Why do we love horror so much? What is it about it that attracts us to it, that thrills us despite how unnervingly terrifying it can be? Is there something deeply wrong with us that we should be concerned about? Perhaps.
There are many different things that can be drawn from horror. And horror can impact us in many different ways. Furthermore, horror is inevitably accompanied by more that may appeal to us. So maybe it’s not just the horror itself that we’re into, but what usually surrounds it. And we put up with it for the sake of the rest.
Then again, horror can also be like bad porn. Lots of explicit and graphic horror scenes moved by an awfully lousy story that doesn’t even make much sense. If this is what you’re into, I’d be at least suspicious. Are you a butcher? A surgeon? Why do you enjoy the mere sight of blood? Or maybe you’re a mortician and repeatedly looking at pale corpses just feels like home to you? Whatever the case, better keep it in check so we don’t have to worry about you.
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| The Babysitter (2017) |
Judgment aside, there are countless ways to appreciate horror content that are harmless. Even the most explicit and graphic kind. At the end of the day, however, we might just be curious little creatures seeking to see as much as we can of the world and everything in it. Which, of course, would include the darkest aspects of it.
Yet, undeniably, for a few of us, there’s a rush that comes from doing the forbidden. And the more you hear that horror is to be avoided, the more pulled you are to it. After all, better to safely consume horror content than doing something worse you may regret.
Then, there’s also the challenge that comes with it for some. Can you sit through this horror without flinching? Or will you be screaming and crying, constantly covering your eyes and missing over half of it to then be left shaking in fear with nightmares awaiting? Normally, this is how it starts. And in a sort of twisted way, that’s part of its fun (you’ll likely long for it when you’re fully desensitized and nothing can shake you).
Am I saying it’s a form of masochism? To some extent, yes. Although that depends on how broad your definition is. Truth is, there’s a wide range of emotions and sensations that a person can experience - and horror gives you a taste of some that you wouldn’t find elsewhere. So whether you’re seeking to grasp and comprehend the whole of human nature or not, there’s pain that you’re willing to endure for the sake of taking this ride.
Furthermore, let’s not forget that there is a HUGE difference between witnessing and/or participating in fictional horror and living through it for real. The latter can be scarring and traumatizing, to say the least, while the former might only lead you to develop a tolerance for the unpleasant.
Personally, I mostly look forward to the ways in which things will progress and what will remain in the end. Horror entertainment brings these dire situations and circumstances that force characters to face crude and cruel truths about both themselves and what they’re up against, along with presenting them with difficult choices they might not want to make but ought to - for their or others’ sake. And as they’re put in survival mode, we get a glimpse into some of the most desperate behaviors.
That’s not all, though. What about aesthetics? The hauntingly beautiful atmospheres and grotesquely disturbing moments. There’s undoubtedly artistic value in that and those who’ve put them together certainly knew what they were doing.
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| The Order (2019) |
When it’s not just deranged humans we’re dealing with, our imagination is indulged with a variety of monsters that represent other kinds of danger. And who knows? Maybe there’s a lot more to them than what’s most readily apparent. There are witches, vampires, werewolves, demons, spirits, zombies, mutants, abominations, aliens, machines, and unknown forces that are incredibly powerful in one way or another, to the point where we may even marvel at them. And if we’re not too careful, we might as well adore them.
Needless to say, this is barely scratching the surface of how profoundly horror may be touching us. We could sit down and contemplate it for hours. But most importantly, it is a well-known fact that horror can also possess a healing quality. Sounds insane, right? Well, believe it or not, horror can be positively and constructively cathartic and help mend psychological wounds that can’t be reached by lighter approaches. It can be tricky and desired results are not guaranteed, but certain elements may be there to purge you and put your pieces back together.
But what about you? Why do you love horror so much?