We’re all familiar with Mother Goose, Disney, and even the Brothers Grimm. Whenever we think of these stories, we think of innocence, perfection, or some other nonsense that still existed in our youth. Popular authors such as Gail Levine Carson and Alex Flinn have utilized fairytales to add childlike perspectives in a sea of grey adulthood. The enchanting themes are things we’re all familiar with; the Fairy Godmother, the castle far, far away, and even the magical balls where you might just meet your true love. 

But what about horror writers? After all, most of us have, or at least know the basic outline of these tales. From Thorne and Cross’s Witches of Ravencrest, to Sandy Benitez’s The Rosegiver, we are familiar with some of the elements used in fairytales. Nevertheless, they’ve made their impact on the horror genre. Heroic knights dressed as black executioners, and long lost princesses, dark, conniving gossipers no one feels sorry for; horror does, after all, specialize in the degradation of everything morally beautiful.

So how can an aspiring horror novelist incorporate these elements into a story? How can they mutilate these fairytales, while still keeping their charms? Below are a few things to keep in mind.

Good vs Evil

One particular reason why fairytales are so popular is that good and evil are always clearly defined. The terrifying dragon, the wicked stepmother, the evil queen; we don’t think of the prince or princess as the masterminds behind a massacre. The kindly old lady who gives us cake and candy isn’t a monster in our eyes, and the beautiful men and women we dream of meeting at a ball somewhere are rarely horrendous. Horror tends to play with these characters a lot, to the point where when you pick up a horror story, you know you can’t trust anyone.

The Poisonous Apple

The poisonous apple, or any other poisonous object, is iconic. The fact that sweet little Snow White took a bite of the apple that sent her to a deathlike sleep is haunting in our minds. Dark, crimson wine, a beautiful, gleaming dagger, both of which carry dangerous toxins; poisons have been associated with the rich and elegant for centuries. The Affair of the Poisons in Paris, alongside the Borgias in Italy, were particularly famous because the aristocracy used poison. In fairytales, killing isn’t done outright; rather, poison is perhaps the main go around for murdering enemies. 

Happily Ever After

The horror genre is infamous for its twisted and tragic endings. From not being able to save a kingdom in time, to simply allowing a love interest to die for your own selfishness; there are times when you have to let go of a happily ever after because it’s appropriate. After all, a fair amount of blood was shed in the old fairytales, and there are still a number of lives lost. Think of it as you adding to the already sorrowful repertoire.

Tainting childhood memories has always been a good strategy in horror. But even if you don’t, their dark undertones still carry through to the reader, so much so that even Disney couldn't get rid of them all. Fairytales are a good way to frame your horror novel, and it’s the reason why the fairytale genre is used today.