Why we Love Horror
An open thread on horror and the why we may enjoy things that disturb and horrify us.
I’ve been feeling under the weather the past few days, probably due to the constantly fluctuating weather, so I’ve fallen a bit behind in my reading/writing.
So in the meantime while I pick up on my research I wanted to take a look at something emblematic for this time of year, and that’s horror.
Unlike rom-coms or superhero films, horror serves as a rather paradoxical media genre.
Grotesque, horrific images that make us cringe or cower in fear may result in us coming back for more.
One close friend talked about her husband who, after going on a hike together, decided to look up stories afterwards on people who mysteriously disappeared and went missing during hikes.
Apparently watching such videos stirred up some fears in him, and yet at the same time he still seems to be searching out more of these videos even after scaring himself.
By all accounts we should be adverse to the macabre or the supernatural. The evocation of negative emotions should deter us from seeking out more of those things that continue to cause those negative feelings.
So why exactly would we seek out and watch such things that make us squirm and fearful? Is there more to the feelings of fear than just being frightened? Or could there be some evolutionary basis for us to seek out things that we should theoretically avoid?
There’s a pretty interesting video from YouTuber Aydin Paladin that explains some of these reasons by looking at the available psychology literature.
Rather than have me explain it, I’ll refer to her video as it presents the evidence in an entertaining, albeit dense, manner.
I should also warn that several videos of snakes and spiders will be shown for those with a bit of a phobia against those things.
If you thought my articles were long, this video is a bit over an hour! Although it may be something that can entertain those who are at work and would like something to listen to.
In any case, now that we’re reaching the halfway mark into the spooky month I was interested to also see how many of my readers enjoy horror.1
Is horror something you seek out? What forms of horror do you like? What’s your favorite horror stories, books, or films? Or do you absolutely hate anything scary?
*Only 5 options are available, although there’s certainly more out there. List or describe any other types you enjoy below.
Hopefully I will get other topics out soon, but in the meantime describe some of your love/hate of horror below. I’d like to know what gets you all spooked out!
If you enjoyed this post and other works please consider supporting me through a paid Substack subscription or through my Ko-fi. Any bit helps, and it encourages independent creators and journalists outside the mainstream.
Personally, I enjoy Anthology Horror Series. Redlettermedia recently did a review of Creepshow, and as one of the hosts (Jay) stated in the review the good thing about Anthology Series are that if there’s a boring story you know it’ll end soon.
One well-known series that has spawned many duplicates is Trick ‘r Treat which I actually watched often when we used to have HBO and those other channels growing up.
It’s been pretty difficult to find in recent years due to the way streaming services work, so I generally settle for another series Tales of Halloween that is usually available on Amazon Prime. I personally don’t find it scary, but I do appreciate how “Halloween” the setting is.
I'm not sure exactly why but I truly enjoy foreign horror films, especially Korean. Something about the additional challenge of a different culture and language adds a little separation/safety, but also makes the story less predictable. Plus just some great acting and directing. Some fantastic ones are:
Korean: Shutter, A Tale of Two Sisters, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, Phone
Other: A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Under The Shadow, Let the Right One In
The best and most disturbing US horror I have seen in years is The Eyes of My Mother. Deeply unsettling, original, and beautifully shot. Sorry, I'll stop now. Excited for horror season, obvi!
Happy Halloween everyone!
Not a fan of the horror genre. I have, in the past, watched horror movies with others that I cared about, often diverting my view from the worst of the scenes to avoid recording them visually. Until recently, the only real-life horror had been my own birth, stuck in the birth canal, which I obviously do not remember clearly but it left an imprint -- a phobia around drowning -- nevertheless. The only other experiences coming even close to that were certain family "scenes", in the worst sense of that word.
Now, having witnessed more than two years and ongoing of very real horror happening all around me, although not yet to me, any interest in movies, let alone horror movies (or novels) is gone.