Why We Love Scary Movies Analysis

According to the Webster’s collegiate dictionary the definition of horror is "a painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay." These are the emotions humans feel when watching a horror movie or reading a horror novel. If this is the case, it may seem strange that people receive enjoyment from it. The pleasure of the horror genre can be explained in three ways. First of all, humans’ morbid curiosity intrigues them to scare and disturb themselves. Secondly, the constant excitement throughout the horror novel or film keeps people interested. Finally, the relief from the horrific events occurring makes people feel better. Although the horror genre is disturbing and fearful, it also has compelling effects that appeal to many people.

In ”the appeal
They become very nervous and stressed yet they watch anyways because of the thrill. Sine notes that Glenn Sparks, a professor of communication at Purdue University studies the effect horror movies have on humans’ physiology. Sparks claims “When people watch horrific images, their heartbeat increase as much as 15 beats per minute” as well as “their palms sweat, their skin temperature drops several degrees, their muscles tense, and their blood pressure spikes” These physical effects that horror has on the human body show how much thrill and excitement they feel from watching something suspenseful while knowing they are
This excitement gives reasoning as to why people read horrific literature. He describes how horror allows for normally forbidden emotions to be felt. Humans are disturbed, disgusted and afraid yet they keeping reading because they are not commonly felt emotions. Readers become excited to feel something more thrilling than they do in their average lives.

In “the appeal of the unknown” Lovecraft writes about how horror literature allows people to use our imagination and escape their daily lives.Horror allows the reader to use their imagination for the horrific, impossible images the author creates and the reader gets to live in a fictional, exciting place. The suspense of the unknown created in horror books is what drives the reader to be intrigued and excited.

Horror is a very popular genre, although people wonder why such disturbing and frightful material is so intriguing. There are psychological effects horror has on humans’ minds that drives them to terrify themselves for pleasure. These effects that consist of excitement, relief and morbid curiosity cause people to sit through a horror film or book. We endure the fear for thrill we feel, the morbid curiosity which intrigues them and the relief after all of the stress and