Over the past year or so I’ve noticed an increase in critique towards the term “cozy.” Specifically, when it is applied to genres. I’ve seen long term fantasy fans eye fantasy that is light and soft and more about hope than perilous adventure. (I remember a specific rant on the genre referred to it as “squeecore,” which was a very funny thing to refer to it as). In general, “cozy” means what you expect it to mean. In romance, mystery, fantasy, or a variety of other genres, these tend to be feel-good books to cozy up with on a rainy day by a fire. A source to be used as a means of escape. And so, when “cozy” started being attached to horror, it’s no surprise it raised a few eyebrows and immediate critiques.
I’ve seen many scattered posts regarding cozy horror with similar mindsets, which is, that no one likes to be made uncomfortable by fiction these days. These comments come with the outcry that horror is supposed to dark and uncomfortable and gross. To make it cozy is to destroy the very basis of what the genre sets out to do. For horror, since the beginning, has shone a light on humanity at it’s worst (or at least use monsters as stand-ins for it).
Now, there’s a discussion to be had about people shying away from that which is uncomfortable, however, that isn’t what I wish to discuss today. No, today we’re going to go ahead and dissect what cozy horror actually is and if it’s truly the watered down version of the genre people have been claiming it is.
To debunk this quickly, it is not watered down in the slightest. All you need to do are look at some of things classified under this new term. Midsommer is hardly a movie that people would say shies away from dark subject matter, but it is cozy. Why? Because most of the movie takes place in broad daylight, in a community that takes care of it’s own, and brings the main character away from her old suffering into their own world. Yet, none of these are good things. And as I went through various examples from various articles on the internet, I realized what cozy horror actual does, and that is this:
Cozy horror takes what is traditionally seen as safe and familiar and asks the viewer “But what if it wasn’t?”
Let’s look at another example, the indie game Little Nightmares. While Little Nightmares has all the elements of a traditional horror game, I’ve seen it brought up on different lists while looking into this topic. One of the reasons quoted is solely because of the style of the main character being “cute,” and what style is associated with coziness more than cuteness? While I personally wouldn’t categorize the game as such myself, I do understand why others would. Playing as a young girl who, at first, you assume is a child escaping a terrible place and in need of protecting, suddenly grabbing a living creature and devouring it creates quite the dissonance. Cute things aren’t supposed to do bad things, especially when the thing as cute is the main character.
With that being said, there is a range with cozy horror. Everyone knows Over the Garden Wall, and it’s probably the example people point to when they talk about this new niche genre. It’s familiar and comfortable and cute, but with disturbing implications throughout. Another indie Night in the Woods also has the same feeling. “Here is something familiar, and there is something wrong with it.” It might not be enough to scare, but it can be enough to unsettle. And isn’t being unsettled enough?
Another assumption I see, which I see with all new things being popularized, is that cozy horror is new. While the term itself might be, the idea of it isn’t. If you want a classic novel that fits the idea of it, look no further than “Something Wicked this Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury. The hazy sense of childhood wonder gone wrong is the core of this story, and it’s easy to fall into with the nostalgia of childhood passed. The Shining is another classic I’ve seen people retroactively try to apply the label to, much for the same reasons people have applied it to Midsommer.
So what is cozy horror then, exactly? As it stands, it’s a new term and, arguably, a new niche. There’s going to be a lot of diversity and mileage depending on who you ask. Eventually, as more people talk about it, the more it will form a solid identity. For some, they’ll point to Nightmare Magazine’s article: “The H Word: Getting Cozy with Horror” and reiterate it’s how familiar the story feels, how fun it is to read/watch/play, distance from the horror occurring, and moments of peace in horrible situations. For others, it’ll be taking what should be safe (community, love, daylight, home, softness,cuteness,etc) and showing just how terrible those things can become.
Where the term will end up falling? Only time will tell.