Watching a horror movie starts out as something simple. You’re sitting with friends, scrolling through Netflix, and picking a scary movie. You decide on one about teens camping in the woods. First, they are having fun, playing games and finding warmth near the campfire. But suddenly, they hear rustling of leaves from the trees, warning them that they are not alone. It seemed like an old man was watching from behind the bushes.
At first, you’re fine, thinking it seems unrealistic, but as the movie goes on, you start hugging a pillow and jumping at every little noise. Your friend might be laughing, but you’re keeping the lights on after that. Still, you find yourself coming back to the movie for more. Horror movies have this way of scaring you but also making you feel excited and curious about what’s going to happen next. You might cover your eyes, but the thrill keeps pulling you back.
There is a scientific explanation behind this. Scary movies make viewers’ hearts beat faster and make them feel more alert as it activates the ‘fight or flight’ response in the brain, according to The Scientist, a magazine for life science professionals that focuses on the study of cell and molecular biology, genetics, and other life-science fields. The magazine reported that horror movies will make viewers feel like they are in the same danger that is being shown in the movies they are watching.
Even though the fear is fake, the brain reacts to it as if it’s real. After the movie, the viewers take a deep breath and then laugh nervously about how scary the movie was. And how relieved they are that the movie is over. This feeling after experiencing something scary is satisfying and gives them an adrenaline rush. This relaxed feeling will make viewers addicted to the movies. “Folks who enjoy horror movies deliberately and proactively seek fear instead of escaping it,” according to The Scientist.
The adrenaline rush seems to be not the only reason viewers come back. “Jump scares increase activity in the amygdala, the part of our brain responsible for detecting danger,” according to Inspire Mind, a digital magazine focusing on mental health, science, and society. This gives viewers a feeling of comfort that seems the same as the one people feel after surviving a real threat and makes viewers crave more of that comfort.
The viewers might have never faced this comfort before, but it can help them face those feelings in the future. For example, when a character in the movie gets away from the antagonist hiding in the closet, suddenly the viewers experience a feeling of relief. This sense of surviving danger makes them crave the experience again.
Horror movies can also make viewers feel certain emotions such as fear and curiosity. One moment, the heart beats fast as the villain appears out of nowhere. Suddenly, they’re curious about why they act like psychopaths. At the end, the viewers feel satisfied that the main character survived. Experiencing these emotions in a safe and controlled environment helps the viewers face similar feelings in their own lives in the future.
Horror movies also reflect societal fears. Experts believe their popularity grows from their ability to mirror real-world anxieties. An example is the movie 2008 The Strangers, which focuses on random, senseless violence, which reflects the fear of unpredictability in today’s world. “Films like The Strangers resonate with modern audiences because they tap into these unsettling themes,” according to writers from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization dedicated to unlocking the knowledge of experts for the public good.
This horror genre’s profitability has also increased drastically. Horror movies have doubled their box office earnings over the past decade, according to Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform. Their low production costs and high profits make them a favorite for filmmakers, which led to some estimates in 2023 reporting $901 million in profits.
Horror movies also have a wide range of genres suiting everyone’s taste. From demonic possession films focusing on evil spirits taking over people’s bodies, to paranormal films dealing with ghosts and spirits creating fear. Monster movies feature terrifying creatures, while slasher films focus on human killers stalking victims.
But horror is not only limited to the genres mentioned before. True crime documentaries have also gained huge popularity over the years. “True crime has become a part of high culture, with a growing audience eager and willing to explore the extremities of human behavior,” explains Rebecca Sott Bray, a professor at the University of Sydney.
These documentaries dive into the psychological and social factors behind crimes, satisfying viewers’ curiosity about the darker side of humanity. For instance, shows like Making a Murderer and The Ted Bundy Tapes have entertained audiences by exploring the minds of criminals and the real-life impact of their actions.
Whether it’s the adrenaline rush, the reflection of social fears, or the curiosity about human behavior, horror continues to captivate the viewer and keeps its audience growing.