People enjoy watching scary movies for various reasons, including experiencing fear in a controlled environment, enjoying the thrill of the unknown, and feeling relief when the movie is over. Some theories suggest that scary movies represent the decay of society, while others see them as cautionary tales about staying within social norms. Regardless of the reason, the popularity of scary movies is likely to continue.
There are several theories as to why people like to watch scary movies. Sure, some people just don’t care, and the biggest audiences for scary movies tend to be older teenagers and people in their 20s and 20s. There are more mature audience members who enjoy thrills and spills, however, and this has led many researchers to question why. Some researchers believe that movies represent the decay of society, show the value of staying within social norms, or allow people to experience fear in a controlled environment.
There are some people who see scary movies, especially gory movies, as a product of decaying society and the growing interest in or need to cater to violence. This theory is under intense scrutiny and ultimately doesn’t carry much weight. Even the most ancient societies had their “monsters” or stories of gods, men and beasts who committed unspeakable horrors. While Hannibal Lector may be a nightmare, so is the House of Atreus in Greek mythology, which references some horrific cases of cannibalism. Even the Bible has its giants, the destruction of entire cities and, especially in the Old Testament, an angry God who can trample people until their feet are wet with their blood. Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung called these early stories cautionary tales with wrathful vengeance for those who ventured outside the normal confines of society.
There is something about the cautionary tale theory in relation to movies. Many seem to represent the chaos that occurs when people venture outside what are considered social norms. They have also been used in the past, especially slasher films, to promote themes of how innocence can prevail. A huge criticism of John Carpenter’s film Halloween was that the only surviving character was virginal and sexually inexperienced. Wes Craven later plays with this in Scream when teenagers recite the formula for what will get you killed in a horror movie. One of the intrinsic values of the slasher film is “Don’t have sex”.
Yet scary movies aren’t simply cautionary tales. Others suggest they are how humans experience fear in a controlled environment. Such an experience can be pleasurable, as the fear can be controlled and is limited to an imaginary form of escapism that lasts a couple of hours. Some see the fun of these films as a roller coaster ride. The thrill of the unknown gets your heart rate up and your adrenaline pumping, and because “scares” pose no real threat, they can be worked through, laughed at, and enjoyed. Real fear, which humans face every day, is much more terrifying since it can’t necessarily be controlled, but the catharsis of watching a horror movie can be one way people deal with real and not imagined fear.
Some studies suggest that the real attraction of scary movies is the feeling of relief when they’re over. Other research, most notably a 2007 study by Eduardo Andrade and Joel B. Cohen, argues that the reason people like watching horror movies is that they’re a way to experience both positive and negative emotions simultaneously. At the same time, negative, and sometimes absolutely horrific images are played on the screen, the person watching the film also experiences positive emotions. This dual emotional state may reinforce the need to continue watching horror movies as it is a case where it is acceptable to feel in two opposing states. Such an explanation might also explain why some people can enjoy very sad movies.
Whatever the reason, watching scary movies is likely to remain a constant cultural phenomenon. It has its roots in ancient cultures where oral tales of significant horror could certainly prove terrifying. Since films are a dominant cultural product, it is likely that this medium’s ability to perhaps satisfy some people’s basic need to be scared will continue.
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