“What’s your favorite scary movie?” I love horror, and can always enjoy a good horror movie in my down time. Being able to watch one on a gloomy night is absolutely one of my favorite things to do. I mainly enjoy them because this was a past time and tradition that I shared with a family member and now continue to cherish on my own. But there is also something about being able to experience a good scare and feel the suspense in an environment that I know is safe.
As we approach Halloween, I wanted to take some time away from the typical mental health topics and talk about the thrill of horror and where our mental health meets. First, I’ll talk about the physical and mental responses that horror media provides for us; then dive into what might make horror so attractive to some. Finally, I will list several aspects that horror plays in our mental health.
Personally, while I am always able to enjoy horror, I also have strong preferences within the genre. I prefer suspense, ghosts, and a good scare rather than gore and mayhem. Full disclosure, I most enjoy the Japanese film “Ju-On” and its American counterpart “The Grudge.” These two were the household favorites when I watched horror movies with my family member. Regardless of how many times I watch them even in present day, I continue to experience the thrill of the suspense and fear.
According to a 2020 survey, many Americans enjoy experiencing the fear associated with watching horror. It has become quite a paradoxical phenomenon 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, I would challenge that everyone is familiar with feeling fear.
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 when you go through fear. It then signals the hippocampus, another part of your brain, to help interpret and contextualize the fear stimuli all while working in tandem with the amygdala to help your body respond to the situation.
Aside from activating the amygdala and hippocampus and processing the fear emotions and fear stimuli in real time, the brain continues to take in the information that is providing the scare for us. The “fight or flight” response that activates lets us know how we should ideally respond based on that information. Our muscles tense, breathing gets heavier, heart rate increases ever so slightly, and we can even begin to sweat from the suspense.
With the continued stimuli taken 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. In this case, our brain teaches us to tolerate the fear stimuli experienced in horror and lets us know “it’s okay.”
What Do People Enjoy About Horror Movies?
There are several answers to this question; none of them more correct than the other as it varies from person to person. 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. Others might find some topics addressed in horror similar to real life, albeit without the fantastical aspects of horror. Curry Barker’s “Obsession” that was released just this past year, for example, navigates various aspects of interpersonal relationship dynamics with a strong twist of horror. Some people might also simply enjoy the genre itself, while others find it as a way of escapism for a moment.
In her research, psychologist Dr. Glenn Walters identified three important points that attract us to horror:
Tension: Elements of shock, suspense, and terror generate feelings of tension; keeping us on edge until the climax, twist, and finale.
Relevance: Many horror movies can present a level of relatability; whether through a specific narrative or some cultural familiarity. The universal relevance that Walters identifies also draws from a shared fear of death, the unknown, and other social issues. “Halloween 2018” and its subsequent sequels, for example, explores the impact of long-lasting trauma and its impact on one’s relationships with others and their environment.
Unrealism: While modern day horror becomes more and more realistic in appearance, many viewers are able to discern the fiction behind the content. Additionally, specific sounds, lines of dialogue, and use of cameras also remind the audience of the safety in horror’s fiction.
The fight-or-flight response from our brains may also be a reason for why horror is 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). But once we begin to recognize reality and see that what we are experiencing is not real, our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) will reverse the effects created by our SNS. This allows us to feel safe again; and our SNS begins to fill our bodies with the “feel good” chemicals.
Mental Health Aspects of Horror
Research has suggested that the thrill and fright from horror can provide alleviation to mental health issues, provided the right situations are present. Drs. Coltan Scrivner and Kara Christensen’s article suggested that individuals experiencing higher anxiety disclosed greater enjoyment of horror than those with lesser anxiety, given the provision of a safe space to practice resilience and with the anxiety-provoking content having a resolution.
Scrivner and others additionally list other reasons for why and how horror content can benefit us, with some listed below:
Attention and Immersion: We have a bias as humans towards tending to any imminent threats. For those with anxiety, that bias is stronger. This helps us immerse into the narrative of horror, allowing us to escape briefly from day-to-day issues and shift our focus on the narrative threat on screen. Therapeutically speaking, horror can be a mindful practice that allows us to hold our focus on what is happening around us, namely on screen.
Resilience and Coping: Many times, the themes presented in horror can reflect real life situations. While there are hopefully no cursed video tapes in real life, recent horror media focused on issues like a deadly virus, relational traumas, and racial issues that can help us reflect on current times. But unlike its counterpart in real life, the fictional horror has a resolution, or at least a sense of hope in the third act. This continues to let us explore themes that hold us in fear in a safe manner. Scrivner and others, for example, have suggested that people who watched pandemic and other end times-related horror content displayed greater resilience and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Increased Brain Activity & Cognitive Functions: From a study at the University of Turku, our brain’s areas for auditory and visual processing become more active as anxiety builds during tense and horrific moments. This continuous engagement forms higher levels of excitement, heightened problem-solving skills, and increased alertness in times of stress.
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 experience, tension, and fear.
Predictable Source of Anxiety: Horror may also provide a source of clarity for those who frequent anxiety struggles by providing a recognizable stimulus. 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,” according to Scrivner, giving the viewer a chance to anticipate the next thing. Scrivner also notes that horror can invite opportunities to practice engagement with uncertainty through anticipating the stimuli and recognizing it.
The research suggesting the benefits of horror media is still 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 and the type of horror itself, the mental health impacts still vary.
In some instances, issues that might arise might be:
Many of the sensationalized aspects of mental health in horror can lead to negative emotions for some viewers.
Some images and horror scenes might trigger uncontrollable or intrusive thoughts, flashbacks to a trauma, and increase stress hormones leading to difficulty maintaining rest.
Exposing yourself to fears by watching countless horror media and trying to desensitize said fears can be counterproductive without proper professional guidance.
While horror is meant to be strictly entertainment, the negative stereotypes can have lasting impacts; including the perception of those with mental health struggles. This can take away from the ability to strengthen awareness of such topics. Even though a nice scary movie can have positive impacts and comfort in a specific moment, it is important to recognize and be cautious of its impact towards others.
Cautionary Tale & Closing Thoughts (Tread Lightly)
Horror may not be for everyone. Its content can still provoke fear and for some, or even create negative ways of coping. While this writing has put a lot of attention on horror, we should also acknowledge that you are not obligated to create a full watchlist of horror movies to increase your tolerance and maintain your mental health. Such that professional guidance is always the preferred suggestion.
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 media for what it is. Horror can help us navigate our fears and anxieties, and can sometimes help process narratives that we find relatability with.
I hope everyone enjoys their Halloween season.