Why do people love horror movies? These 6 reasons explain the paradox

Horror movies evoke emotions that people usually try to avoid in real life. Grotesque imagery, violence, terrifying jump scares, and menacing characters are common elements that make viewers feel fear, horror, and disgust.

So why do some people look for them in movies and enjoy watching them? According to Science Alert, there are six reasons that explain this paradox.

Fear can cause excitement

There are many similarities between the emotions of fear and excitement. In both cases, stress hormones are released, which can cause physical symptoms such as increased heart rate and breathing, sweating, and muscle tension. People also feel more alert and "on edge."

Studies have consistently shown that people with a personality that requires intense emotional experiences, including fear and excitement, tend to enjoy horror movies. But for more fearful people, jump scares and scenes of violence can be too intense. This can lead to actions such as looking away or clamping their hands over their ears, especially if they are deeply immersed in the movie. Although, if they also enjoy strong emotions, they may still have a thrill watching.

The feeling of relief

People may enjoy horror movies because of the feeling of relief after the scary moment has passed. Watching a horror movie can be like an emotional roller coaster, with distinct peaks and troughs of fear and relief throughout the movie.

They satisfy morbid curiosity

Many horror movies contain supernatural themes and characters, such as zombies, werewolves, and vampires. So they can help satisfy heightened curiosity. The elements of violence, death, destruction, and grotesqueness can provide curious people with a safe space to explore things that are not safe (or socially acceptable) in the real world.

Testing our own limits

Horror films can reflect our deepest fears and encourage self-examination of personal thresholds of fear and disgust. So some people may find it interesting to watch such movies to better understand their own limits. It can also be a way to push personal boundaries to potentially become less fearful or angry in real life.

One study showed that horror movie fans had less psychological stress in the first months of the COVID pandemic compared to people who do not consider themselves horror movie fans.

They can be social

Some people say that the social aspect of watching horror movies together is a big part of their appeal. Watching with others can help some people feel safer. Additionally, it can help to heighten the emotional experience by fueling the emotions of the people around them.

Horror movies are also often chosen for date nights. If you're scared together, it's a good excuse to cuddle up and be comforted by each other.

They give us pleasure from other people's grief

Horror movies can trigger the pleasant emotions we feel when we watch others suffer, known as gloating. Most often, this happens when we feel that the person experiencing the misfortune deserves it.

In many horror movies, the characters who suffer a horrible fate are only side characters. In most cases, these unfortunate souls come across as unpleasant, and they often make stupid decisions before their gruesome end.

Despite the gruesome nature of horror movies, research has shown that horror fans have the same level of empathy as anyone else. That is, horror movies are just one way to confront our own deepest fears through the safety of fiction.

However, people enjoy them for many reasons. And the exact answer differs depending on the particular movie and the person or people watching it.

As a reminder, OBOZ.UA recently shared a selection of 10 sci-fi horror movies worth watching on Halloween. Sci-fi elements include fear of the unknown, the vastness of the universe and what lives in the abyss, aliens, time travel, eerie transformations, and much more.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!