The Skeletons in Our Closet: Why We Love to be Scared
Horror films have been creeping us out for over a century. We sit in dark theaters, popcorn in hand, voluntarily watching things that make us jump, scream, and question why we paid for this emotional rollercoaster. So why do we subject ourselves to fear, on purpose no less? What is it about horror movies that keeps us coming back for more—even though our fight-or-flight instincts are yelling, "Just turn it off!"?
Believe it or not, there's something weirdly enjoyable about being scared in a safe setting. The rush we feel when watching horror taps into the brain’s natural desire for excitement. It’s like riding a rollercoaster—minus the risk of whiplash. When we watch horror, our bodies go into fight-or-flight mode, pumping us full of adrenaline. But because we know we’re safe that fear feels exhilarating instead of truly threatening.
Also, horror films give us a form of emotional release. For some, facing their fears on screen—like clowns, ghosts, or clowns that are ghosts—helps them work through real-life anxieties. It’s like free therapy.
Different Flavours of Fear: Types of Horror Films
Not all horror movies are created equal. Some scare us by messing with our minds, while others go straight for the jugular (sometimes literally). Let’s break down a few of the most popular horror subgenres and how they keep us trembling.
Psychological Horror: Ever wondered if The Shining messed with your head more than it should? Welcome to psychological horror, where the biggest enemy is the human mind itself. These films (see also: Black Swan) use paranoia, identity crises, and mental breakdowns to get under your skin. The tension doesn’t rely on blood and guts; it’s all about making you question what’s real—leaving you more freaked out than you were when you started.
Supernatural Horror: If you’ve ever watched The Conjuring and slept with the lights on, you know the power of supernatural horror. This subgenre taps into fears about the afterlife, demons, and things that go bump in the night. The scariest part? It plays on our fear of the unknown. You can’t fight a ghost with pepper spray, but you can definitely jump out of your seat during a perfectly timed jump scare.
Slasher Films: Cue the sound of heavy breathing and ominous music. Halloween and Scream have mastered the art of making you nervous about that dark corner behind the couch. Slasher films are all about the relentless, often masked killer hunting down their victims one by one. They’re gory, fast-paced, and make you triple-check the locks before bed. Fun, right?
Body Horror: Love watching films where human bodies grotesquely transform? Okay, maybe "love" isn’t the right word. The Fly and The Human Centipede (sorry for even mentioning it) live in the body horror realm. These films play on our primal fear of losing control over our own bodies, leaving us both disgusted and horrified—probably the only subgenre where nausea is a normal reaction.
Found Footage Horror: Ever watched The Blair Witch Project and thought, "I could totally do this"? The found footage subgenre capitalizes on that "real" feeling. Using shaky cameras and first-person perspectives, these films make you feel like you’re actually there, experiencing the horror firsthand. It’s like being on a haunted house tour… where no one makes it out alive.
Why We Keep Watching (Even When We’re Hiding Behind a Pillow)
So why do we keep doing this to ourselves? Horror films give us a safe, thrilling way to face some of our deepest fears. Whether it’s existential dread, the fear of getting chased by an axe-wielding maniac, or simply the thought of ghosts hiding in the attic, these movies let us flirt with danger from the comfort of our couch.
And the best part? No matter how scared we get, we can always pause, take a breath, and remind ourselves it’s just a movie. Unless, of course, you start hearing eerie creaks in the house afterwards... then good luck sleeping!