Watson's A-Z of Horror: C is for Cursed Objects

What makes ordinary items seem so horrific?

The average home is made up of furniture and decorative pieces that create a comfortable living space. Each item is ordinary and an expected part of any homestead, but what happens when the ordinary becomes something other? What if a specific object comes with a curse that turns normal life into a nightmare? This is the space where cursed objects live, so let’s dig deeper into why they are such an effective horror tool.

The Object Acts as a Virus of Sorts

I’m sure many of you will look at cursed objects in a different way, but I see them as a virus or a cancer. This is almost certainly down to my own life experiences, but in books and movies, the introduction of a cursed object spreads fear and makes others behave in a way that is not right. The object is, for me, germ that is breathed in by the susceptible, leading to an infection and transformation that often leads to horror.

Cursed Objects are Difficult to Kill

In boogeyman movies, such as Halloween and Friday the 13th, the villain of the piece often ends up becoming this supernatural force of nature that is impossible to kill. Cursed objects play a similar role. Think of the books you’ve read or the movies you’ve seen have been destroyed, only to show up in the same spot on the table or mantel here they had been sitting before. Again, for me, this translates to a cancer that returns after being in remission.

My Personal Experience with Cursed Objects

The reality is that I do not have one, other than what is in my head. When my mum was alive, she collected cute dolls that became a frequent Christmas present. When she passed, the dolls were shared with members of the family. I have one of them, which is currently sitting to my left with the sweetest smile on her face. She is not cursed and no tragedy has befallen my home. Dolls, though, are one of the things that have gained cursed object notoriety, thanks in large part to Robert the Doll and Annabelle. It’s hard to look at my doll, think of what happened to my mum, and not feel a certain way about her.

Cursed Object Book and Movie Picks

In terms of movies, the first thing that instantly springs to mind when thinking of cursed objects is Hellraiser. Do you really want to have that damn box in your house. Sure, you could leave it be, but the desire to solve the puzzle will almost certainly become too much. For my book pick, I am going with How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. The house in question feels cursed, but it is the puppet, Pupkin, that is the cursed star of this show. I’d love to hear what books and movies you guys love within this category.

Please come on back again next week for the next in the A-Z of Horror series, which will be D is for Doppelgangers.