Meet Mr. Black

For many, Halloween is a night for kids’ costumes, trick-or-treating and a few good-natured scares. But for Brennan Black, BA’18, a University of Calgary alum and horror enthusiast, Halloween is a lens to examine fear, culture and the human psyche.  

Black’s fascination with horror wasn’t born from childhood ghost stories or a love for dressing up, but instead it was developed through an academic deep dive into the genre during his time at UCalgary. From ghostly apparitions on campus to eerie Calgary lore, Black’s work blends local history with the supernatural, offering a playful, yet insightful look at the darker corners of human imagination. 

Discovering Horror at UCalgary 

When Black enrolled at UCalgary in the Fall of 2014, his plan wasn’t to become a horror writer. He began his academic journey with aspirations of teaching, pursuing degrees in political science and history.  

"I was set on becoming a teacher," Black says. "But, halfway through, I realized that wasn’t where I wanted to go."  

After reconsidering his path, he turned toward journalism after graduating, eventually completing his studies at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). His journalism career led him back to UCalgary, where he now writes stories for the university, focusing on the spooky and supernatural whenever possible. 

"I wasn’t really a Halloween kid," Black admits. "But, it was during my time at UCalgary, through courses in the English department, that I really got into horror."  

It was a surprising turn for someone who, in high school, had sworn off English literature altogether.  

“I told my Grade 12 English teacher I was never taking another English course again,” Black laughs. “And then I found myself enrolled in these niche English courses at UCalgary, studying horror and haunted houses. That’s when I realized there was so much more to the genre.” 

Courses like ENGL 388 (Supernatural Horror in Literature), taught by Dr. Anthony Camara, PhD, and ENGL 387 (Literature and Society – The Haunted House), taught by  2022 Giller Prize-winner and Royal Society of Canada Fellow, Dr. Suzette Mayr, BA’90, PhD, opened up a new world of supernatural fiction for Black. He delved into everything from Gothic literature to modern horror films, watching classics like The Thing (1980) and reading genre-defining works like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Beetle by Richard Marsh.  

“That’s when I started leaning toward horror in my reading and watching,” Black explains. “I discovered the genre wasn’t just about surface-level scares — it had depth.”  

Writing the Horror of UCalgary 

Now working as a media relations advisor for UCalgary, Black has become known for his annual Halloween stories that explore the spooky and supernatural side of the university. One of his most popular tales is the story of Mrs. Fish, a ghost said to haunt a long-forgotten faculty lounge in Earth Sciences. Unlike the malevolent spirits of many ghost stories, Mrs. Fish is remembered fondly; a former dean and advocate for women students — the late Aileen Alexander Hackett Fish, Hon. LLD’76 — who reportedly continues to enjoy a drink in the afterlife.  

"She’d have a beer in the faculty lounge after work every day, and, even after she passed in 1977, people reported seeing her ghost there," Black recalls. “I loved writing that story because it’s not your typical ghost tale. Mrs. Fish isn’t a vengeful spirit — she’s just someone who liked her beer and still comes around to enjoy one.” 

For Black, this story stood out not just because of its subject matter, but because of the personal connection he was able to draw between the university's history and its paranormal side.  

“We tracked down the woman who first saw Mrs. Fish’s ghost,” Black explains. “She’s an architect in Vancouver now, but she still remembers every detail of that night. That’s the kind of story I love to tell — something spooky but also rooted in the university’s history and culture.” 

Another intriguing piece Black uncovered is the story of the Gideon Keys — a mysterious notebook discovered in Mac Hall in 2009. The journal supposedly contained instructions for unlocking otherworldly realms hidden around Calgary.  

"It’s one of those stories that makes you wonder if it’s real or just really clever creative writing," Black muses. “I think that’s what makes horror so compelling — it’s the blend of reality and fiction that keeps you questioning what’s possible.” 

A unique ability to bridge the gap between academia and horror is what makes Black’s writing stand out. He sees horror not as a fringe interest, but as something deeply connected to the human experience.  

"UCalgary might be a young university, but it’s rich with stories, myths and even urban legends," he says. "We have spinning statues that supposedly bring good luck and old tales of pranks like hanging a VW Beetle from the arch. It's all part of the campus culture, and there’s something spooky and thrilling about uncovering these little pieces of history." 

“I always say life is more fun if the supernatural stuff exists,” Black says, with a grin. “Whether it’s Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster or ghosts, there’s something exciting about the unexplained. Even though we’re an institution of science and reason, I think it’s important to leave room for a little mystery in our lives.” 

The Deeper Meaning of Horror 

While Black enjoys the thrill of ghost stories and urban legends, he believes that horror serves a deeper purpose beyond simple entertainment.  

“Horror is a cracked mirror of society,” he says. “It reflects our worst fears and anxieties — sometimes in ways we don’t expect. It makes us ask, ‘What would I do in this situation?’ and often shows us the darker side of human nature.”  

For Black, horror is about holding up that mirror to society and prompting self-reflection. Black believes horror taps into universal fears that resonate across cultures.   

“Everyone has something they’re afraid of,” he explains. “It could be sharks, clowns or being alone at night. Horror takes those individual fears and amplifies them. And, while some fears are unique, others — like the fear of the unknown — are universal.” 

Black also notes that different cultures approach horror in unique ways. "North American horror is so different from Japanese horror, for example,” he says. “The Ring is scary everywhere, but, in Japan, it taps into cultural fears that might not resonate the same way here.  

"It's fascinating how fear is shaped by our experiences and surroundings." 

The Thrill of the Unknown 

Despite his experiences with the world of horror, Black is surprisingly optimistic about the supernatural.  

“I always say life is more fun if the supernatural stuff exists,” he says, with a grin. “Whether it’s Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster or ghosts, there’s something exciting about the unexplained. Even though we’re an institution of science and reason, I think it’s important to leave room for a little mystery in our lives.” 

Whether he’s writing about ghosts on campus, mysterious notebooks or haunted houses, Black’s stories remind us that sometimes the scariest things are the ones we can’t quite explain.  

And maybe that’s exactly how it should be. 

Brennan’s Horror Recommendations 

When you have an expert on horror in the house, we would be remiss if we didn’t gather some recommendations from him on scary books and movies! 

For the younger goblins and ghouls… 

Book: You Can’t Scare Me! By R.L. Stine (1994)  

You Can’t Scare Me! by R.L. Stine is a classic Goosebumps tale filled with thrilling scares and unexpected twists. This creepy adventure follows a group of kids who try to get revenge on a classmate by scaring her — but things take a terrifying turn when their plan backfires in ways they never imagined. 

“The Goosebumps are a great gateway to the horror genre for younger readers,” says Black. “I remember being at a school book fair and seeing the cover with the Mud Monsters on it and being freaked out, but also wanting to know what it was all about.” 

Movie: Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001)  

Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase is a thrilling animated movie that takes the Mystery Inc. gang into a virtual world filled with all kinds of spooky villains and cyber creatures. With their iconic bravery and wit, Scooby, Shaggy and the gang must find a way to defeat the Phantom Virus and escape the video game. 

“The Scooby-Doo movies were a go-to in my childhood,” says Black. “I specifically remember this one because I had nightmares of the digital ghost and his creepy laugh and voice.”   

For more mature audiences… 

Movies:  

The Thing (1982)   

The Thing is a chilling sci-fi horror classic directed by John Carpenter (a remake of a 1950s B-movie classic), where an isolated research team in Antarctica encounters a shape-shifting alien that can imitate any living organism. Paranoia and tension build as the team struggles to figure out who among them is still human, leading to a terrifying battle for survival in one of the most atmospheric and suspenseful horror films ever made. 

“This one is an all-time favourite,” says Black. “It’s such a good slow-burn and the creature effects are top-notch. The scenes in that movie are still some of the grossest I’ve seen.”   

The Cabin in the Woods (2012) 

The Cabin in the Woods is a genre-bending horror film directed by Drew Goddard. It starts with a group of friends heading to a remote cabin for a weekend getaway, but things quickly take a dark turn. As they face off against terrifying creatures, they soon realize they're part of a much bigger and sinister plan. This film cleverly subverts typical horror tropes, blending horror with dark humour and unexpected twists.  

“Another favourite of mine,” says Black. “It’s meta take on the horror genre as a whole, and a genuinely funny movie, as well — the last 20 minutes are an absolute wild ride.” 

Books:  

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818) 

A classic, Frankenstein is a groundbreaking 1818 novel by Mary Shelley. It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a sentient creature through unorthodox scientific experiments. The novel explores themes of ambition, the dangers of playing God, isolation and the consequences of pushing the boundaries of science and morality. (The famous 1931 movie starring Boris Karloff used little of the original story.) 

“Frankenstein was a game-changer for me, because that was a book I covered a couple of times in different classes, and each time there was something new that I gleamed from it,” says Black. “It still has themes that resonate to this day, well over 200 years after its initial publication.” 

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman (2012)  

Between Two Fires is a 2012 dark historical fantasy novel by Christopher Buehlman. It follows a disgraced knight, a mysterious young girl and a priest as they travel across a landscape ravaged by disease and war. They soon realize that the plague is part of a larger, supernatural battle between heaven and hell, and they must confront terrifying demonic forces in their quest for redemption. 

“One of my favourite reads, it’s set in 1300s France during the Black Death,” says Black, “It’s got some of craziest scenes written, and visualizing what’s on the page is instant nightmare fuel, but it’s also a fascinating tale of redemption and it’s written anachronistically, so there’s some laugh-out-loud dialogue included.” 

Daphne by Josh Malerman (2022) 

Daphne by Josh Malerman is a tense horror novel that explores the terrifying power of stories and urban legends. It revolves around the haunting figure of Daphne, a myth who may or may not be real, and the deep-rooted fear that she can instil in those who hear her tale.  

“This one came out recently, but it’s the scariest book I’ve read in years,” says Black. “The way the ghost haunts the characters is terrifying, but it’s also a great coming-of-age novel about dealing with anxieties.”