I think you use the negative things that happen from the year before - and from other years, too - to spur you to do the things you need to do to take the next step. ↗
I grew up on the old EC comic books before the Comics Code in North American and with all sort of good-natured fun. I never had nightmares I think because all of the old horror stuff that I was exposed to was well meaning in a certain sense. ↗
I really believe that you could do horror very inexpensively. I don't think it has anything to do with the effects, the effects are not the most important parts. ↗