Why We Crave Horror Movies

Stephen King in "Why We Crave Horror Movies" expresses the effects of horror movies on his viewing audience by taking a stand on the degrees of insanity that we all possess. Being one of the most renowned horror movies writers, he notes that one of his attracting features was how horror movies give a visual release to our negative emotions:  ‘daring the nightmare… that we are not afraid’.  His tone was moderately expressive and confidence in the emotional balance of fear in his viewing audience which has been millions of people of all ages. I feel that his efforts to produce the many horror films of his career has definitely released and realized the ‘morbidly unchained’ nature of people.

 Stephen King was once of my favorite writers when I was in my early teens and twenties and at that time in my life I didn’t have children which change my mind about the psychological effects of horror movies.  I agree that ‘by the time one turns 40 or 50, one’s appetite for double twist or 360-degree drops loops may be considerably depleted’.  With this in mind, I asked my 15 year old daughter how she felt to reminisce on those times. She said:

“It’s exciting and heart pounding without actually putting anyone at a real risk.  To many teens it is an intense experience, waiting for the next thing that might pop out and excite you.  Horror movies may also be funny. For an example people run and fall over obvious things just so the horrifying character can have more suspense in the movie. Another funny thing is that in most scary movies Caucasian people are always running towards the problem without anything to defend themselves, unlike in other horrors involving African Americans pick up something and take off running hoping to get as far as they can from the horrifying character of the movie.”

I guess todays viewing audience is still a part of the ‘sick joke or insanity’ of reasoning the Stephen King entertains.  Well he may even have a point, of course his pockets prove it, that horror movie I also provides a cathartic effect, offering you emotional release and escape from the real world of bills and mortgages, the economy and relationships.