Horror movies have captivated audiences for over a century. People everywhere flock to theaters to view chilling horror movies like Saw, Insidious, or the Conjuring. There is just something about horror that humans can’t get enough of. So why do we pay to scare ourselves sick? Why do we pay good money to watch others murdered and tortured to death? What do we possibly get from it all? In a culture were peace and non-violence is constantly promoted, there is still a part of the human that desires the opposite. So why is it that people watch horror movies in the first place? Experts believe there are different theories on why, but the three biggest are: the thrill, the Gender Socialization theory, and simply just because people actually want a scare. Watching horror films just simply for the thrill is one of the biggest theories why we watch horrors. Horror watchers get a rush when scenes play that make you jump and shrill. That feeling they get does not exactly come from getting scared, it mostly comes from when it’s all over and the relief of it being over sets in. While many get disgusted and just can’t handle movies of this genre, others get an enjoyment from it. People also get a thrill from putting themselves in the same situation as the movie. They picture themselves in a life or death situation and think what would they do and how would they react. Also since the heart typically beats faster during a horror film, the adrenaline in the body raises and that feeling is enjoyable and addictive to many. Also if the movie is said to be “based on true events” that gives the viewer and even more thrill ride with the thought that “what if” this happens to me, and they come to thinking “what would I do”. Horror movies are a great way... ... middle of paper ... ...scare. Fear is a rare, infrequent experience. The feeling is like a drug. Some try it for the first time and are hooked, while others retch in disgust and leave the scene before it gets to crazy. So for whatever someone may watch a horror film, experiencing horror within safe confines is an important part of every culture. Horror films help us understand what really terrifies us and make bold statements about the world we live in. Because horror films are not real, we can enjoy them. In all reality, the chances of seeing a murderous clown waving at you or a large man with a chainsaw and “leather” face is most likely, slim to none. Horror movies are something we all can enjoy and all watch because simply we all get different feelings and emotions out of them that we never really get in everyday life. Viewers just love to experience the unusual thrill ride of Horror.
The article Why We Crave Horror Movies by Stephen King distinguishes why we truly do crave horror movies. Stephen King goes into depth on the many reasons on why we, as humans, find horror movies intriguing and how we all have some sort of insanity within us. He does this by using different rhetorical techniques and appealing to the audience through ways such as experience, emotion and logic. Apart from that he also relates a numerous amount of aspects on why we crave horror movies to our lives. Throughout this essay I will be evaluating the authors arguments and points on why society finds horror movies so desirable and captivating.
There are two types of people in this world, those who watch in awe as a man on the big screen slashes the teenage girl’s throat, and those who quiver and hide behind their seat in fear. Stephen King states in essay, “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” that no matter the type of person, everyone feels the need to watch horror movies. According to King, the reasons why people watch horror movies can range from simply thinking that the movies are fun, to expressing feelings that people cannot express in real life. While many people may argue that the horror genre is not for everyone, King makes compelling claims that everyone needs a way to let out negative emotions that comes with the human condition. To begin with, most people go to horror movies in order to feel better about themselves.
We crave horror movies because of our curiousity of minds, the anatomy of the body, relief of security, how the brain and emotions work. We like to know how the human anatomy works. We sometimes wonder how the body looks like if something was broken or how gruesome it is. We have the urge to see it because we usually don’t experience it in real life. For example, when we watch “Wrong Turn” or “The Chainsaw Masacre”, these two films show the gruesomeness of humans being followed and tortured (i.e. body ripped open with a chainsaw or being cut open while still conscious). This is why when we watch parts like these we feel the pain and agony the person is in because we put ourselves in that position. Secondly, we
...film may come from emotional manipulation. Many theories are available to explain this. The Gender Socialization theory or “Snuggle Theory” states that horror films act as a coordination of gender roles. Studies show that when a boy watched a movie with a female plant that showed signs of being visibly scared, the boy enjoyed watching the movie a great deal more than when she was apathetic. The opposite was true with girls- when the male was visibly scared. They enjoyed the movie a great deal less than when he was protective and brave (Filmmaker IQ). Another popular theory was first recorded by Aristotle- and while he wasn’t exposed to horror film, he thought that people enjoyed frightening plays and stories because it gave them an outlet to expunge negative emotions. But recent studies have shown that horror films make viewers more angry and hostile (Filmmaker IQ).
People are addicted to the synthetic feeling of being terrified. Modern day horror films are very different from the first horror films which date back to the late nineteenth century, but the goal of shocking the audience is still the same. Over the course of its existence, the horror industry has had to innovate new ways to keep its viewers on the edge of their seats. Horror films are frightening films created solely to ignite anxiety and panic within the viewers. Dread and alarm summon deep fears by captivating the audience with a shocking, terrifying, and unpredictable finale that leaves the viewer stunned.
People enjoy immersing themselves in fictional stories, whether that be through books, plays, or movies. No two movies are exactly the same keeping people watching more and more of them. Even though the movies may be very different, each story in a specific genre includes the same conventions, constituting them as part of that genre. Horror movies are filled with darkness, suspense, and anticipation. These conventions keep the audience on the edge of their seat wondering what is going to happen next.
The appeal of horror films is prompted less by entertainment value than by peculiarities of the human mind. While admirers of these graphic films leave a theater having enjoyed a positive experience, the negative nature of the content presented points to the existence of underlying factors stimulating their enjoyment. Looking at psychological concepts for answers, how an individual processes emotional arousal, identifies with issues that they consider relevant, and perceives reality, help to explain why films presenting such horrific imagery excites many people. Many horror franchises create a level of violence and gore that is objectionable by most, yet viewers continue to swarm theaters, making the horror film industry
Murder. Revenge. Gore. All of these come to mind when we think and hear about horror. What should also come to mind is the Father of Modern Day horror, Stephen King. In his essay, “Why We Crave Horror” he explains that we love the thrill that we get when we watch horror film. He believes that watching the gory action packed film is like riding a roller coaster that’s doing some really great 360 degree spins. In other words, were daring the nightmare. Many believe the horror genre to be diabolic, but King’s overview on the topic are accurate because many scenarios can be realistic with the use of human experiences, just featured in an over exaggerated way.
Horror films are designed to frighten the audience and engage them in their worst fears, while captivating and entertaining at the same time. Horror films often center on the darker side of life, on what is forbidden and strange. These films play with society’s fears, its nightmare’s and vulnerability, the terror of the unknown, the fear of death, the loss of identity, and the fear of sexuality. Horror films are generally set in spooky old mansions, fog-ridden areas, or dark locales with unknown human, supernatural or grotesque creatures lurking about. These creatures can range from vampires, madmen, devils, unfriendly ghosts, monsters, mad scientists, demons, zombies, evil spirits, satanic villains, the possessed, werewolves and freaks to the unseen and even the mere presence of evil.
But while I was growing from a teenager to an adult, my interest increased in horror TV shows. I used to get scared but nowadays I liked bring in fear. Luckily, I don’t have nightmares. Although, there are many reasons of why horror TV shows are the best ones. It’s way irresistible that I can’t stop watching them. I love suspense mystery TV shows. The recent TV show I watched is “The Village: Achaira’s Secret” It’s only 16 episodes. I love it as it is personal too. It’s about a girl who is looking for her older sister and the older sister is looking for her birth parents but it turns out that her birth parents have a hidden dark secret which is like a threat to the village. The word horror comes from the Latin word horrere literally means “to bristle with fear, shudder” Why our brains love horror entertainment? Everyone needs a thrill in their life. There are many reasons of why people love watching horror dissipation. An author named Stephen King said “terror as the finest emotion”. Fishoff, an editor of Journal of Media Psychology said “There are people who have a tremendous need for stimulation and excitement.” And He also said “Horror movies are one of the better ways to get really excited.” Horror entertainment are very popular with young audiences like those who are in early and late 20s. Another interesting reason is the “catharsis”, a Greek philosopher Aristotle believes that people were attracted to
The psychological reasoning behind why people crave horror films is because of our emotions, to be specific it's our anticivilization emotions. We were born with these emotions, we grew up with the emotions, which Stephen King called it the insanity within in us. On page 599 he expressed,"Our emotions and fears form their own body, and we recognize that it demands its own exercise to maintain proper muscle tone". King explained that we all have the feeling of doing something inhumane like serial killers, but do not express them by killing, we express them by listening and watching something horrific. We don't see it as a crime to watch a fake horror film instead of being involved in a murder, which helps us fed into our dark emotions.
Murder, possession, torture, and life threatening events are rare things for someone to experience in their lifetime so they watch these movies to get an idea for what it's like. Horror is the dark side of the imagination that many people do not tend to think about but these movies bring those dark thoughts to life. This hell-like concept is entertaining to people because it is solely based on everything immoral and disgusting . For example, the Saw franchise is gruesome and horrific but they have made millions of dollars because everything in it repulsive. These films make them feel better about themselves because it reminds them that life could easily be worse and a living
No one can deny that horror movies have many negative effects on the psychology and physiology of a person. But if that’s the only case, no one would like watching them. Instead many people crave horror movies, they don’t only...
Horror movies generally are all the same. They all have been based off of something that has already happened or a previous movie. Society has paid to be entertained by these gruesome stories that we all truly fear. Before movies, people would purchase books of similar tramatic events to read in their spare time for amusement. Writters such as Bram Stoker created graphic novels that grabbed peoples attention for years to come. But the horror movie, The House Of The Devil(1896), was noted as being the first ever horror movie. And as the years pasted, the industry grew and became stronger. The artist and creative portion of the movies became more gruesume and realistic. Now many of the horror films that have been creatured are said to be based off an events that were real. The fact of knowing that the events could be real attract millions of people, and keep the industy growing. Numerous people spend countless hours perfecting the art of terror for our amusement. Truly, they are looking at previous story lines and methods that had become successfull before.
Sometimes this can be done with making the scenes real life situations, but also range with using supernatural forces, but intend to show the evil in this world. They incorporate very gory scenes that include torture, rape, and death. Brutal and gruesome scenes which glorify suffering and death that can leave you desensitized and numb. Scenes such as decapitation, torture, and cannibalism are thrown around comfortably. Take for example the character Pennywise the Dancing Clown from the movie IT. Pennywise is an unknown mysterious evil being that attracts children and devours them. Pennywise, Freddy Krueger, and Chucky, notably scary characters are loved for their terrifying and gruesome murders. Horror movies have even been found to be bad for your health, by extreme fear or terror onto your body. Experiences of people feeling ill or fainting during horror movies are not uncommon. These feeling that horror movies leave on you are not viewed as entertaining or fun in any way. These themes associated and that are heavily used in horror movies are not appropriate for children.They deal with dark and scary themes. Think for example you say The Nightmare on Elm