Today's Read Team 
Stephen King, the master of horror, is perhaps best known for his gripping novels that explore the darker aspects of the human psyche. From Carrie to It, his books have captivated readers with stories of supernatural terror, psychological torment, and the battle between good and evil. However, King’s latest venture, The Bogeyman, a nonfiction book released in April 2025, offers a fascinating new direction for the bestselling author—one that goes beyond fiction into an exploration of the cultural impact of horror and the monsters that have haunted us throughout history.
While King has written extensively about his experiences as a writer and the horror genre itself, The Bogeyman takes a deep dive into the cultural significance of horror figures and myths across different societies and time periods. In this exploration, King examines the monster as a symbol of society’s greatest fears, revealing how our collective anxieties manifest in folklore, literature, and even the movies.
For King, monsters are not just terrifying creatures—they are mirrors reflecting the fears, struggles, and horrors of the real world. From the vampire to the werewolf, King argues that monsters represent the parts of society we wish to deny, the darkness that lingers just beneath the surface of our everyday lives. The Bogeyman is an academic exploration as much as it is a personal reflection on the role of horror in literature, history, and contemporary culture.
The Genesis of The Bogeyman
The concept for The Bogeyman came to King as he reflected on his own work as a writer. As an author who has spent much of his career crafting stories of supernatural horror, he began to consider why we are so drawn to monsters and the horror genre in general. What is it about monsters that continues to captivate the imagination? And why do we continue to tell these stories, generation after generation?
“I think we’re all haunted by something,” King said in an interview with The New Yorker. “The monster isn’t just a creature in a story—it’s an idea. A reflection of our greatest fears and our darkest impulses. We write about them because they help us face what we fear, what we refuse to acknowledge.”
King’s journey through the creation of The Bogeyman involved extensive research into the cultural history of horror figures, including ancient mythologies, early folklore, and the modern-day pop culture phenomenon of horror films. Drawing from his extensive knowledge of horror literature, King traces the origins of various monsters, from the early legends of vampires and werewolves to the contemporary boogeymen found in popular media. Along the way, he weaves his own personal insights, blending his experiences as a writer with a cultural analysis of how monsters evolve alongside society.
Monsters Across Cultures: A Universal Theme
One of the key themes of The Bogeyman is the universality of monsters. King reveals that, despite the cultural differences across the globe, there are remarkable similarities in the myths and legends that societies tell about monsters. Vampires in Eastern Europe, werewolves in Europe, and the concept of the “boogeyman” in Western cultures all speak to the same primal fears—the fear of death, the fear of the unknown, and the fear of the monster that lurks in the dark.
King notes that while these monsters are often depicted differently across cultures, they all serve a similar function: they are a reflection of the dark side of humanity. Vampires, for example, are often depicted as symbols of greed, lust, and immortality. Werewolves, on the other hand, represent the primal side of human nature, the part of us that can be overtaken by rage and violence.
In The Bogeyman, King explores how these themes have evolved over time. Early folklore about vampires, for instance, was not just about the terror of an immortal creature, but also about disease, death, and contagion. In the 21st century, the vampire has transformed into a more romanticized figure, as seen in the Twilight series or HBO’s True Blood. King argues that this evolution speaks to how society’s views on mortality, sexuality, and power have shifted over time.
But even as monsters have changed, they still embody universal fears. King suggests that horror stories remain popular because they allow us to confront these anxieties in a controlled environment, offering a sense of catharsis and resolution. “We all need to be scared sometimes,” he says. “Because in those moments, we’re reminded of what’s real—and we survive them.”
The Cultural Legacy of Horror Figures
King’s exploration in The Bogeyman also delves into the cultural legacy of specific monsters, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and the aforementioned boogeyman. He highlights how these figures have persisted over time, finding new life in films, books, and television shows. “The boogeyman has taken on many forms,” King writes, “but he’s always with us. He’s in every generation, every era, because he represents something fundamental about us. Something we can’t escape.”
King argues that the endurance of these figures—whether it’s the Nosferatu of the 1920s or the Conjuring films of the 2010s—is a testament to how deeply ingrained they are in our collective psyche. For example, Dracula, the quintessential vampire, has been adapted in numerous ways, from the gothic horror of Bram Stoker’s novel to the suave, seductive portrayal in films like Interview with the Vampire or The Lost Boys. The evolution of Dracula from a terrifying, blood-sucking monster to a tragic, misunderstood antihero reflects how our fears and values have shifted over time.
In The Bogeyman, King reflects on his own contributions to the horror genre. He acknowledges that his famous creations, such as Pennywise from It and The Shining’s Jack Torrance, are part of this long tradition. “I’ve added my own monsters to the pantheon,” King says. “But they’re just another iteration of the same fears we’ve been dealing with for centuries.”
The Psychology of Horror: Why We’re Drawn to the Dark
Another important aspect of The Bogeyman is King’s examination of the psychological appeal of horror. Drawing from his years of experience writing novels that unsettle readers, he explores why humans are attracted to terror, and why horror stories continue to be a source of fascination even as society progresses. King argues that horror serves as both a release and a reflection, helping us to confront and process emotions such as fear, grief, and loss.
“There’s a certain freedom in confronting fear head-on,” King notes. “It’s like riding a rollercoaster. It’s terrifying, but you know you’re safe. That’s the thrill. Horror allows us to experience real fear in a safe way, and in doing so, we can reflect on what those fears mean.”
King suggests that the universal appeal of horror lies in its ability to bring people together, to connect us across cultures and time periods. The monster, whether it’s a creature from folklore or a modern invention, is something we can all recognize and understand.
The Boogeyman in Modern Media
As King concludes in The Bogeyman, while horror is an ancient art, its manifestations are always evolving. The modern “boogeyman” has taken on new forms in popular culture, from the creepy clown in It to the internet’s love of urban legends and viral horror phenomena like Slender Man. These new iterations of the boogeyman reflect our current societal anxieties—anxiety over technology, the unknown, and the ways in which modern media shape our perceptions of fear.
“Just as our society changes, so do our monsters,” King writes. “The boogeyman isn’t just some old figure in a dark corner anymore. He’s evolved. And so have we.”
Conclusion: Monsters and Society’s Fears
The Bogeyman offers readers a deep dive into the intersection of horror, mythology, and culture. King’s reflections on monsters as symbols of societal fears provide a fresh and thought-provoking take on the genre. In exploring the cultural legacy of figures like Dracula and Frankenstein, as well as examining modern horror icons, King shows how monsters continue to evolve, yet always reflect the timeless human experience.
As we face new challenges and fears in the 21st century, the boogeyman remains an essential figure in our collective imagination, helping us to confront the unknown and find meaning in the darkness. In The Bogeyman, King reminds us that the most terrifying monsters are often those that live within us.