So I found myself stuck at this chair googling about the reasons why people enjoy horror movies so much.
In the article Horror films written by Tim Dirks from AMC film site, horror film is defined as:
"unsettling films designed to frighten and panic, cause dread and alarm, and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience.Horror films effectively center on the dark side of life, the forbidden, and strange and alarming events. They deal with our most primal nature and its fears: our nightmares, our vulnerability, our alienation, our revulsions, our terror of the unknown, our fear of death and dismemberment, loss of identity, or fear of sexuality".
The article says that horror films are usually made to terrify and scare people, Also to let the viewers experience dismemberment for a moment and forget about the present and experience a thrilling sensation by showing to the audience another side of the world which is the dark side. Horror films are often associated with science fiction when monsters,aliens,vampires and other supernatural beings are present because they are the most common entities that scares a lot of people.
Knowing this, most people asked why is there the need to watch a horror film well in fact it just gives us the spooks and nightmares. I myself is guilty of asking on why do I even bother watching horror films? why do we pay to scare ourselves sick? or is it just something people usually do to kill time?
So, with that in mind I have searched different articles to answer my question and I have found out that there are various motives for watching a horror film. "This includes the need for excitement, the desire to feel intense emotions, and distraction from everyday concern. Although dramatic films can fulfill some of these needs, movies depicting violence and horror have features that other forms of drama do not, including the violation of social norms and the portrayal of events seldom seen in real life." from the article Why we watch: The attractions of violent entertainment by Jeffrey Goldstein.
According to the article, people usually watch horror films to kill time. they also wanted to forget the problems they are facing in the real world and they are somehow distracted which leads to the relaxation of their minds.
People rarely watch horror movies alone, watching it in groups give a more thrilling and a greater excitement especially with the teenagers who are with their couples. Most of us wants to have a good time and watching horror movies is one of the many things that we usually spent our time when we feel bored.
"No doubt, there's something really powerful that brings people to watch these things, because it's not logical". Some interesting words from Joanne Cantor, PhD, director of the Center of Communication Research at University of Wisconsin from the article Why we love scary movies, written by Richard Sine
After reading this quote, I came to realize that the most common factor that makes most people watch horror films is curiosity. Curiosity is a powerful emotion, and because of this, most people especially teenagers try watching horror. There's a sense of illicitness in a horror films which attracts and seduce viewers. People seeks out things that we are not meant to see its a feeling that stays up until to adulthood. And most of these things could be found in a good horror film.
Now I understand why I often look at horror movies section first before dramas and other types of movies. It is because I also wanted to experience extreme fear and excitement which could be found in horror films alone. And because of curiosity I tend to watch horror films which catch my attention.
:)
TumugonBurahin