One of the most popular film Genres that can cause tremors and exhilarated feelings at the same time is horror. Even though it is scary most people get pleasure after watching horror films. Movies about possessed dolls, bloody vampires, giant monsters, scary ghosts, and brain-eating zombies drew massive audiences.
But why do we want to be scared? Why do we enjoy these horror films that involve a lot of fear? If you are afraid of cockroaches then you won’t go near them whenever you see cockroaches. But what is there in these horror films that a maximum amount of people are captivated by it? You may get answers to all these questions by going ahead in this article.
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Why fear feels good while watching horror movies?
Take a moment and think if there is only fear, anxiety, and disgust in horror films then why horror genre are making money in billions? The fear that we experience in horror movies is recreational. It is significant to note here that this fear is relevant only for audiences who get pleasure through horror.
What is this Recreational fear? It is a fear where humans derive pleasure from playful engagement with fear-inducing situations. In short, it is a fear with enjoyment and pleasure and that is why we like it. Horror movies take you to an imaginative world where viewers can immerse themselves in threat scenarios.
As we know most of the plot of horror movie is bizarre and is just made to cause an emotion of fear in the minds of viewers. Therefore audience wants to experience how much fear they can endure or how resilient they are. Because at last, it is fictional. Therefore, this allows viewers to confront their fears without actually putting themselves in a harmful way.
Creation of an Adrenaline Rush
Another point that is worthy to be mentioned here is that horror films have the power to create an adrenaline rush in our bodies. Whenever you are afraid your brain starts assessing the threat. During this time you ask yourself certain questions. “Have I seen this or anything like this before? What happened when I did see this?
But all these thoughts begin to differ on a single realization that you are in a fictional world while watching a movie. Even though viewers are afraid and feel fearful they tend to put that emotion aside and enjoy the adrenaline rush in their body and also the release of other stress hormones.
According to medical news today when you feel you are in danger your brain triggers the fight or flight response. Your pupils dilate, your heart beats faster, and your blood pressure increases. By exposing you to horrific sounds and scary images it creates a rush of adrenaline and feelings of fear.
But at the same time, your brain knows that it is, at the end a movie which has imagination induced in it. This creates a safety net for viewers while maximizing the level of excitement.
A method of distracting yourself from stress
Agree or not we all have a point in our life where our stress is at its peak whether it is due to work relationships or health. Some people find that engaging with horror content distracts them from their everyday stressors. The adrenaline rush and heightened emotional responses associated with horror can take their minds off their worries temporarily.
When you’re engrossed in a suspenseful or scary plot, it can take your mind off your worries and stress, offering a break from the routine stressors of life. In this case, it’s not bad to redirect the focus from real-life stressors to fictional ones.
A safe outlet to explore and conquer your fears
Sometimes we do not know various things about ourselves as we have never been into such situations where we can explore the same. Horror movies provide a safe environment where you can explore different types of fear and have more insights about yourself.
For example, you may discover that you’re afraid of Zombies after watching Dawn of the Dead. Or, Anabelle helped you understand that dolls cause you a sense of unease.
Horrors are a great way to face and feel your fears and explore your reactions without physically exposing yourself to real danger. You can better understand your fears, moral compass, and reactions to high-stress situations, fostering a deeper understanding of oneself and promoting personal growth.
By experiencing these emotions in a controlled and safe environment, individuals may find it therapeutic to confront and release their dark or repressed feelings.
But horror movies also help people to conquer their fear. Viewers often identify with the characters in the horror movie and feel empathy for their struggles. When these characters face their fears and survive, viewers can also experience a sense of triumph and relief, as if they have faced and conquered their fears vicariously.
Exploration of the Unknown
Horror films allow you to experience the dark side of Humanity. Something whose existence is unknown. It satisfies your curiosity about the dark human psyche. Characters in horror stories often grapple with madness, obsession, and other psychological disturbances. This exploration of the human mind’s dark recesses can be both disturbing and enlightening.
Although it is imaginary it has the power to quench viewers’ thirst for curiosity as imagination does not have a full stop. This exploration of the unknown can be a way to grapple with existential questions and our fear of the unfamiliar.
Age and Gender
According to research horror films are often popular among teenagers and young adults. Both men as well as women like horror but there can be differences in sub genre preferences. For example, some studies suggest that women might be more interested in psychological horror, while men might be more drawn to action-oriented horror.
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