6 reasons why people enjoy horror movies

There is a lot of overlap between the emotions of fear and excitement. Both release stress hormones, which can cause physical symptoms such as increased heart and breathing rate, sweating, and muscle tension. People also feel more alert and “on edge.”

Research has consistently shown that people with personalities that crave intense emotional experiences, including fear and excitement, tend to enjoy horror movies.

But for more fearful people, the jump scares and violent scenes may be too intense. This may result in coping behaviors such as looking away or placing their hands over their ears, especially if they are too engrossed in the movie.

However, if they also enjoy intense emotions, they can still enjoy the excitement of the journey.

People may enjoy horror movies because of the sense of relief that comes after a frightening moment.

Watching a horror movie can be an emotional rollercoaster, with distinct peaks and troughs of fear and relief throughout the film.

For example, in the 2017 movie It, the main protagonists survive a series of terrifying encounters with a demonic clown. Frightening moments are interrupted by calmer scenes, triggering a rollercoaster of emotions.

In the classic 1975 film Jaws, viewers survive frightening moments, only to be scared again and again.

Many horror movies feature supernatural themes and characters such as zombies, werewolves, and vampires. So horror movies can help satisfy morbid curiosity.

Violence, death, destruction, and the grotesque can provide a safe space for curious people to explore things that are unsafe (or socially inappropriate) in the real world.

Horror movies can reflect our deepest fears and stimulate introspection about our personal thresholds of fear and disgust.

So some people may enjoy watching them to better understand their own limits.

Watching horror can also be a way to push personal boundaries and increase the potential for feeling less afraid or disgusted by real-life events.

In a study by one of us (Coltan), horror movie fans reported less psychological distress in the early months of the COVID pandemic than people who did not identify as horror movie fans.

Some people say that the social aspect of watching horror movies with others is a big part of their appeal.

Watching with others can help some people feel safer. Alternatively, this can help enhance the emotional experience by feeding into the emotions of the people around them.

Horror movies are also a common choice for date night movies. Being afraid together provides a good excuse to hug each other and find solace.

Horror movies can provide the delightful feeling known as Schadenfreude, which we feel when we witness the misfortune of others. This often occurs when we feel that the person experiencing misfortune deserves it.

In many horror movies, the only characters who suffer a terrible fate are side characters. More often than not, these unfortunate souls are created to be unlikable and often make foolish choices before meeting their grisly ends.

For example, in the 1996 teen witch movie The Craft, the character Chris Hooker is portrayed as cruel to women. He then dies by being thrown out of the window.

Despite the gruesome nature of horror movies, a study by one of us (Coltan) found that horror fans have the same level of empathy as everyone else.

Horror movies allow us to face our deepest fears, thanks to the safety of being imaginary.

People enjoy these for many different reasons. And the exact combination of reasons varies depending on the particular movie and the person or people watching it.

But what is certain is that horror movies are growing in popularity and there are plenty to choose from.

(Shane Rogers is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Edith Cowan University; Coltan Scrivner is a Behavioral Scientist at Arizona State University; and Shannon Muir is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Edith Cowan University)