The Horror genre has provided me with unique comfort since I was a child.
When I was 9, I stayed home alone on Halloween and caught Friday the 13th: Part III in 3D on cable TV.
“…in 3D” becomes challenging on cable television. Without the film’s intended 3D effects, the unnecessary shots of legs dangling in the camera and a fire poker simply moving towards the lens evolves from exploitative to completely ridiculous and unnecessary. Even as a kid I recognized that.
I laughed till I cried as eyeballs and all manner of things flew at the camera suspended by two very visible wires.
I remember feeling cozy under the orange pumpkin LEDs and glow of my grandmother’s Yankee Candle.
Cold wind rustled the trees outside my living room window, and shadows danced in my home’s backyard in Lancaster, CA. Any Jason-filled antics I saw on screen were far less frightening than the terrors I could imagine lurking outside.
It was simple, fun ridiculousness that—most importantly—kept me company.
My love for the genre has only grown since. I’ve been fortunate to watch it break further into the mainstream and grow from a taboo genre for freaks (early 00s and before) to something culturally relevant (as it’s always been), celebrated, and even “elevated” (!).
We’re in a bit of a Horror renaissance right now. I hope it never ends.
A year ago, I started an online marketplace named “Harvey’s Horror Shoppe,” and sold hyper-realistic art prints and other Horror merchandise. Stood that way for about a year too, but it’s time for it to evolve.
Harvey’s Horror Shoppe is now primarily a Horror blog that celebrates the genre with original articles about new films, past eras, genre tropes, analyses, and more! The merchandise portion of the site will return eventually, but with more design intention and quality in the products posted.
I can’t wait to push forward into this new era…there’s a lot to talk about. There’s more to create.
Let’s do it.
Joshua Harvey Hill
Shoppekeeper
