“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown” ― H.P. Lovecraft
Cosmic horror is a type of subgenre of horror that explores the vastness of the unknown and humanity's relatively insignificant place within the cosmos. It emphasizes the insignificance of humanity when confronted with unknown and potentially hostile cosmic forces. The overall goal is to evoke existential terror, dread, and a sense of futility, rather than relying on traditional horror techniques like jump scares, gore, or even a creepy atmosphere. Cosmic horror, or better known as Lovecraftian horror, originated with American author H.P. Lovecraft; one of his most famous and easily recognizable works is “The Call of Cthulhu”.
Cosmic horror often emphasizes humanity's insignificance and fragility in the face of vast, indifferent cosmic forces, highlighting our powerlessness and isolation. Characters in cosmic horror stories and games frequently find themselves alone, unable to communicate or escape overwhelming threats, and doomed to pointless struggles. The psychological impact, including descent into madness, paranoia, and the erosion of sanity, is a key element that enhances the genre's appeal. The difficulty in fully grasping the threat, coupled with a sense of fear and paranoia, fuels the imagination rather than providing a clear explanation or a visible monster. The genre often features Lovecraftian entities—powerful, ancient beings beyond our comprehension and time—that exist outside human boundaries. Their presence can drive one into madness. The ultimate goal is to leave the reader or viewer with a lingering sense of dread and awe. Having learned about cosmic horror, it truly unveils our reality and exploration of the unknown. By utilizing the atmosphere and themes in such a unique way for storytelling. It certainly seems to offer a powerful way to evoke impactful feelings in viewers and readers.
As previously noted, cosmic horror delves into humanity's position within the vast universe. It allows for the exploration of existential themes, including humanity's morality and the limits of our knowledge. This creates very rich and fertile ground for philosophical and meaningful storytelling that surpasses traditional horror tropes. Uncovering the unknown realities beyond human comprehension is the core goal of cosmic horror. What could be more frightening than a lack of knowledge, especially regarding the unknown? Cosmic horror effectively uses this to evoke a lingering sense of dread and unease in the viewer or reader. It's a genre with limitless potential that, unfortunately, remains under-explored. If you're interested in exploring the dark and creepy aspects of horror, cosmic horror is an excellent subgenre to begin with. I recommend starting with the works of H.P. Lovecraft; his story "Dagon" is a good place to start, or perhaps "The Outsider" (not the one with Sodapop).
If you are not much of a reader, that is perfectly okay! There are also video games, movies, and television shows with cosmic horror elements or themes. Some examples include the movies "The Lighthouse" and "The Mist," and for video games there are options such as, "Sinking City," "Fear & Hunger," and "Observation." There are many more forms of cosmic horror; it is a truly fascinating subgenre of horror that is not yet fully explored. It is great for creating a deeper understanding of things and considering the nature of reality and how little humans know about it our own world.
“The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of the infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.”
― H. P. Lovecraft, The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories
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