"I have done some short pieces that are not horror"
About this Quote
The subtext is about typecasting, but also about the strange hierarchy of formats. Shorts are often treated as calling cards rather than “real” work, yet they’re where directors can experiment most freely. By pointing to shorts, King signals craft and curiosity - the ability to build tone, character, and rhythm without leaning on the familiar machinery of fear. He’s implying: my instincts aren’t limited to jump scares; I can calibrate a scene for something else entirely.
Context matters because horror, as a brand, can be both a rocket and a cage. It gets you noticed, proves you can direct atmosphere on a budget, and builds a loyal audience. It also invites the industry’s laziest compliment: “He’s a horror guy.” King’s sentence is a small act of self-positioning, a bid to be read as a director first and a genre specialist second.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
King, Richard. (2026, January 17). I have done some short pieces that are not horror. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-have-done-some-short-pieces-that-are-not-horror-62774/
Chicago Style
King, Richard. "I have done some short pieces that are not horror." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-have-done-some-short-pieces-that-are-not-horror-62774/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I have done some short pieces that are not horror." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-have-done-some-short-pieces-that-are-not-horror-62774/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

