Cosmic Horror Explained | Horror Explored
Рет қаралды 96,496
3 жыл бұрынInstagram ➤ @danieljblackwood
Hi, I'm Daniel J. Blackwood, and welcome to Horror Explored, and this is my video explaining Cosmic Horror, or as it is most commonly referred to, Lovecraftian Horror. This video serves as an introduction into the genre, covering its inception, the philosophy behind the genre, its core themes, and how it has influenced modern day horror.
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Music in this video: • Free Horror Sci-Fi Mus...
Intro animation by: • Creatures of Madness
#CthulhuMythos
#Lovecraft
#CosmicHorror
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:49 Introduction & Brief History
02:02 Cosmicism
03:00 Core Themes
06:44 Modern Cosmic Horror
09:29 Outro
TAGS
cosmic horror
h. p. lovecraft
cthulhu
explained
history of cosmic horror
horror movie
horror explained
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
So I uploaded this video yesterday, and it did really well. First it got copyright claimed, so I have had to use fog to avoid the copyright demons. Secondly, KZfaq removed its likes. And then finally the video was removed by KZfaq due to "inappropriate content". I had to blur much of the video, so I'm sorry about that, but the subject matter remains untouched. Also: towards the end of recording my voiceover I came down with a cold. Sorry about the nasally narration.
@JenTheCanadianHen 3 жыл бұрын
I was listening only and wouldn't have noticed a thing, except I came to leave a comment and saw this lol. You're good. Great job. I really enjoyed your writing and background music. Cheers☕
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed. I appreciate your watching.
@Huck1942 2 жыл бұрын
I appreciate your perseverance. Great explanation on genre 👏
@XSilver_WaterX Жыл бұрын
KZfaq denying cosmic horror is the equivalent of a bank robber denying they stole millions from the safe-boxes. The Board doesn't want people to learn, just be worker drones!
@ForTheOmnissiah Жыл бұрын
I know this is an old post but man, youtube really is dogcrap. Smaller youtuber making quality content gets hammered by copyright claims, flags, and other trash. It's so stupid. I'm sorry you have to put up with it.
@A8EL Жыл бұрын
ngl, cosmic horror or the fear of the unknown beyond our comprehencion was always and still is a part of what humans made up, pretty sure it was there before lovecraft, he just gave it a specific shape and gave it his own spin
@toprak3479 Жыл бұрын
He said it himself that it is the oldest fear. Occult beliefs were there to fill in gaps in the explanation of things. Stuff like ghouls, djinns, vampires are just that. It's the nihilistic+atheistic flavor that he gave to it that transcended it from spooky folktales to something quite nice. Uncaring universe and all that.
@315katty 2 ай бұрын
Would Dead Space necromorphs be considered part of cosmic horror btw?
@Sohelanthropus 2 жыл бұрын
There's nothing scarier than wondering "what's out there?" Playing Bloodborne back when it launch gave me this feeling, and this past month when I played it again, that same feeling struck me even harder, maybe because I'm older and can understand more and wonder more but yet I know less, shit hits deep
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
I wish I still had a PlayStation so I could replay it. It's a masterpiece of visual storytelling, atmosphere, and of course, cosmic horror. Patiently awaiting a PC release. :(
@SoggyBread-xm5eu 2 жыл бұрын
I wish I was terrible at it so I could play it and enjoy it. Maybe one day
@poppletronva 2 жыл бұрын
I'd argue that The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers was one of the first Cosmic Horror books. Still a lot of gothic horror, but also a lot of what would later become cosmic horror.
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
The King In Yellow was a major inspiration for Lovecraft, so there are some themes that Lovecraft adopted and cross-pollinated with cosmic horror. Without Chambers, who knows how Lovecraft's works would have turned out! But, yes; I personally read The King In Yellow through the lense of the cosmic, rather than the gothic.
@erinmvanilla Жыл бұрын
Fancy seeing you here
@yodelingshrimp8316 Жыл бұрын
I just got this book, and idk why, but I have been procrastinating to read it.
@Rozilla 2 жыл бұрын
Radio drama and podcasts is a great medium for cosmic horror- it allows for the viewer to imagine their own version of "unknowable terror".
@mattlegge8538 Жыл бұрын
The Magnus Archives! Can you recommend any others?
@bootstrap_paradox 3 жыл бұрын
great overview of the genre and high quality video overall! just what i needed for research on cosmic horror
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for stopping by!
@mattpoyner6284 2 жыл бұрын
Currently writing a series that touches on cosmic horror a little and this really gave me a bit more ideas to expand out and really grab the readers attention so deeply. I wish the cosmic horror genre really blooms further and people get more creative than before.
@horrorgeorge2102 3 жыл бұрын
I wondered why I got the notification of this upload again today. KZfaq really does hate small creators
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, the KZfaq police got to me!
@Pumpkiinhead 2 жыл бұрын
I can't believe I just found you, you did an amazing job. I really needed this for my English project and it helped me a lot. I also just love looking more into subjects I have a peaked interest in, I appreciate the work you put into your video :) it really shows
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Good luck on your English project :)
@lopil 2 жыл бұрын
I love reading lots of genres! I even bought The Cthulhu Mythos to learn more about how to write Cosmic Horror! Love your voice, it's absolutely soothing, can't wait to see more!
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed! The Cthulhu Mythos is probably my favourite fictional universe ever created, so you're definitely in for a ride. Happy reading!
@lopil 2 жыл бұрын
@@DanielJBlackwood I’ve started reading until The Festival, and so far it’s given me lots of stuff to think about! Really made me feel small compared to the universe, definitely creepy…😨 Already had a fear of the unknown and the book just made it worse-😂😂😂
@adamlane7986 2 жыл бұрын
Ive been researching cosmic horror for some time now, and you've gone so in depth, i love it!!
@ariasscreen4334 3 жыл бұрын
Great intro to cosmic horror and Lovecraft. Keep up the good work, Blackwood!
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed. Thank you for stopping by!
@hgdge 3 жыл бұрын
It truly is a gamble the genre. Great video loved how in depth it was and the background to accompany it.
@asunder3371 3 жыл бұрын
These vids are great, I don't have a clue about it but the descriptions are fascinating! Please keep going man.
@mcdrew2256 3 жыл бұрын
Great video. I'm a few pages into The Fisherman already, so I am even more excited for it now
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! It quickly became one of my favorite novels of all time. Langan is such a fantastic writer. Enjoy!
@thegametroll6264 11 ай бұрын
For some reason cosmic horror doesn't scare me as much as horror I grew up with as a kid. I love it as a matter of fact. I'm glad it was a universe left open for interpretation. Gives the imagination of a writer a lot of room to play.
@auttumnnnn6055 Жыл бұрын
"Before there was time, before there was anything... there was nothing. And before there was nothing, there were monsters."
@TeKSystemDubstep 3 жыл бұрын
Cosmic horror is my fav genre of horror besides slasher and this vid explains it really well
@Palek03 2 жыл бұрын
Your videos are very well done. You deserve more subs and I hope you dont give up on this.
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I'm not planning on giving up any time soon. I'm hoping 2022 will be a big year for this channel and I'm excited about the videos I'm currently making. Thank you for the kind words. It's comments like this that keep me motivated. I appreciate you.
@jordan3119 2 жыл бұрын
Great video. You’re gonna do great on KZfaq. Keep it up!
@semorebutts6960 Жыл бұрын
This is exactly what I was looking for thank you!👍
@bazookaboy4425 3 жыл бұрын
absolutely love this video man
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks a lot! Thank you for stopping by, I'm glad you enjoyed it
@Brian-kc6kg Жыл бұрын
I’ve always had a great idea for a cosmic horror movie. Maybe one day I will script it into action
@alyssa01825 2 жыл бұрын
great video and explanation!
@asunder3371 3 жыл бұрын
The genre really plays on my phobia, I love and hate it at the same time lol. Great vid man, learning a lot from these so you better keep it going haha.
@jamesplotkin4674 2 ай бұрын
THANK YOU, Mr. Narrator for pronouncing Cthulhu the way it was meant to sound!
@MrPixxil 3 жыл бұрын
I can't wait to see you continue, after a while, I wonder if you'd be able to help explain ways to better adapt said genre into the art of film and games keep up the good work, there's only up from here, my friend!
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
I absolutely am continuing the series, but during the pandemic I started a new job and moved house, so there has been a delay in videos. I'm working to release in batches in future, though. Thank you for your support!
@zaton4872 2 жыл бұрын
criminally underrated channel
@thenumbersmasonwhatdotheym8876 2 жыл бұрын
here you go a subscribe mate! awesome job on the video! been searching abt cosmic horror for a while now and your vid is the best out there! keep up the good work.
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words.
@Etherwa 2 жыл бұрын
Underrated channel
@dmanvell 3 жыл бұрын
Caught you on reddit, just commenting for the algo. All the best.
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!
@diontaedaughtry974 Жыл бұрын
Great commentary 👍👍
@ronnie953 3 жыл бұрын
Great essay!
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, my friend!
@dark_natas_666 3 ай бұрын
Great video.
@spiraltrash2252 2 жыл бұрын
I believe that cosmic horror has a convoluted definition I strongly believe that it is not just the fear of the unknown because if this was the case then all we would have to do is keep the monster hidden from the reader and voila we have a start of cosmic horror simply asking what is it isn't fear inducing no what causes fear is seeing the events of gazing in the eye of madness so my personal definition of cosmic horror is Cosmic horror- an event that which shatters the reality of the protagonist whether a creature and or realization Ps a good movie that caught the feel. Of cosmic horror was the empty man it did well on the fear not of the unknown but the fragility of man
@tixnofal0971 2 жыл бұрын
I am a bit late, but excellent video !
@michaelrexrode3759 2 жыл бұрын
Read Charles Stross's novella "A Colder War". It's a masterful fusion of the Cthulhu Mythos with an alternate 1980s America.
@aliralbadran4642 3 жыл бұрын
You really deserve more more viewers more subscribers more likes
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words.
@ss-oq9pc 3 жыл бұрын
Check out the movie "The Empty Man" for a really good example of lovecraftian/cosmic horror done well.
@DanielJBlackwood 3 жыл бұрын
What a fantastic film. One of my favorites, for sure.
@Nokanmusic Жыл бұрын
Dead space is a cosmic horror masterpiece. The main enemy in the game is an ancient stone obelisk.
@Keilanify 11 ай бұрын
Actually, the TRUE enemy in the game is far more Lovecraftian in nature. However, this doesn't become clear until Dead Space 3, whereas it had only been vaguely hinted at or teased before then.
@jamiesehdev2663 Ай бұрын
My fav horror genre... I collected all the greats lovecraft, Howard, belknap long, ashton smith, bloch, lieber etc.. It's the notion of there being no happy ending and our longing for knowledge and further experiences.. It being our ultimate undoing.. We long to see, to know,... But when we find the truth we recoil in horror in the revelation of there being no salvation for humanity... That's why things like sending signals into space searching for other intelligence... Or cern creating mini black holes. Research into parallel universes.. Scares me to the core... More than demons or monsters etc.. Our own search for knowledge will backfire one day... Sending us into a new "dark age"...
@LarryP248 9 ай бұрын
This is next-level content. A similar book I read was a quantum leap in my thinking. "Stars Aligned" by Olivia Whitestone
@ericgabrielbautistajaimes9187 Жыл бұрын
Adventure time, the chapter of golden stars is a good example of cosmic horror for kids
@comradefreedom8275 2 жыл бұрын
Have you seen the anime Space Runaway Ideon? It uses a lot of these kinds of tropes. I'd go as far as to call it cosmic horror.
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
The only anime I've ever seen is the original Berserk. I was not aware that there was such a thing as cosmic horror anime until now. So that's pretty neat. I may give it a watch. 🙂
@comradefreedom8275 2 жыл бұрын
@@DanielJBlackwood Nice. You could also check out its spiritual successor, Evangelion. Also, you could check out my personal favorite animes, the Universal Century Gundam animes, if you want stories about the harshness of war and political conflict.
@legalpsycho2322 11 ай бұрын
Your videos are very insightful Daniel, however I wish if you had listed the citations for this videos specifically. I say this for the sole reason that I wish to cite your video/s in a research I'm conducting on the Cosmic/Gothic medium. Thank you for the information.
@BroadShouldersFarm Жыл бұрын
What is the movie at the beginning with the car driving in the snow and the skull pattern in the mountain background?
@DanielJBlackwood Жыл бұрын
It's a KZfaq video called "Creatures of Madness" by Moon Prod. 🙂
@BroadShouldersFarm Жыл бұрын
@@DanielJBlackwood thank you!
@TheEldritchGod 3 ай бұрын
Lovecraft! There's my Boi!
@mclare71 2 жыл бұрын
What is the film clip used in the hospital room?
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
If you're referring to the clip at 6:15, that's "The Void". A fantastic film, and I would highly recommend!
@jamesrobertstclair 2 жыл бұрын
Came to the comments for the same question, thanks!
@masudaharris6435 27 күн бұрын
I think I am closer to understanding what cosmic horror is, but I'm not sure whether a particular film belongs to that genre. Would Alien be considered cosmic horror?
@b_e_thecreative Жыл бұрын
If anyone is interested in some great cosmic horror films that flew under the radar I highly recommend: Black Mountainside The Endless In the Mouth of Madness The Empty Man Color Out Of Space
@mattlegge8538 Жыл бұрын
All excellent recommendations! I would also add (unintentionally from best to least best): Dagon The Mist The Void Sphere The Ninth Gate
@matthewsmoviereviews4829 11 ай бұрын
As well the movie “Under water”
@jonsohan1954 2 жыл бұрын
Fun fact: You can take an eclectic approach when writing R'lyehian and have it be from it influencing human language in universe
@mark__glass 9 ай бұрын
Cosmic horror is higher order of abstraction in the mind that begins with a sense of existential insignificance. It is born not from the knowledge there is an unknown, or unknown to be pointed at. Nor is it anxiety with respect to the uncertainty thereof. It is meta-awareness of the chasm between that which is possible to be known and that which we are aware may be beyond comprehension. It is a deeply cognitive response to this gulf, presenting as an uncontrolled descent towards oblivion of coherent self, with increasing awareness that within cannot possibly be reconciled with the scale of without. We are blown apart through meta-consciousness and assign prospective malevolence to the this boundless measurement, coupled with awe of the inexplicably sublime, because we can register no greater threat to our selfhood. That, is existential dread/horror.
@Taco1011 23 күн бұрын
I'm probably wrong, but is it fair to say that maybe it arose from anxiety? Fear of the unknown, of the unknowable, and the uncontrollable? Thinking that *something* is out there, but not knowing entirely what it is? If I am wrong, I'd like someone to explain because I have a feeling that it's probably wrong. I just wanna hear a different perspective
@scooble 6 ай бұрын
I've always liked cosmic horror like it was a weird offshoot of science fiction, but it had significantly more impact after experiencing DMT
@Sigma-lf5fs 2 жыл бұрын
Thinking about seeing “the block island sound” Anyone seen it ?
@karma5321 Жыл бұрын
off topic but annihilation was such a depressing movie it made me want to cry because I didn't want to die
@berner 2 жыл бұрын
Rumour has it that WB is going to be making a Call of Cthulu movie. However... apparently based on the script they're going to paint Lovecraft as a cross dressing incel, most likely because of the alleged "racism" he had. My only hope is that Del Toro settles on the 200M and R rating the studio said they'd give him to make Mountains of Madness. Unfortunately he says he isn't going to do it because they won't let him cast Tom Cruise (I know right? wtf?) as the main character.
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
Well, how strange. There have always been weird ideas for Lovecraft films, but my God if they go the route with the incelcraft it would be a HUGE slap in the face to his legacy.
@ericstephen1036 Жыл бұрын
👏
@connorgahan5197 Жыл бұрын
the SCP foundations end of death cannon is both cosmic horror and weird fiction
@MariusRiley Жыл бұрын
: How about Stephen King's "It"? That was a very successful novel, a classic miniseries, and both were enough to get the two-part feature film production that was also very successful.
@unfinishedsentenc5308 22 күн бұрын
Do you still upload videos?
@xxCrapNamexx Жыл бұрын
Here's my take. The lovecraft mythos and by extension other cosmic horror settings aren't nihilistic atheist settings but pessimistic maltheist settings as actual gods and creator entities exist. Most cosmic horror stories are like if christopher hitchens found out god was real and was as terrible as he said he was but couldn't do anything about it.
@bloodystatic4156 Жыл бұрын
You could technically say that because H.P. Lovecraft was born in Rhode Island, which was Christian, maybe Bibically accurate angels inspired him!
@vdksyrns2 Жыл бұрын
I love cosmic horror
@o.w.sproductions1873 9 ай бұрын
If you want cosmic horror in sound, listen to Humanity’s Last Breath - Ashen
@quaffie Жыл бұрын
cosmic horror = best horror
@duckgoesquack4514 2 жыл бұрын
Be an interesting story for eve be grated the knowledge of the existence of the unknown, when she eats the fruit of knowledge.
@seriousguy2160 2 жыл бұрын
Your last name is cool!
@ThePitchblue Жыл бұрын
as you age, mature and accumulate this life's shitty experiences, you become way less afraid of the unknown than the KNOWN. you start to basically look up to the unknown as almost the only source of inspiration and stimulation. I'd say it's more like AWE than fear. it's a feeling that contains fear, but also transcends it. speaking of which, my favorite all time cosmic "horror" movie is 2001 space odyssey. it's not horror based on fear, it just goes beyond it. and where exactly that is in terms of psyche, I can't even explain.
@matthewredman7814 7 ай бұрын
Yeah I'm convinced Dead Space is a lovecraftian horror.
@Khultan Жыл бұрын
*N.O.P.E 2022.*
@warmonger8799 Жыл бұрын
@Royed Жыл бұрын
I'm such a pot head that my first thought seeing the fog was, "Man...those guys are getting baked AF!!"
@Disthron 2 жыл бұрын
*Why aren't there more cosmic horror films* I think it has more to do with many of the tenants of the genre being largely rejected by modern audiences. The most glairing being 'the fragility of sanity'. Lovecraft's sanity was fragile, mostly because he was a giant racist and it was very easy to demonstrate how wrong his closely held beliefs were. In fact a lot of the issues come back to the creator's racism. Star Trek, for instance, was very much not afraid of the unknown. It's not the 1920's anymore, Godzilla killed Cthulhu.... metaphorically *shrug*
@brambleheart 2 жыл бұрын
I don’t know how much but Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is going to touch upon this genre :D
@mattlegge8538 Жыл бұрын
The whole 'racist' thing is overblown. No books are written by sinless men.
@dannytoots6635 10 ай бұрын
@@brambleheartit did but in a shallow and bland way; it was appalling.
@pbates1693 2 жыл бұрын
marvel venom could very easily have been cosmic horror. i actually watched a short sci film with a premise like that
@kentjensen4504 Жыл бұрын
I love your northern dialect, but I would adjust the pronunciation of the name ‘Poe’, because that sounded just weird.
@thatweirdgamerling9980 3 ай бұрын
Can Aliens be implemented into this genre?
@connorgahan5197 Жыл бұрын
and in strange eons even death will die HP Lovecraft
@tinmen5943 2 жыл бұрын
Fallout series could be one
@DeeMolition Жыл бұрын
To me, the "cosmic" must be there or it is not cosmic horror. With no sense that we are so small and insignificant that it is almost impossible to truly understand, there is no cosmic horror.
@moolate127 2 жыл бұрын
Underwater was such a disappointment, Cthulhu was so forced. You could have replaced him with any generic monster and it would have been exactly the same movie. Very obvious the creators did not know what cosmic horror even was, much less how to handle it properly. It irritates me when people list Underwater as cosmic horror because its not, its a sci-fi thriller at best.
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
I'm glad I gave that one a miss, to be honest. I have see clips of it and it just feels... Off. I've always found Lovecraftian Horror to be most effective when set between 1880-1930.
@moolate127 2 жыл бұрын
@@DanielJBlackwood It might be worth a watch if people are going into it expecting something more along the lines of Leviathan or Deep Star Six, but it will be extremely disappointing if they are expecting a good cosmic horror.
@Markstubation01 2 жыл бұрын
Is Stranger Things a Cosmic Horror?
@DanielJBlackwood 2 жыл бұрын
Stranger Things is more hard Sci-Fi with horror elements. It doesn't really share many themes with Cosmic Horror.
@SAELIOSMUSIC 3 жыл бұрын
algorithm
@IAm.Messmer.Brother.Of.Malenia 2 жыл бұрын
anyone else here because of bloodborne? no? okay.
@sineater4077 8 ай бұрын
Starfield should have cosmic horror
@STFUppercut69 2 жыл бұрын
4:15 What the actual fuck is a "Kululu"? 🦑
@AnalogStick23 2 жыл бұрын
There's multiple ways to pronounce Cthulhu. For example there's Kuth-oo-loo, Ku-loo-loo, Ku-too-loo. The reason there's different ways to pronounce the name is because it's in a language that humans cannot understand or speak, so they're the closest "words" or sounds we can use to pronounce the name.
@kataliyun226 3 ай бұрын
Can you say Cthulhu one more time...
@SamuelSkelton117 2 күн бұрын
Dude don’t blur when talking about horror lmao
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