Overview:
Halloween is not that far off. That means horror movies will soon be shown regularly. These types of films are very popular, which begs the question, “Why do people like horror movies?”
It’s only August, and Halloween decorations are already being put on display in some stores. That means, before you know it, the summer season will shortly fade into fall. The beginning of the fall is closely associated with the consistent showing of horror movies. People get ready to celebrate All Hallows Eve by watching them.
Why do we like horror films? Many people have asked this question, including those who like scary movies. Determining the reason behind people’s attraction to this form of entertainment is a challenging task. Despite the lack of a specific answer, it’s worthwhile to examine several theories explaining our fascination with horror.
Fascination with Monsters
One theory as to why people like horror could be attributed to people’s fascination with monsters. As young children, we develop some of our first fears regarding fictional creatures that we learn about. We are introduced to characters such as Frankenstein and Count Dracula. Even though adults disclose to us that these monsters are not real, we are still intrigued.
The fear of monsters usually subsides as we reach adolescence. However, the fascination with them does not. In high school, many students are required to read Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” It’s here that we learn that the being of Frankenstein extends beyond just a cartoonish monster. It’s a part of literature. The same can be said for Count Dracula with Bram Stoker’s novel.
After learning in high school literature courses how deep the so-called monsters actually are, many people arguably want to learn even more about them. It’s as if the fascination with monsters that begins as a child never truly goes away. There have been many movie adaptations about Frankenstein, Dracula, vampires, werewolves, mummies, ghouls, Godzilla, King Kong, and everything you can think of. Remember, adults, not children, are the intended audience for most of these films.
Confronting Childhood Fears
Horror movies don’t just play upon mankind’s fascination with mythical creatures. They also capitalize on basic childhood fears that, whether we want to accept it or not, never truly dissipate. When people are children, they sometimes develop fears of things that may seem trivial to adults. These include fearing such things as the dark, something hiding in the closet, or a boogeyman hiding underneath the bed. They eventually realize that fearing what lurks in their closets or under their beds is unwarranted. However, like with mythical monsters, the curiosity of what ‘might be’ still resides in the back of their heads. This curiosity remains even when they’re well into adulthood.
“Friday the 13th” from 1980 capitalizes on the childhood fear of what might be lurking under your bed. In this movie, there is a scene where Kevin Bacon’s character, Jack, is relaxing on a bed. Suddenly, trickles of blood begin to drop from above. This draws the viewing audience’s focus upwards as an unexpected hand emerges from beneath the bed. It encircles Jack’s head and pierces him with an arrow from below.
In “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare” from 1994, Freddy Krueger exploits the childhood fear of what lurks in the dark when he suddenly emerges from a closet. The Child’s Play and Annabelle films play upon the childhood fear about their pet dolls possibly coming to life. You could argue that the filmmakers of these movies know these fears persist in people’s minds. This happens no matter how old they are.
Life Lessons
I believe that one overlooked benefit of watching horror films is their ability to portray valuable life lessons. To many, watching scary movies would be the last way to learn a life lesson. However, they are wrong in this assessment. In 1983’s “Cujo,” based on the Stephen King novel, the character of Donna, a middle-aged woman, is trapped in her car with her young son. A rabid St. Bernard named Cujo tries to attack them. Before the incident takes place, the viewing audience learns that Donna is in a failing marriage and is afraid of growing older and experiencing financial distress. However, Donna is confronting a genuine fear in the form of Cujo.
You could argue that “Cujo” is teaching the viewers the lesson that no matter how difficult your life seems, it could certainly be a lot worse. You have imaginary fears concerning aspects of your life. There are legitimate things out there that are much scarier. Like giving people the opportunity to confront their fears, the life lessons learned in scary movies, such as “Cujo,” prove that horror films can be healthy outlets for the mind.
Two other movies, both based on a novel by Stephen King, “It” from 2017 and “It Chapter Two” from 2019, showcase the combined life lessons of both facing your fears and sticking together. The story of “It” focuses on a group of bullied children who can fight off an ancient malevolent entity. This entity presents itself in various physical forms. Years later, in “It Chapter Two,” after the children have grown up and gone on with their lives, they return to their hometown to reunite. The shape-shifting monster has returned, and they must stick together, like when they were children, to defeat it once and for all.
Thrill-Seeking
People commonly discuss thrill-seeking as one of the reasons they enjoy horror films. It’s as if watching any of the Final Destination films provides people the same sensation as riding a roller coaster at a carnival or bungee jumping. Unlike a scary ride, though, people can watch a movie in the safety of a theater or their own homes. It’s a sense of excitement and the rush that these films give people. It’s the same sensation as watching a Fast and the Furious or James Bond movie. That probably explains why horror is so universal.
Horror Films Help Us Confront Fear and Release It
There are many other theories as to why the general populace has a love of horror. There’s also the curiosity associated with mysteries, fascination with gore, and interest in demonic possession, to name a few. However, I feel that the love of horror has a lot to do with the fears that start when we are young children and our fascination with monsters. As the Halloween season approaches and you begin to watch scary movies, look out for morality tales. There might be tales in areas that are not expecting. Also, by watching scary movies, you can possibly help purge your negative emotions. To quote the late Wes Craven, “Horror films don’t create fear. They release it.”
Editor’s Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article, “Horror Movies: Why Do We Like Them?” by William Barber, are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Presence News. This article is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. Presence News encourages diverse perspectives and open cultural discussion. Reader discretion is advising when engaging with content related to psychological or graphic subject matter.
More at Presence News:
