MASTERS OF HORROR: JOSEPH SACKETT
1. What first drew you to horror—and was it something you experienced, feared, or imagined?
What first drew me to horror was the raw atmosphere of those old Exorcist and Freddy Krueger movies. There was something about the grit—the grainy film, the practical effects, the sense that anything could happen and no one was safe. It wasn’t just about jump scares. It was the tension, the unease that lingered even after the credits rolled.
2. How do you tap into real fear when writing—do you draw from your own nightmares, or do you create new ones?
I tap into real fear by pulling from the stuff that lingers. The things I’ve seen, felt, or couldn’t explain. I don’t have to invent nightmares. They’re already there. Some came from my time in the military. Others from places I’ve been or people I’ve met who carried real darkness in their eyes. You don’t forget that.
3. Have you ever written something that disturbed even you—a moment where the story took a darker turn than expected?
Yeah. A few times.
There’ve been scenes where I had to step away for a while, ones that felt too real, like I wasn’t just writing it, I was reliving something. It’s one thing to put a character through hell, but when the pain or fear starts shouting something personal, something buried, it hits different.
4. If your stories had the power to summon something into the real world... what do you think you've already unleashed?
If my stories had the power to summon something real... I think I’ve already unleashed the quiet things people try to bury. Regret. Shame. Violence. The part of a person that grins while doing something they know is wrong and just keeps going.
It’s not a creature with claws or fangs. It’s that creeping thought that maybe the monster isn’t outside the door, it’s already inside. Wearing your face. Making your choices. Smiling back at you in the mirror.
5. How do you keep horror feeling fresh and terrifying when so many tropes are well-trodden?
You keep horror fresh by telling the truth, just wrapped in new skin.
Tropes aren’t the problem. People still fear the dark, death, being hunted, being alone. That never changes. What does change is why it’s scary. So I don’t try to reinvent the wheel. I dig deeper. I ask: what haven’t we said out loud yet? What part of ourselves are we still afraid to face?
It’s not about avoiding tropes, it’s about twisting them until they bleed something new. The haunted house? Make it personal. Make it about guilt that won’t die. The vampire? Strip away the cape and charm, make it feral, starving, new look even.
BONUS: Tell me about your latest project and where we can find it.
My latest horror project is currently in editing phase. Contracts for the Reaper but will be available on Amazon soon!
As always, a big thank you to Joseph for indulging me and taking time out of his busy writing schedule to do this interview with me. I truly appreciate it!
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