I am always appreciative of a good horror movie. Being able to put one on, especially during a gloomy night, is one of my favorite things to do. I mainly enjoy them because this was a past time that I have shared with a family member and now continue to cherish on my own. But also, there is something about being able to experience a good scare and feel the suspense in a safe and comfortable space.

In this writing, we will discuss the physical and mental responses that horror media provides for us. We will also dive into what seems to make horror so attractive to some. Lastly, this writing will list some mental health impacts that horror can have on those who consume it.

While I am always able to enjoy horror media, I also have strong preferences within the genre itself. I prefer suspense, ghosts, and a good scare rather than gore and mayhem. Full disclosure, I most enjoy the 2002 Japanese film “Ju-On” and its 2004 American counterpart “The Grudge.”

There is something about being able to experience fear in a safe space. So much so that according to a 2020 survey, a majority of Americans enjoy the experience of fear that comes with consuming horror, and is critical to said enjoyment. No other species in the world would put themselves in a situation like that. It has become a bit of a paradox as to why we are so eager to experience the fear that comes with horror.

 With fear being one of the first emotions we experience in life, it is curious that we actively want to embrace fear and tension through a frightening movie. Whether you appreciate horror or not, we are all familiar with the overwhelming sensation of feeling fear. But how does it happen?

The amygdala, the part of your brain that helps you respond to emotions, presses the panic button for you to find a sense of safety. It then calls to your hippocampus, another part of your brain, to help interpret and contextualize the fear stimulus all while working with the amygdala to help your body respond to the fear-based situation, just in case.

While the brain is doing more complex things other than activating the amygdala and hippocampus such as processing the fear emotions and fear stimuli in real time, we continue to take in the information that is providing the scare for us. The “fight or flight” response that activates lets us know how we need to respond based on the information we take in. Our muscles tense, breathing gets heavier, and we begin to sweat with the tension.

With the stimuli that we take in, we become better equipped to handle the situation we are placed in. Our complex brains allow us to understand that the situation that we are in, though fear inducing, is not real and can be safely enjoyed.

What Do People Enjoy About Horror Movies?

There might be a few answers to this question; with none of them more correct than the other. Some people think that scary movies can draw people closer because of a shared experience of fear, or fear-based stimuli like the dark, ghosts, or creepy dolls. Some people might also simply enjoy the genre itself, while others find it as a way of escapism for a moment.

Psychologist Dr. Glenn Walters named three important factors that attract us to horror:

1. Tension: Elements of shock, suspense, and terror create feelings of tension; keeping us on edge up until the final scene.
2. Relevance: Many horror movies can present a level of relatability; whether through a specific narrative or some cultural familiarity. However, the universal relevance that Walters identifies also draws from a shared fear of death, the unknown, and other social issues.
3. Unrealism: While horror media today has become more and more realistic appearing, many viewers are able to discern that the content they are consuming is not real. Additionally, specific sounds, lines of dialogue, and use of cameras will remind the audience that the content is not real either.

The fight-or-flight response that our brains trigger when watching horror movies may also be a reason for why horror can seem so attractive to some. Such that when that response gets triggered unconsciously, our bodies begin to pump adrenaline and cortisol thanks to our sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Yet, once our brain begins to process the reality that what we are experiencing is not real, our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) will reverse the effects that our SNS created, allowing us to feel safe and be filled with “feel good chemicals,” also thanks to our SNS.

Benefits of Horror

As paradoxical as this section sounds, some research, though still limited, has found that the thrill and fright of horror can provide alleviation to mental well-being given the right situations. An article by Drs. Coltan Scrivner and Kara Christensen found that those with higher anxiety disclosed greater enjoyment of horror than those with less anxiety through the provision of a safe space to practice resilience, and with the content providing a resolution to the anxiety-inducing situation. 

Scrivner and others, list other reasons to why and how horror content can benefit us, some of which are listed below:

1. Attention and Immersion: Us as humans have a bias to putting our attention towards imminent threats. For those with anxiety struggles, that bias is stronger than those without, horror can be a specific method of narrative immersion, allowing us to escape briefly from day-to-day issues and shift our focus on the narrative threat on screen. In therapeutic terms, horror can be a mindfulness strategy for some; allowing us to hold our focus on what is happening around us in the present moment.
2. Resilience and Coping: At times, the themes we see in horror can reflect real life situations. While there are hopefully no cursed video tapes in real life, recent horror media has placed focus on issues such as a deadly virus or racial issues that allow us to reflect on our present environment. But unlike its counterpart in real life, the fictional horror has a definite end point, or resolution, allowing us to explore themes that hold us in fear in a safe manner. For example, Scrivner and others have noted that those who viewed pandemic and other apocalyptic-related horror content displayed greater resilience and coping in the COVID-19 pandemic than those who did not.
3. Increased Brain Activity & Cognitive Functions: According to a study from the University of Turku, our brain’s visual and auditory processing regions become more active as anxiety builds during moments of tension and engaging with horror. This continuous engagement reportedly leads to greater levels of excitement, heightening of problem-solving skills under stress, and increased alertness.
4. Social Bonding: Even though the perceived threat of horror is fictional, the thought of fear from the observed threat can bring people together through the shared fear and experience.
5. Predictable Source of Anxiety: Horror may also provide a source of clarity for those who frequently struggle with anxiety and worry by providing a recognizable source of concern and other negative emotions. While the intricate details of horror may be obscure and uncertain, many horror tropes such as musical notes and camera angles can provide a sense of “certain uncertainty,” as Scrivner puts it, to allow the viewer to know what to expect. Here, Scrivner also notes that horror can invite opportunities to practice engagement with uncertainty.

It should be noted again that the research suggesting the benefits of horror media is still quite limited, with many of the listed benefits having limited test results. While we can enjoy horror for what it is, the existing research also suggests that depending on the individual consuming horror media, the mental health impacts may vary.

In some instances, issues that might arise might be:

1. The sensationalized nature of mental health themes in horror that can cue negative emotions from viewers.
2. Some images and scenes might trigger uncontrollable thoughts, flashbacks to a trauma, and increase stress hormones leading to difficult sleep.
3. Exposing yourself to fears to a strong degree through watching countless horror media and trying to desensitize said fears to the point of numbness can tend to be counterproductive without proper professional guidance.

While horror media is meant to be strictly entertainment, the negative stereotypes can have lasting impacts including the perception of those with mental health struggles and take away from the ability to strengthen awareness of such topics. Even though a nice scary movie can have positive impacts, it is important to recognize and be cautious of its impact on others.

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Cautionary Tale & Closing Thoughts (Tread Lightly)

Horror may not be for everyone, as it can still provoke fear in an uncontrollable way for some, increase anxiety, or even create unhelpful ways of coping. Although this article has put a lot of attention on horror, it is also important to recognize and acknowledge that you are not obligated to create a full watchlist of horror movies.

In closing, watching a scary movie can lend itself to providing a safe escape from the difficult anxieties that we face. For some who want to enjoy a good scare, we can take note of some of the ways horror can be helpful for us; or just enjoy the brief scare. It can help us explore our relationship with fear and anxiety, and process narratives that we find relatability with.