I am not a fan of horror movies so I don’t spend much time watching them let alone researching them. But, I have to admit that reading about the science beyond the allure of the horror genre was very interesting. There is a great deal of information available and many theories to consume about this about this topic but I found Sharon Begley’s article, “Why Our Brains Love Horror Movies” fun to read. Begley presents her information in a much more accessible fashion than Noel Carroll does in “Why Horror?” but they reach some of the same conclusions about our interest and pleasure in the horror genre.
Begley’s article highlights several different findings to help explain our interest in scary movies including the idea that people want and even crave being scared but in a controlled or safe environment; people, especially teenagers and young adults, seek intense experiences; horror movies tend to be predictable with neat or resolved happy endings and appeal to people who appreciate this while at the same time being repulsed and; the experience can help people, again especially teenagers, manage being afraid or terrorized. In the end, what stands out in Begley’s exploration of the underlining reasons horror movies are popular is the data around favorite films – they are almost never among anyone’s top picks. Dr. Stuart Fischoff, a professor of psychology at California State University, Los Angles and an editor at the Journal of Media Psychology explains this phenomenon when he says, “ … while horror films excite and arouse, they often leave people feeling nervous and unsettled … and this is not a state which leads to fond memories.”(Begley p.3)
In comparing Begley’s findings with Carroll’s, the insight of greatest similarity is that of the predictability of horror movies. Begley offers that, “… horror movies, even slasher flicks, generally stick to an almost Victorian moral code. You can be pretty sure that the girl who has sex with her boyfriend will wind up dead . . . as will teenagers who pick up hitchhikers . . . in these movies, there is no question about who the bad guy is.” (Begley p.2) Begley’s view is confirmed when clinical psychologist Glenn Walters of Kutztown University says, “Control lost under the cover of darkness is rediscovered in the light of day; danger posed by things unknown is reduced by increased knowledge and predictability.” (Begley p. 3) This view seems to be in concert with one of Carroll’s theories when he says, “ … these stories, with great frequency, revolve around proving, disclosing, discovering, and confirming the existence of something that is impossible …” (Carroll p. 278) such as vampires, monsters, or other horror related characters. In other words, I would suggest that the narrative arc that Carroll describes is a predictable and familiar methodology in horror films that allows the audience to view a movie and be scared but also feel safe in knowing how it will generally end.
It’s clear from many sources that people watch and really get pleasure from horror movies for many reasons. But, it’s the formulaic or predictable nature of such films that keep audiences coming back and asking for more.