I’m a huge horror movie fan. My wife, Nicole, and I went to see 28 Years Later the other day, and to be blunt, we didn’t like it.
Walking out of the theater, I couldn’t stop thinking about why it fell so flat for me when other horror movies are so compelling. And that’s when it hit me: the principles that make a horror film genuinely terrifying and unforgettable are the exact same principles that determine whether an online community will thrive or die.
Strange, yes, but hear me out!
Most online communities fail not because of a bad idea, but because they lack the very things that make a good movie compelling: real stakes, a believable world, and a deep respect for the audience.
If you want to build a community that lasts, you can learn a lot from the art of a great horror film.
Table of Contents
Stakes Are Everything
Think about the last Marvel movie you saw. It was probably fun, but did you ever truly worry that the main character was in danger?
Probably not. They have what we call “plot armor”. It’s an unspoken guarantee that they’ll be fine. It lowers the stakes, and when there are no stakes, there’s no real investment.
Now, think about a game like Escape from Tarkov. If you’re not familiar, it’s a video game all about entering danger to find valuable items, and get out alive. The reason it grips you is because loss is a real possibility.
In community building, the “stakes” aren’t about life or death, but they are about a meaningful outcome. Members need to feel that their participation matters and that they are investing their time into something with a real purpose, whether it’s learning a skill, achieving a goal, or building a genuine connection.
Without that, you just have a collection of people, not a community.
Rules and Respect
One of my favorite horror films is Midsommar. It’s terrifying not because of jump scares, but because it creates a world with a rich, grounded culture and then follows its own rules to their horrifying conclusion. It respects the lore it builds. On the flip side, a movie that sets up interesting rules and then breaks them all for the sake of a cheap thrill falls completely flat. cough 28yearslater cough
Your community is its own world. It needs a clear set of values, rules, and a consistent “lore.” When you respect those rules, you build trust. Your members know what to expect and feel secure in the environment you’ve created. When you break those rules, you break that trust, and the world you’ve built falls apart.
Passion
Another incredible film is The Menu. It’s a dark, satirical horror film about a disgruntled celebrity chef. What makes it brilliant is that the filmmakers brought in Michelin-star chefs to consult on and create the dishes for the movie. That permeating passion and respect for the craft are palpable. You can feel the expertise in every shot.
It’s the same with your community. Your audience can tell when you’re just going through the motions versus when you are truly passionate about the details. That authenticity is what builds a loyal following. It’s not just about running a business; it’s about sharing something you genuinely care about.
Valuable Experiences
At the end of the day, building a successful community isn’t about following a business-school checklist. It’s about creating an experience. It’s about making your members feel invested by creating real stakes, building a trustworthy world with consistent rules, and letting your genuine passion shine through in everything you do.
When you get that right, people don’t just join your community they become a part of a story.
If you’d like help finding your next life changing community, fill out the form on proveworth.com and we’d be happy to help!