reddit.com/r/horror
The genre of horror is one that captivates people from hundreds of years. Of course, the thrill of being afraid is a tradition as old as time. Fear is one of those instinctual physical reactions that is every bit as necessary for our survival as it is fun to explore, much like sexual pleasure. The capacity to feel terror is hardwired into us and the rush that comes with it is intriguing, and some would say downright enjoyable. The rush of adrenaline that accompanies a quick jolt of fear fascinates all, old and young alike.
This is why we like to tell ghost stories around the campfire. This is why we willingly enter haunted houses. This is why scary movies are some of the most popular in the history of film. We all like to explore the darker sides of human experience, every once in a while. And for some of us, it's something that we can't get enough of. So, we read Stephen King novels, and we celebrate Halloween, and we tell tales of ghouls, goblins, ghosts, and the unexplainable phenomena of existence.
Horror, though once relegated to B-grade movies and cheesy makeup, has exploded in popularity over the past few years. There are now horror conventions (like Comicon but much scarier), dedicated fans of the art, and even books and articles about it. It's something that some people have turned into a passion, and for others it's just a casual interest. If you're into horror at all, be sure to check out r/Horror on Reddit!
It averages around 6,000 subscribers, but it can be incredibly active at times. It's perfect for someone who wants to dive into a specific genre of horror film without having to sift through an endless amount of content, but it's also got a broader appeal because there are so many different types of horror films being talked about.
Reddit is one of the unique websites on the internet. There is really nothing else quite like it. There are millions of online communities to be explored on this site that has dubbed itself, "the front page of the internet." And these communities range from being extremely general and broad to as specific niche as you can imagine. R/Horror, I would say, is somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. It averages around 6,000 subscribers, but it can be incredibly active at times. It's perfect for someone who wants to dive into a specific genre of horror film without having to sift through an endless amount of content, but it's also got a broader appeal because there are so many different types of horror films being talked about on here.
Why might you be wondering, would I review a subreddit on StreamingSites? That's a fair enough question. I have a whole category dedicated to subreddits because there are plenty of adjacent streaming communities that can enhance your streaming experience in various ways. Some subreddits, like r/Hulu or r/Netflix, are great resources for anyone who either wants to learn more about certain streaming platforms before deciding to subscribe or for anyone who grows to love a streaming service so much that they want to be in the loop of all news and discussion surrounding it.
Others, such as r/Horror and r/Movies, are great online communities for fans to discuss their favorite films, stay up to date on news pertaining to what they care about, and discover new titles, directors, writers, etc. This is why r/Horror is such an invaluable resource for anyone who loves the genre of horror. It allows you to chat with likeminded individuals about your favorite horror films, stay informed on everything that is going on within the genre (new and upcoming releases, speculation, reviews, awards, events, etc.), and get recommendations from people that really know their stuff in the world of horror.
The popular online community for horror books, games, and TV is known as r/Horror. It is the number one online community for these topics, and there are not many active streaming activities that take place on this subreddit. However, there is a more actively used and rich online community dedicated to the genre of horror anywhere else on the internet. I would put money on it.
History
Horror has been around for a long time, dating back to 2008. It started out small, but has grown rapidly over the years. As of this review, there are 1.5 million members on this subreddit and between 2 and 4 thousand of them are active at any given time.
The subreddit became very popular almost instantly. And it didn't take long for it to be given the unofficial title of Dreadit by the members of the community, in honor of the feelings of dread that horror inspires. The fact that Dreadit has been around for so long and is so well-established is a testament to how effective of a subreddit it is. The best online communities, of course, are those that have been active for a long time. This will translate into a wealth of archived posts to browse (countless) and ensure that the community is lively and thriving.
Many Reddit users frequently visit r/Horror for its wide variety of horror movie content.
Content
One thing I love about r/Horror is the fact that the moderators have set up a helpful and easy to use flare system. This is something that can sometimes be taken for granted, but you'd be surprised how many subreddits don't include an organization structure for tagging posts. On r/Horror, posts can be paired with flares to signal what they pertain to. Choice from Vote Inside, Vote Results, Discussion, Recommend, Movie Review, Horror News, or Original Work lets you navigate the endless catacombs of Dreadit.
The Dreadit map is a great way for users to find information about the horror genre by easily sorting posts by topic. There are also many features available on the map, such as polls, chats, and reviews. Additionally, users can stay up-to-date on current events in the horror genre by viewing original work or sharing their own projects for feedback. I love a subreddit that also provides creative outlets for its members.
Horror is not a free for all, though. There are some rules that members are expected to follow, both in their comments and in what kind of content can be posted. All content, for example, must be in English. You are also not allowed to post anything that depicts real death, murder, suicide, accidents, or gore. The moderators make it explicit that r/Horror is only for horror entertainment. You can not link to pirated content. No memes are allowed (no direct image files, really). And users cannot post unless they have at least a total of 100+ karma points on their account (which shows you that Dreadit is a serious subreddit and won't tolerate spamming or trolling).
I really like the high standards that Dreadit has. The result is one of the better subreddits out there. It may seem a bit much, but I have seen some subreddits before that don't have such rigorous rules? and it shows - these pages are not helpful or interesting to visit at all. So, believe me, the rules are there for a reason.
Suggestions that I have for r/Horror
I really enjoy the quality control measures and community engagement efforts that r/Horror has in place. I also appreciate the fact that they frequently do things to keep its members engaged, such as conducting polls that are prominently displayed on the subreddit. I find it refreshing when a subreddit takes active measures to provide fun activities for its members. And too few subreddits do this, which is appreciated.
I think it would be cool to see Dreadit incorporate more AMAs. I think that maybe r/Horror could take a page out of the playbook of r/Music, which has frequent AMAs with artists, bands, and producers. Dreadit could easily do this by inviting horror directors, actors, producers, and filmmakers to do AMA sessions in which users could, in real-time, ask them anything.