And, really, the appeal of the sub-genre isn’t that strange when you think about it. There’s nothing that makes you appreciate the control of your body more than watching a fictional character struggle, and sometimes fail, to regain theirs. I think the sub-genre is definitely wider-encompassing, too. It’s not just demons and exorcisms, though plots like that do still feature heavily. But, think of the body takeover in The Fly, the parasites of Puppet Masters, the thing in The Thing. Venom is a sort of possession, though the buddy-cop schtick works for them eventually. Possession can look like a lot of different things, just as long as control of the body is compromised, often first by something else getting in. And the sub-genre in novels reflects much the same variety. You can get your possessions and your body sharings in many different flavors. Here are eight to get you started! In the mood for more horror? Check out these free horror short stories you can read online or these psychological horror novels! CW: homophobia
