Why do so many people like horror movies?

[Haltickling]

What is it that fascinates people in a horror movie? Do they actually enjoy fear? That puzzles me thoroughly. Loads of people consult therapists and spend a lot of time and money to get rid of their fears, while other people actually seek fear-instilling movies as some kind of thrill. Why do they wish to see atrocious mutilations, blood squirting out of wounds, walking and man-eating zombies, blood-sucking vampires and werewolves, attacks from sharks or gigantic spiders? Why do people watch reality shows with monstrous car-crashes, surgeons at work live on TV, or blood sports like dog, cock or bullfights? What is so cool about subtle yet spine-freezing horror movies like Psycho or The Blair Witch Project?

I realize that this attitude hasn’t started only recently, when cinemas or TV were invented. The ancient Romans had their gladiators and man-eating lions, the Middle Ages had their public executions, and all times had their cruel wars. Probably the predecessors of more modern reality TV and horror movies.

I don’t condemn those movies, but I confess I don’t like them. Watching the news broadcasts is enough horror for me. All the atrocities committed by individuals or armies are sometimes more than I can take.

Hence my question: Why do so many people seek more of that horror? Have you ever thought about the reasons?

 

[milagros317]

I believe that people do like the experience of fear, as long as there is no real danger associated with it. Some experience this via horror movies, and some via amusement park rides (such as a roller coaster with a scary steep drop).

Personally, most horror movies don't scare me. I can't suspend disbelief, and I just sit there thinking "It's all make-up and special effects. None of this is real."

 

[Limeoutsider]

I dont know why I enjoy horror, it just fasinates (sp) me

 

[Moses25]

The horror, the horror (had to be done, yo)...

If horror only occurred in movies, I'd be a happy man.

Hal has a point, though. After 9/11, there's nothing on celluloid that can match what's going on in the world today. I've actually found myself being comforted by movies like The Ring and Exorcist as of late. Scary, scary stuff...

Cheers.

 

[kurchatovium]

I believe the reason most psychologists give is that it is a way to experience fear in a controlled enviroment. A way to condition oneself against potential scary things that might happen. It is kind of like "Boy that was a scary movie but I handled it pretty well. Guess I can take care of whatever this world throws at me.". At least thats what I have heard was the reasoning I don't know if that is really true or not but it does make a bit of sense.😀

 

[CurtWild]

besides all the action and kung-fu movies

i was raised on horror movies.every weekend since i can remember i would go to my Dads and we would watch all types of horror movies.i just like`em.

 

[Dave2112]

I think it depends on why you watch them. Some of it is an adrenaline rush. I don't find many horror movies to be truly scary. Gross, insane, shocking maybe...but I rarely actually get scared. Actually, the more special effects, the less likely it is to frighten me. That's why the films that have really gotten to me were the minimalist ones, like Blair Witch or the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Another reason is the "my life deosn't suck that bad after all" factor. No matter what happens, you get to go home and sleep in your own bed after the show, y'know?

Yet another is slightly deeper set in the cranium. With all the pent up anger, stress and rage one can build up in the course of an average person's stressful day...there are times when you just wanna see people get hacked up. Come on, we've all felt that way. A civilized person, rather than acting upon I-Wanna-Kill-This-Asshole instincts, purges it through displaced violence. You know it's not real and nobody is really getting hurt. Perhaps seeing what it would be like to hack someone's arms off with a machete satiates the part of the brain that wants to know what it feels like. If that's the case (and I'm reaching here, I admit), thank God for horror movies or we'd all be showing up to work eventually with a shotgun and a thermal detonator.

All in all, though, for whatever reason an individual might have, they're just fun. 😎

(By the way...if you want to see the most seriously F'd-up horror movie in YEARS, get "House of 1,000 Corpses" on DVD. See my review here: http://www.ticklingforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33252 )

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

I know the official reason people like horror movies, it stems back to our youth when we....wait....what's THAT.....GET OUT OF HERE.....
NO...NOOOOO....AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Drew

 

[Knox The Hatter]

I first saw 'The Exorcist' back when I was 13, and I had a hard time with it then. To my complete and utter surprise, twenty nine years after I've seen the film for the first time (with several subsequent re-screenings on home video, just to make myself deal with it better), I'm still having nightmares where I'm living through the movie myself, not as Regan McNeil, of course, but it's like I'm there with the priests. You can read into it whatever you want, me trying to deal with the stresses in my life, whatever, but it's just friggin' bizarre!
I'm not into watching horror movies anyway. Always preferred comedies, suspensers. However, there is something about those reality cop chase shows that Hal mentioned. The thrill, the adrenoline. I can't tell you how many times I've watched 'Bullitt' or 'The French Connection' for the chase scenes, or how much I enjoyed the car chase with the orange Mini in 'The Bourne Identity'. I'm just a sucker for them...
It was at the Utopia on Union Turnpike in Queens where I first saw 'The Exorcist'. My uncle, who lives in Florida now, God bless him, walked behind me as we left the theater for the car, and every few feet, would come up and "boo" me...he later found out how much the picture affected me, and he felt sorry about it 😀

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

Actually, "Carrie"(the original) scared the crap out of me in that scene in the end in the cemetery. Also "Horror Hotel" from the early 60s did a number on me when I was 8 or 9. And yes, I've watched both of these many times since,lol😀


Drew

 

[TicklishSinner]

hehe

The main reason i watch horror movies is because it gives me a reason to want to sit close or to snuffle with a guy

 

[Haltickling]

Thanks for all the info, folks. I still can't understand why people would wish to experience fear, even under controlled circumstances. But it helped me to understand why SOME people like those movies, even though I'm not one of them.

Knox, "The Exorcist" was the only horror movie I've ever seen from beginning to end, and it had quite a similar impact on me, although I was already 30 or so.

What do you think: Do horror movies make you more jaded towards real horror, e.g. if you were in a huge car crash with lots of injured people? Have you ever witnessed a wounded person in real agony, dying in your arms, the blood squirting all over you?

 

[kurchatovium]

As for me I have seen dozens and dozens of horror movies some of them really gross as well. However once there was a lab accident at a place where I worked and there was blood all over the place. It was truly a shocking site for me to see the blood of a close co-worker and friend splattered all over the place. Fortunately he recovered completely. From this incident I don't feel horror movies have desensitized me at all. At least for me. If one has compassion and wuv in your heart I think these things are more powerful than Freddy or Jason. Just my opinion though. 😀

 

[MrPartickler]

What do you think: Do horror movies make you more jaded towards real horror, e.g. if you were in a huge car crash with lots of injured people? Have you ever witnessed a wounded person in real agony, dying in your arms, the blood squirting all over you?

I read this article yesterday and thought of posting it. It's a "real horror" that seems somewhat exemplary of your question, Hal.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Southwest/08/18/doctor.decapitated.ap/index.html

I have to guess that the real thing must be MUCH worse than any movie experience can be.

 

[LVTicklr]

Being the enormous horror fan that I proudly am(love that old Universal,Hammer,Toho,and 70s/80s stuff,as well as zombies,vampires,Peter Jackson,Italian old school,and modern Asian splatter,forget about that "Scream"/"Blair Witch"/"House Of 1000 Corpses" crapola),I love horror because it's a fun escapist celluloid form that is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end.
Nuff said.

 

[Dave2112]

Actually Hal, I've been on both sides of the fence and there's such a huge difference between production horror and real-life horror, that I think most civilised people feel the difference. I've been through some pretty horrific shit and movies cannot compare.

I've mentioned before how I lost my son, but I've never gone into details. I don't choose to do so now, but we'll just say it wasn't pretty. There's no visualized experience on the screen that can ever compare to real horror or other strong negative emotions.

I really do think that most people inately know one from the other, so I don't believe that movies can ever make one jaded to real horror. Even if you say that we're not shocked by what's on the nightly news because of movies...you have to realize something. I'd almost count the news as another form of theater to the average modern civilised being. You're not actually there, even though it really happened. It's not close to you. That's why 9/11 was so utterly appalling to Americans moreso than other tragedies that have taken place around the world. Taking patriotism out of it (that's not the point of this example, only the shock value), 9/11 happened right here, in our backyard. Same with the Oklahoma City Bombing. It was that much closer to reality. The bombing of the Pan Am jet over Lockerbie was a huge tragedy, but on the news, it was far away...safer to the average viewer.

With a horror movie, it's always NOT HERE. There's no emotional investment. With reality, it's there whether you want it our not.

Just my paper-thin theory.😎

 

[Neutron]

Because...

It takes your deepest primal fears and gives them a face. And if it has a face it can be defeated.


Tron

 

[Admiral Trouser]

Unless that face is Darth Vader.

He no fool.

😉

AT

 

[Ovda]

It's the roller coaster ride but with all of the safeness. That is one of the reasons why people love scary movies.