Why We Crave Horror Movies

Roller Coaster of Horror

As we analyze Stephen King’s essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” we come across his essential reasons as to what gives us the ambition and motivation to insist watching horror movies. In a way Stephen King is correct; one way or another we all are mentally ill to a point. No one is perfect, and we all do strange things. Some people are perfectionists when it comes to how they do things; some have a habit of talking to themselves, and others just do strange things like pet peeves without even realizing it. We see horror movies for the same reasons we ride roller coasters: for the adrenaline rush, the escape of reality, and the ability to show our fears to the people around us. Watching horror movies helps us control the anti-social instincts we all have. We watch horror movies to give us a sense of adventure, take us away from reality, and to have a reason for our feelings to be easily expressed within each other. It is part of our human nature to constantly seek adventure. In some ways being scared can be someone’s adventure. We crave the thrill and anticipation of what is to happen next. Horror movies are similar to riding a roller coaster. We dare ourselves to ride roller coasters and watch movies that we know will freak us out, but after have the urge to do it all over again. One would think that if something scared us the first time, we would not want to do it again. But because this is our natural instinct, we crave it even more. The adrenaline rush that comes over us, gives an anticipating reaction in which it makes us wonder what is to happen next. Whether people know if they are scared or not while experiencing the fear factor, it seems like a scream is unavoidable. This scream proves that we have reached our final stage of thrill and excitement. It proves that we have the strength in releasing such tension by the cause of fear. For some people horror movies are an escape from the reality of their hectic life. They help us build a different perspective in our imagination. It's becoming more commonly accepted to get lost in a TV show or a movie just to give our minds a little vacation from the everyday life. For the fact that our lives are so occupied with multiple duties and responsibilities, a change in focus is sometimes necessary to keep us sane. In this case, it gives us another reason as to why we look forward to horror movies. For example, it is easy to compare an awful day at the job with a gruesome scene from a horror movie because it provides us the sufficient energy to release a great sense of negativity during this moment. Yes, of course we have aggressive anger feelings at times, but I must admit that horror movies are ways of expressing and possibly giving opportunity in acting out these emotions, behaviors, and fantasies. However, this particular movie genre can roughly influence into entering a world of disorder and appalling conduct making us create violence within society. As a last note, we all know that watching horror movies with a significant other has its advantages, such as cuddling. For some reason such movies help to deepen a connection in which each person becomes protective, caring, and vulnerable. To speak for myself, I always prefer going to a movie with my partner especially a horror film, for the fact that these same reasons occur to us. Being close to one another seems to create a unique bond where we can see how vulnerable we are in reality. As I observe people around me, I can tell cuddling is a fact in why we crave horror movies. We all know that in reality we never want anything horrific to happen to us; but because we don't have much experience in tragedy besides a terrorist attack, a car accident, a weather disaster, or war for those who fight for our country, we are always curious on how to live this experience and we know exactly how to do so. Horror movies are like a new addiction, we just can’t get enough of them. I go to horror movies knowing that I will get freaked out and be scared hiding behind my hands, but I still go just for the thrill of it. We watch movies that freak us out, do crazy stunts, and do things that could end with us giving our lives just for the thrill of it. Stephen King is right, we are all mentally ill, but everyone is, so it makes it normal for us. To a certain point we all have a little insanity inside of us, no matter how normal we think we are. As King says we watch horror movies to prove that we’re not afraid; to feel essentially “normal”; and to have fun. Some may think different and watch horror films to seek adventure; escape reality; and to just have a reason to cuddle. Whatever the reason may be that people watch horror films, it is most likely going to remain a trend in culture.