The Psychology Behind Horror Flicks

Palpitating heart, pulse racing. You’re lying awake, thoughts racing. You felt a pulse in your stomach. Yet, you’re not worried about the symptoms. Because these are the thrills we enjoy while watching a good horror movie. But why do we love a good scare from spooky charms and voodoo dolls? What blurs the thin line between horror flicks and entertainment?  

Horror fanatics span a wide range. They got different psychologies behind watching it. At one point of the spectrum, it’s oddly comforting for some people because they find them comedic. On the other side, some watch them for the sheer thrill. They may be frightened easily but that’s what they like. 

Let’s revel in the psychology of how things that induce fear always draw a lot of people in.

Mega horrors- Becoming, The Exorcist, After Midnight and Oculus are meant to scare us, but for some of us prone to panic and anxiety, horror movies are bliss. A calming brain after watching a horror film is actually neuro-chemically pleasurable. It may be the brain releasing dopamine and sudden adrenaline rush, heightened senses and the time running slowly. It is an interplay between consciousness and unconsciousness that makes it interesting. Somewhere our brain knows that it’s not real and fear translates in excitement. 

Sir Clark McCauely, an American social psychologist suggests that it is the safety net that comes while watching a horror film for entertainment. To speak of, people pay their full attention to not miss anything and don't care about its emotional effect on them. We have a great sense of control to maintain a psychological distance from the violence we watch. And that’s how the brains evaluate that there is no risk involved as we know we’re safe.

Horror is an alluring genre because of the mixture of tension, relevance and unrealism. The relevance (creating a personal connection with the protagonist) and the sense of unrealism (ability to distance real life from the story) with a tinch of horror explains our love for nail-biting experience that brings us on the edge of our seat while watching blockbusters like The Dead Zone, Cabin Fever and Dawn of the Dead. 

  

More than the film, it’s the aftermath that excites us. Increased heart beat and a sudden rush of emotions; all psychological reactions remain the same after watching a horror flick. It tickles the sense of morbid curiosity that leaves us on a cliffhanger. We want the scariest and terrifying films in an unpredictable world to watch destruction in a safe environment.   

So, for thrill seekers, here is a list of best Hollywood horror movies for your horror excursions: The Thing (1982), The Poltergeist (1982), The Shining (1980), Suspiria (1977), The Silence of the Lambs and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Based on Hollywood movie reviews, Koimoi handpicked these best horror classics with horrifying gore, uncanny settings, eerie sounds and the pure terror for a nerve jangling experience.  

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