans that want a deeper analysis of the genre. I've never read a book that treats the full breadth of the beloved horror genre with such care, appreciation, and self-awareness. Thoroughly enjoyed!
See below for a full list of essays included in this anthology:
Interviews with my Family Ouija Board | Celebration of Life | A World Made of Train Tracks | Please Add Me to Your Zombie Survival Network | Too-Loo | Corporate Personhood | The New Necronomicon | The Shattered Teacup | On the Horror of Comedy | Manufacturing Mephistopheles | Beeps and Boops | Manifest Doom | Five Liters | Fighting Ghosts | 100 Seconds to Midnight | Metaphysical Graffiti | Silent Ruins | Where the Creepypastas Are | Broken Nightmare Telephone | Fear of the Shark | Audient Void, Authorial Void | Extrasensory | On Madness | Cannibal Symposium | Wallpaper | Devil's Nostril | Santa Claus Versus the Smoke Monster | When the Screaming Stops
Summaries of my favorite essays in the bunch:
The FBI's Basement Office - After potentially seeing a UFO, the author grapples with what X-Files and ufology teach us about human connection, faith, skepticism, and trust.
Where the Creepypastas Are - Analysis of creepy pasta and how the internet world built it’s own myths that transcend the chat rooms where they originated.
Cannibal Symposium - A group of friends discuss the ethical considerations of cannibalism.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
This is the perfect collection of reflections on the genre and what they mean to people who love the gore, the scares, and the monsters. Also an analysis of post-traumatic stress, togetherness, and recovery.
I find that this slim volume is a great stocking stuffer and go-to birthday gift for horror fans that want a deeper analysis of the genre. I've never read a book that treats the full breadth of the beloved horror genre with such care, appreciation, and self-awareness. Thoroughly enjoyed!
See below for a full list of essays included in this anthology:
Interviews with my Family Ouija Board | Celebration of Life | A World Made of Train Tracks | Please Add Me to Your Zombie Survival Network | Too-Loo | Corporate Personhood | The New Necronomicon | The Shattered Teacup | On the Horror of Comedy | Manufacturing Mephistopheles | Beeps and Boops | Manifest Doom | Five Liters | Fighting Ghosts | 100 Seconds to Midnight | Metaphysical Graffiti | Silent Ruins | Where the Creepypastas Are | Broken Nightmare Telephone | Fear of the Shark | Audient Void, Authorial Void | Extrasensory | On Madness | Cannibal Symposium | Wallpaper | Devil's Nostril | Santa Claus Versus the Smoke Monster | When the Screaming Stops
Summaries of my favorite essays in the bunch:
The FBI's Basement Office - After potentially seeing a UFO, the author grapples with what X-Files and ufology teach us about human connection, faith, skepticism, and trust.
Where the Creepypastas Are - Analysis of creepy pasta and how the internet world built it’s own myths that transcend the chat rooms where they originated.
Cannibal Symposium - A group of friends discuss the ethical considerations of cannibalism.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
September 9, 2020
DIEZ DIAS SIN DORMIR ESTUVE POR CULPA DE ESTOS ENSAYOS SOBRE EL TERROR DIOSSSSSSS LEANLPOS
OMG THIS BOOK
Horror is SO important for everyone, fan of the genre or not, because it SHAPE society in ways we still don’t understand, but YES, this essays try to explain exactly that.
Using personal experiences and memories and TRAUMA, the author brings tropes, elements, and characters, from movies, books or urban legends, and creates an intricate series of essays that could be read separately but are so interconnected and perfectly ordered to be read as a whole body of horror non-fiction.
From how the zombie apocalypse is used to make connections and reinforce your own personality to how memories can become ghosts, from why we can empathize with a cannibal to how an horrible person was Lovecraft, this book doesn’t leave a rock unmoved.
I decided to read two or three essays before bed for the last couple of days and YES, I HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING. Have in mind that these are not scary stories. These are stories about scary things. And it worked SO WELL I’m aching for some non-fiction horror like this book.
Extra kudos for the trigger warning at the beginning, always a MUST, and the EXTRAORDINARY COVER omg. Amazing.
OMG THIS BOOK
Horror is SO important for everyone, fan of the genre or not, because it SHAPE society in ways we still don’t understand, but YES, this essays try to explain exactly that.
Using personal experiences and memories and TRAUMA, the author brings tropes, elements, and characters, from movies, books or urban legends, and creates an intricate series of essays that could be read separately but are so interconnected and perfectly ordered to be read as a whole body of horror non-fiction.
From how the zombie apocalypse is used to make connections and reinforce your own personality to how memories can become ghosts, from why we can empathize with a cannibal to how an horrible person was Lovecraft, this book doesn’t leave a rock unmoved.
I decided to read two or three essays before bed for the last couple of days and YES, I HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING. Have in mind that these are not scary stories. These are stories about scary things. And it worked SO WELL I’m aching for some non-fiction horror like this book.
Extra kudos for the trigger warning at the beginning, always a MUST, and the EXTRAORDINARY COVER omg. Amazing.
November 16, 2021
There’s something deep, lurking in the darkness, that connects all these essays as one.
I went in thinking it was going to be short horror stories, but quickly realized it was actually more of a thought experiment on the horror genre and its history. A little unexpected, but amazingly pleasant!
There are a lot of references, some that I knew, some that I didn’t. Peter Counter covers a broad range of point of views and delivers very interesting essays. Not only does he explain the process behind the horror theme through history and across various mediums, but he also integrates his personal experiences. The collection of essays takes a dark turn when you realize the author’s real story.
I won’t spoil, so I will just say that I was not disappointed in this book. I enjoyed reading about the many faces of horror and it inspired me to add some movies and shows to my watchlist, as well as books to my reading list.
I went in thinking it was going to be short horror stories, but quickly realized it was actually more of a thought experiment on the horror genre and its history. A little unexpected, but amazingly pleasant!
There are a lot of references, some that I knew, some that I didn’t. Peter Counter covers a broad range of point of views and delivers very interesting essays. Not only does he explain the process behind the horror theme through history and across various mediums, but he also integrates his personal experiences. The collection of essays takes a dark turn when you realize the author’s real story.
I won’t spoil, so I will just say that I was not disappointed in this book. I enjoyed reading about the many faces of horror and it inspired me to add some movies and shows to my watchlist, as well as books to my reading list.
December 4, 2020
I love horror. I love essays. I love discussing life by discussing movies. So of course Be Scared of Everything would be right in my alley. And yet I hadn't expected it to hit quite as close to home as it ended up doing. While usually I tend to stick to books from well-known publishing houses, Invisible Publishing's Be Scared of Everything told me I really do need to look further and enjoy everything that's out there. Also, will you just look at that perfect cover! Thanks to Invisible Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Horror has always been a big part of my fiction, and even non-fiction, intake. Initially I pursued it for the thrill of it, that shiver down the back that makes you look twice at the darkness in the corner of your room. But as I got older and became, sadly, more acquainted with the trials and hardships of life, horror took on a different meaning for me. Not until this collection of horror essays was able to truly put it into words, because Peter Counter seems to feel exactly the same way. When the illusion of safety and normality shatters, even if just for a moment, it is only really in horror that you can find relief. While the rest of the world seemingly clings to the idea that everything is fine, deep down you know it isn't. It is the horror film or the horror book that gives you an opportunity to not just accept but thrive on the knowledge that yes, something is seriously wrong and you're right to be suspicious and wary. I have found that horror films and books let me explore that fear and worry and even anger in a way that no other genre does. In that way I can probably credit horror with a certain stability I have reached in life. In this way I resonated with Be Scared of Everything, except that Peter Counter is much more eloquent and knowledgeable when talking about horror or mental health.
In Be Scared of Everything Counter has collected a number of personal essays all centred around horror. Each essay explores deeply human emotions, whether it is working through personal trauma, the numbness that comes with the slow, inevitable collapse of the world, or dealing with grief, by deconstructing horror films, books, short stories and even songs. Each time Counter made a connection between one of these texts and his own life, I felt something click. They all feel natural and he makes it look easy, which surely belies the hard work put into these essays. It would be impossible to discuss every single essay, so below I will discuss just a few. In 'The FBI's Basement Office' Counter makes a surprisingly effective and emotional case for UFO sightings which acknowledges our engrained need to disbelief without mocking the believers. His essay 'The Shattered Teacup' on Hannibal Lecter and specifically the recent TV show resonated so strongly with me I had to stare out of the window for a bit after reading it. This is also largely what my first paragraph refers to. 'On Madness' had a similar effect. 'Where the Creepypastas Are' is a brilliant essay about the medium of creepypasta and its allure. I also adored 'Cannibal Symposium' which was basically a transcript of a conversation about cannibalism between three people over lunch. It was funnier than it should be and more insightful than the premise might suggest.
Counter is a great writer. I hadn't had the pleasure of reading any of his writing before Be Scared of Everything, but reading his essays feels like a good conversation with a friend who may or may not have tapped into something genius along the way. The essays read easily and especially for those actively engaging with the horror genre there will be many recognizable references and meaningful links. Something I really appreciated was how Counter was able to highlight H.P. Lovecraft's central position in the horror community while unapologetically stating just how racist that man was. I understand the idea of separating the artist from the art, but how can we do that when the artist actively shoved his assholery into his art? It is something often avoided by horror fans but I think it's very important to confront since Lovecraft was not just a horrible person but also let his own prejudices affect his work for the worse. By engaging with it, Counter was actually able to somewhat salvage the good from Lovecraft's work for me, which was a nice bonus.
I must say I adored Be Scared of Everything a lot more than I expected. I was looking forward to essays about horror movies but got essays that have changed how I look at horror and have given me a language to discuss what the genre means to me. For that, I am enormously grateful. I'd recommend this to anyone who feels the pull to the dark.
Horror has always been a big part of my fiction, and even non-fiction, intake. Initially I pursued it for the thrill of it, that shiver down the back that makes you look twice at the darkness in the corner of your room. But as I got older and became, sadly, more acquainted with the trials and hardships of life, horror took on a different meaning for me. Not until this collection of horror essays was able to truly put it into words, because Peter Counter seems to feel exactly the same way. When the illusion of safety and normality shatters, even if just for a moment, it is only really in horror that you can find relief. While the rest of the world seemingly clings to the idea that everything is fine, deep down you know it isn't. It is the horror film or the horror book that gives you an opportunity to not just accept but thrive on the knowledge that yes, something is seriously wrong and you're right to be suspicious and wary. I have found that horror films and books let me explore that fear and worry and even anger in a way that no other genre does. In that way I can probably credit horror with a certain stability I have reached in life. In this way I resonated with Be Scared of Everything, except that Peter Counter is much more eloquent and knowledgeable when talking about horror or mental health.
In Be Scared of Everything Counter has collected a number of personal essays all centred around horror. Each essay explores deeply human emotions, whether it is working through personal trauma, the numbness that comes with the slow, inevitable collapse of the world, or dealing with grief, by deconstructing horror films, books, short stories and even songs. Each time Counter made a connection between one of these texts and his own life, I felt something click. They all feel natural and he makes it look easy, which surely belies the hard work put into these essays. It would be impossible to discuss every single essay, so below I will discuss just a few. In 'The FBI's Basement Office' Counter makes a surprisingly effective and emotional case for UFO sightings which acknowledges our engrained need to disbelief without mocking the believers. His essay 'The Shattered Teacup' on Hannibal Lecter and specifically the recent TV show resonated so strongly with me I had to stare out of the window for a bit after reading it. This is also largely what my first paragraph refers to. 'On Madness' had a similar effect. 'Where the Creepypastas Are' is a brilliant essay about the medium of creepypasta and its allure. I also adored 'Cannibal Symposium' which was basically a transcript of a conversation about cannibalism between three people over lunch. It was funnier than it should be and more insightful than the premise might suggest.
Counter is a great writer. I hadn't had the pleasure of reading any of his writing before Be Scared of Everything, but reading his essays feels like a good conversation with a friend who may or may not have tapped into something genius along the way. The essays read easily and especially for those actively engaging with the horror genre there will be many recognizable references and meaningful links. Something I really appreciated was how Counter was able to highlight H.P. Lovecraft's central position in the horror community while unapologetically stating just how racist that man was. I understand the idea of separating the artist from the art, but how can we do that when the artist actively shoved his assholery into his art? It is something often avoided by horror fans but I think it's very important to confront since Lovecraft was not just a horrible person but also let his own prejudices affect his work for the worse. By engaging with it, Counter was actually able to somewhat salvage the good from Lovecraft's work for me, which was a nice bonus.
I must say I adored Be Scared of Everything a lot more than I expected. I was looking forward to essays about horror movies but got essays that have changed how I look at horror and have given me a language to discuss what the genre means to me. For that, I am enormously grateful. I'd recommend this to anyone who feels the pull to the dark.
April 24, 2021
Peter Counter’s Be Scared of Everything is, as its subtitle indicates, a collection of essays. Essays written by someone who understands horror. They’re not all about horror movies or novels, however; some are about real life events, including the trauma Counter experienced at witnessing his father being shot. Those of us who like horror often have some monster in our own personal closet that compels us. Nevertheless, horror can be a healthy coping technique, and you get the sense that this is how Counter has come to use it.
The problem summarizing books of essays is there’s a bit too much to say about 29 essays. Some are short, others longer. Some are sad and others are funny. Some are scary and others are philosophical. They present a life full of complexity and fear. There are quotidian terrors, for sure. We all face them at some point, and Counter is one of those who likes to face them head-on. Life can be lived trying to avoid the bad things, but some people are thrown in the way and the smart money’s on trying to face your fears. Writing books about them.
Although the book comes with trigger warnings, it will probably creep you out at some point. For me, profound wisdom came through time and again. Like the author I partake of horror to try to make sense out of life. It is, after all, a coping technique. Thinking over the several days that this book was my regular reading, there are several essays I’d like to revisit. That always speaks well for such a collection. Many collected essays just sit neglected on my shelves. I wrote a more personal take on this book on my blog (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) for those interested.
The problem summarizing books of essays is there’s a bit too much to say about 29 essays. Some are short, others longer. Some are sad and others are funny. Some are scary and others are philosophical. They present a life full of complexity and fear. There are quotidian terrors, for sure. We all face them at some point, and Counter is one of those who likes to face them head-on. Life can be lived trying to avoid the bad things, but some people are thrown in the way and the smart money’s on trying to face your fears. Writing books about them.
Although the book comes with trigger warnings, it will probably creep you out at some point. For me, profound wisdom came through time and again. Like the author I partake of horror to try to make sense out of life. It is, after all, a coping technique. Thinking over the several days that this book was my regular reading, there are several essays I’d like to revisit. That always speaks well for such a collection. Many collected essays just sit neglected on my shelves. I wrote a more personal take on this book on my blog (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) for those interested.
October 17, 2020
I have to be honest- I considered putting Be Scared of Everything down around a quarter of the way through. I didn't see the point of the essays, and thought they were a bit pretentious. However, as I kept going, I began to enjoy this book more and more. The essays started to really come together, and become more relatable, more poignant.
It was an essay where Counter talks about when he'd "rave" as a result of his post-traumatic stress that really sold me. I'm right here in the throes of post-traumatic stress, and Peter Counter really nailed it with his description of raving in that context. It was incredible to have something I'm currently going through put into the words I haven't been able to find.
The last essay, too, about the death of a beloved pet- that one brought me to actual tears, as two of my three cats lay spooning each other just inches away from my feet as I read the essay and as I type this review. I've been through that loss before, but with family pets. My three cats now are mine, my first pets that have been my own, on my own as an adult. They're still kickin', and I know I'd do anything to resurrect them if it came to it, if I could.
All this to say, I didn't love Be Scared of Everything, but I did really like it, and would recommend it to both avid and casual horror fans alike.
It was an essay where Counter talks about when he'd "rave" as a result of his post-traumatic stress that really sold me. I'm right here in the throes of post-traumatic stress, and Peter Counter really nailed it with his description of raving in that context. It was incredible to have something I'm currently going through put into the words I haven't been able to find.
The last essay, too, about the death of a beloved pet- that one brought me to actual tears, as two of my three cats lay spooning each other just inches away from my feet as I read the essay and as I type this review. I've been through that loss before, but with family pets. My three cats now are mine, my first pets that have been my own, on my own as an adult. They're still kickin', and I know I'd do anything to resurrect them if it came to it, if I could.
All this to say, I didn't love Be Scared of Everything, but I did really like it, and would recommend it to both avid and casual horror fans alike.
September 4, 2020
That book was good! I wasn't convince at the beginning, lot of personal memories into it and pop culture references, but as we go deeper into it some essays were awesome, a bit like a short stories collection, some were better than others, but the overall quality was really good.
We get deep thinking on horror and we also have good thinking and reflexion on society, human condition, and all that philosophical aspect was very interesting. We also received a good bunch of name dropping, from movies, to books and video games, which I knew most of them already, but I'm a huge horror fans for over two decades now, but new comers will surely discover and note a lot of them to then explore and made new discovery from a genre they love.
So it have various layers (Layer of Fear... video game, had to name drop it) to this book and it made it interesting for various reasons and reach a solid level of accomplishment on all of them. Surprisingly good!
We get deep thinking on horror and we also have good thinking and reflexion on society, human condition, and all that philosophical aspect was very interesting. We also received a good bunch of name dropping, from movies, to books and video games, which I knew most of them already, but I'm a huge horror fans for over two decades now, but new comers will surely discover and note a lot of them to then explore and made new discovery from a genre they love.
So it have various layers (Layer of Fear... video game, had to name drop it) to this book and it made it interesting for various reasons and reach a solid level of accomplishment on all of them. Surprisingly good!
October 16, 2020
A collection of essays covering the horror genre, everything from cannibals to Cthulhu to chainsaws.
Some of the essays we're a little dry, I think those would be more accessible to hardcore fans of horror, but a casual or amateur viewer like myself may have some trouble getting through some of the essays. That being said, a lot of these were super easy to get into, and the theory was interesting if a little absurd.
For hardcore fans of horror: This is for you!
For the rest of us: You'll get something out of it, but a bit of this will go over your head.
ARC provided by Invisible Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the essays we're a little dry, I think those would be more accessible to hardcore fans of horror, but a casual or amateur viewer like myself may have some trouble getting through some of the essays. That being said, a lot of these were super easy to get into, and the theory was interesting if a little absurd.
For hardcore fans of horror: This is for you!
For the rest of us: You'll get something out of it, but a bit of this will go over your head.
ARC provided by Invisible Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2022
Cute personal essays with light philosophy that focus on horror topics/pop culture. I am pleased that I know most of the references made in this collection although I wish I had've finished The Troop by Nick Cutter first before hitting those spoilers in the last essay :'D
edit: It's also nice to read Canadian horror work. Having lived in both Halifax and Toronto I can definitely picture the local landscape yay me
edit: It's also nice to read Canadian horror work. Having lived in both Halifax and Toronto I can definitely picture the local landscape yay me
October 30, 2023
This was a good collection. I really liked it at first but it lost some steam for me as I went on; I think it would have benefitted from having fewer essays and, instead, giving more pages to some of the denser topics. Always nice to read some relatable Canadian content, especially by a fellow theatre grad, even if it's about topics I don't usually engage with (eg. horror movies and video games). Counter is a strong writer and I'd like to read more of his work. [Read for Queen Books Book Club.]
March 6, 2021
Short sharp essays about horror, as advertised, I guess, but somehow in a way that feels like you’re getting a steal of a deal. See also: humour, vulnerability, and really great concise descriptions and analysis of horror media I am too much of a wimp to consume directly.
December 20, 2024
Really enjoyed this collection of essays and how elements and aspects of popular horror books, movies and video games were tied into how we navigate and deal with death, grief, mental health and personal loss. Very well written and insightful, with some stories and perspectives that really stick with you afterwards.
August 29, 2020
Oh, YEAH! I love horror movies and books! This isn't scary stories, per se, but talks about various movies, books, authors, franchises, corporations, etc... and how they operate. Peter Counter pointed out things I really hadn't given to much thought to over the years. Very enlightening (and I really should know better as I actually took a Film Appreciation class the semester horror was the theme! Apparently, our prof didn't cover ANY of these!) Kudos Peter Counter- terrific book!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
April 25, 2022
Part essay collection, part memoir, all consuming.
October 13, 2020
3.5 stars.
I don't think the author has quite perfected his voice yet- occasional phrases feel forced or like a showy affect. But as a horror fan about the same age as the author with Bipolar 2 and PTSD, this book definitely spoke to me. This was an interesting and unique book, and I'll be watching to see what this author does in the future.
I don't think the author has quite perfected his voice yet- occasional phrases feel forced or like a showy affect. But as a horror fan about the same age as the author with Bipolar 2 and PTSD, this book definitely spoke to me. This was an interesting and unique book, and I'll be watching to see what this author does in the future.
December 9, 2020
4.5 stars. My first non-fiction book in a while and I made the right pick! Part criticism, part memoir, it’s a smart analyses of horror through the lens of pop culture. The essays are short, some only a couple of pages, but they touched on everything from zombies to ghosts to occult to cannibalism. The writing is smart, empathetic and relatable. I loved how the author shows the way horror has helped him cope with his own trauma, like in “The Shattered Teacup”, which looks at Hannibal Lecter and the effects of PTSD, and "When The Screaming Stops", which looks at death in fiction and real life.
I should note that the book does spoil a number of horror movies and TV series, including Hannibal, The Sixth Sense, Hereditary and The Witch. I’m happy to say I’ve watched them so I had no problem with spoilers but if it bothers you maybe you can skip the specific essays. They’re so good though! As a lifelong horror fan this book speaks directly to me.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
I should note that the book does spoil a number of horror movies and TV series, including Hannibal, The Sixth Sense, Hereditary and The Witch. I’m happy to say I’ve watched them so I had no problem with spoilers but if it bothers you maybe you can skip the specific essays. They’re so good though! As a lifelong horror fan this book speaks directly to me.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
August 27, 2022
While I didn't vibe with every entry in this book, I did find some good tidbits in these pages and the different perspective was interesting so I'll give it 3 stars. Sometimes it felt like he was aiming for a larger point and got lost along the way (or that he was simply making page count with some of them), and then kinda rallied the troops for a conclusion that might be quotable. I say that, but I also want to say that there were some that did interest me! I particularly liked Shattered Teacup that dived into Hannibal and trauma.
The way these entries were ordered seems to stick to the old high-school essay writing formula: strong, weak, strongest. The beginning was good, the middle entries didn't really hit in any way (and I think if anyone viewed the tabs I stuck in this book they'd find a gaping hole in the middle), and then the last essay was I think the longest? and while not my particular favourite I do think it ended off the book in a strong way.
I tried to record some thoughts on each entry as I went, and I'll paste those under a spoiler tag for interested parties:
The way these entries were ordered seems to stick to the old high-school essay writing formula: strong, weak, strongest. The beginning was good, the middle entries didn't really hit in any way (and I think if anyone viewed the tabs I stuck in this book they'd find a gaping hole in the middle), and then the last essay was I think the longest? and while not my particular favourite I do think it ended off the book in a strong way.
I tried to record some thoughts on each entry as I went, and I'll paste those under a spoiler tag for interested parties:
October 5, 2021
This was a great book to read during the month of October under a blanket with a cup of Hot Chocolate!.. It even comes with a warning at the beginning of the book to add to the scares!
I recommend this book to anyone looking to not sleep at night.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I recommend this book to anyone looking to not sleep at night.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2020
This was an interesting series of short essays on the interaction of trauma and horror, and how we substitute our realities for the ones that we preference. Sometimes the demons that are outside of us are the easier ones to let in- the scaring comes from the fact that they're more disassociated from us than the monsters we really know. I found this book really fascinating, and it helped bridge a bit of a gap for me in that I have the same horror fixation as the author, and I find comfort in the weird.
There's also a comforting form of magic in these kinds of books, a secret divulged and shared by the author with you on the proviso that you keep it safe. I think perhaps it could have been a little longer, and perhaps some of the essays could have been a little more fleshed out, but there's obviously a lot of love that the author poured into this book, and I commend it on that basis. The voice could also be a little more refined, but I did still enjoy enjoy it a great deal.
There's also a comforting form of magic in these kinds of books, a secret divulged and shared by the author with you on the proviso that you keep it safe. I think perhaps it could have been a little longer, and perhaps some of the essays could have been a little more fleshed out, but there's obviously a lot of love that the author poured into this book, and I commend it on that basis. The voice could also be a little more refined, but I did still enjoy enjoy it a great deal.
August 23, 2021
Be Scared of Everything is a tremendously thoughtful, smart, funny, book combining essay and memoir celebrating all things horror, from cinema and video games to heavy metal and haunted houses. His writing examines popular horror media from such a wonderfully lively place of vulnerability and curiosity and reads like many conversations I’ve had with myself about horror. Except, he’s a million times more articulate about the meaning-making to be experienced, where in this cauldron of horrifying influences and inspirations, and I’m quoting from somewhere else here, he finds “...poetry in madness, and beauty in annihilation--” I’ve been reading this book a little spooky snippet at a time every morning to get my day started with this very excellent scary energy
November 12, 2020
I never gave too much thought to horror before reading this book. I recently watched Midsommar and when my wife had questions about it, I had some answers and she was very impressed! That's all thanks to this book. It has given me a new perspective in which to interpret horror and I now think of the genre in a different way.
There is a lot more in this book than horror, or horror movies, and Peter writes about all of it so well.
The last essay was my favourite. It was so beautifully written.
There is a lot more in this book than horror, or horror movies, and Peter writes about all of it so well.
The last essay was my favourite. It was so beautifully written.
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