Heartthrobs and Homicide: What’s the Appeal of Serial Killers in Romance
The month of August celebrates Romance Awareness Month and while love comes in many forms, here at Novel Suspects we’re interested in the macabre. Meaning to celebrate, we’re looking at killer love-stories and breaking-down why audiences love them.
The rise of serial killer romances in print can in-part be contributed to the popularity of shows like ‘You,’ ‘Hannibal,’ and ‘Dexter’ whose protagonist are sociopathic killers. In all three series, the viewer is being directly spoke to and the killer is explaining his thoughts and actions. While gory to some, breaking this barrier allows the viewers to feel more at ease. We can understand and even sympathize as we feel a closeness to the characters.
Take Netflix’s widely popular show, ‘You.’ (Soilers ahead). For five seasons the writers present us with a master manipulator and emotionless killer, we are shown directly by the reactions of others and the actions that he performs that he is a bad person. Despite this, audiences left the show’s fifth season feeling shocked and appalled by Joe’s character. For him to be a successful killer throughout the show he had to be charming and likeable, and that translated to audiences at home.
When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive–the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves?
Among the more popular of this trope in literature was Brynne Weaver’s viral book ‘Butcher and Blackbird,’ a friends-to-lovers dark romantic comedy about to two serial killers. A story of love, loss, and following your dreams; but also meticulous, gory murders. What ‘Butcher and Blackbird’ has in common with USA’s ‘Dexter,’ and many killer-focused narratives, is the protagonist is a vigilante of sorts. They’re killing for the greater good and therefore we as the reader or viewer won’t feel guilty about rooting for a mass murderer.
In ‘Hannibal’ the poor Will Graham must grapple with anxiety and night-terrors, making audiences more sympathetic to his struggles between crime fighting and criminal romps with the alluring Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Somehow this distracts us from his many moments of violence and manipulation. Creators in this genre are clever because, like the killers they have created, they understand how to feed on the sympathy of readers.
Now for the romance. One may wonder how killers have time in their busy schedule of hunting down victims and disposing of bodies, yet somehow our sadistic protagonists maintain time for matters of the heart. The addition of romance adds to humanization of our sociopathic protagonist. This is the same technique used in the likes of ‘Twilight’ or ‘Teen Wolf.’ The intense, animalistic behavior of the romantic interest juxtaposes his caring and thoughtful nature towards the book or films’ lead. It makes the whole love story much more dramatic and therefore high stakes, which inherently increases our desire as readers or viewers to see it through.
Now the idea of a killer falling madly in love with you might be horrifying in the real world, in a fictional universe we are unbound by the traditional fears. The real appeal of the blending of these two genres—romance and horror—is watching romance prevail in the face of fear. Characters navigate the highs and low of romance while simultaneously experiencing the highs and lows of fear and anxiety. For the readers, watching the love of two characters ultimately prevail can be just as satisfying as the thrill of the plot.
While marrying these two genres walks a thin rope in terms of audience appeal, when it is done right it satisfies a particular niche. The ’dark and mysterious’ made lead as always garners audience attraction. Adding the horror component just turns the dial further and pushes readers to the edge of our seats.
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