Crypticon Seattle: Comfort Horror Panel Recording

Crypticon Seattle: Comfort Horror Panel Recording

From The Scariest Things by The Scariest Things

May 15, 2026 · 1h 0m

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of Comfort Horror and why certain horror movies provide solace amidst anxiety.

Is there anything more comforting in horror than the relationship between Ripley and Newt in Aliens (1987)? Comfort Horror. It’s a thing. It keeps the fandom fed. We come back time and again to get scared, and we love it. Why? This is the third of my series of Crypticon Seattle convention panel recordings. Panels are the lifeblood of this annual horror gathering, feeding the fandom’s macabre knowledge cravings. Horror movies are the bonds this community shares, and to understand why, this panel examines the lure of horror for many of us. In Kim Douthit’s panel, Comfort Horror, she asks her panelists the question, “Why do we replay the same nightmares? What movies bring us comfort in a time rife with anxiety?” It seems antithetical that many of us crave the experience of being scared. For some, it’s a ritual. A rite of passage. We overcome our perceived fears. Building up the courage to soldier through a horror movie is a peak emotional triumph for many people. For others, the familiarity of the repeated horror experience becomes a form of comfort. There are a few horror movies that I know, frame by frame, and each story beat and moment…

People in this episode

Host: The Scariest Things

Topics covered

  • Comfort Horror
  • Horror Movies
  • Fandom
  • Emotional Triumph
  • Anxiety

Keywords

  • Comfort Horror
  • Horror Movies
  • Aliens
  • Crypticon Seattle
  • Fandom
  • Emotional Triumph
  • Anxiety

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Aliens

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