personally, i consider horror movies "mind trash." horror movies pollute my conscious and subconscious mind with images and thoughts that i could live without. this doesn't mean though that i'm a crusader against such films because some people actually benefit from watching them.
so what are psychological and biological reasons why we watch?
one reason is that they provide a psychological jolt to an otherwise monotonous and drab existence, just like jalapeno peppers add a spicy torturous hellish zing to your otherwise bland and boring pizza.
a second reason is that horror movies provide a psychological upliftment for people with many real-life fears. horror movies somehow reassure people that there are more horrifying things to be scared of than the petty little fears of everyday life.
the third reason is a biological one. enkephalins, the so-called natural opioids, flood the body after a frightful hair-raising experience. enkephalin is the substance responsible for making sexual acts feel pleasurable, and this is the same substance released in the body after getting frightened. horror movie + enkephalin release + adrenaline rush = good scare!
happy halloween everybody! and remember to wear cloves of garlic around your neck when you sleep tonight!
