Zombie's horror movie aesthetics are inspired not only by heavy metal music and classic Universal horror movies like Dracula, but also by carnival workers, clowns, hillbillies, and comic books. Zombie once summed up his diverse influences in a 2005 article for Men's Health: "Growing up… I wanted to be Alice Cooper, Steven Spielberg, and Stan Lee." He also credited growing up poor, sticking to his artistic vision, and his family's work in carnivals as major influences on his work as a horror director. However, these influences taken alone aren't what make him the most unique horror director of the 21st century. Instead, it's the way he puts them all together. The twisted carnival workers, evil clowns, Satanic cults, and hillbilly serial killers found in his horror movies are a combination all his own.