Taking the most basic, crazy, and fantastic childhood fears, then manipulating them into adult fears... that is what truly makes a great horror novel.
I realized that the other night when watching the Christmas episode of Haven (Silent Night). I won't mention what the actual "fear" was because if you get the chance to watch it you really should. But I can say that it is something I always was afraid of, usually buried in my subconscious, as a child. And it is brilliant.
I wish I could remember what I was scared of as a child. Besides clowns and spiders. Because that shit is just so overplayed. The really obscure things would make wonderful stories.
