We always fear what we don’t understand, as the likes of H.P. A “monster” is simply that which we find exotic, frightening and difficult to categorize-it’s an aberration in the natural order, and with that realization the fear comes naturally. The connotation of “monster” is a negative one, after all, but it’s also a term that reveals the inherent prejudice of those who use it. A giant, irradiated bug stomping all over a modern metropolis, perhaps, or an inhuman beast stalking a group of campers foolish enough to blunder into its territory. When you hear the term “monster movies,” you might think you know what to expect.
