Most people spend their lives trying to avoid violence, fear, and pain. Yet we sit through movies that depict gruesome murders, supernatural terrors, and psychological torment. In theory, these themes should horrify us, but they excite and entertain the majority of people. This contradiction is something that has raised an interesting question in my mind: Why do we seek fear for enjoyment?
Yes, it is strange that people watch horror, myself included. I didn't think that until I took this survey and realized how weird it is to like to be scared. — Anonymous
The Start of Horror
The horror genre began during the 1890s, with French director and actor Georges Méliès. He is known for creating The House of the Devil (1896), the first horror movie. The film, running just over three minutes, follows an encounter with the Devil and various other supernatural beings. However, unlike modern horror films, Méliès intended for his film to amuse audiences rather than frighten them. Yet, because of the themes and characters, it is still considered to be the first of its kind. Méliès, alongside notable directors such as Edwin S. Porter, Walter R. Booth, and Alice Guy-Blache, would become some of the earliest directors in the genre and pave the way for horror as we know it today.
How Horror Has Evolved
With each decade, the genre developed into something more immersive and terrifying. Starting in the late 1920s, integrating sound allowed filmmakers to heighten suspense through music, dialogue, and atmospheric effects. The 1930s-50s brought the rise of monster films, such as Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), and The Wolf Man (1941). During this time, films often reflected the concerns of unchecked scientific progression, leading to stories of tragic monsters and cautionary tales of morality.
By the 1950s-60s, Cold War paranoia started to influence the genre. Films featuring nuclear mutations, alien invasions, and scientific overconfidence became popular, mirroring the societal anxieties about technology and global conflicts of the era. However, moving along into the 70s, horror movies take a dark turn. Filmmakers would focus on psychological terror, madness, and brutal violence. Films like The Exorcist (1973) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) introduced audiences to a theme of possession, serial killers, and body horror in ways that felt disturbingly real.
The golden age of slashers, also known as the 1980s, is known for its use of masked killers, final girls, and increasingly graphic violence. Increasing advances in special effects, allowed for more shocking and realistic horror. The 1990s–2000s would experiment with new storytelling techniques like found footage and hyper-realistic gore. And finally, the 2010s to the present blend elements from all the previous decades, but now more than ever focusing on complex psychological themes, deeply unsettling narratives, and ultra-realism to leave their viewers in true terror.
Why Do People Love Horror?
Though it sounds terrible, I also think that it’s just human nature to enjoy other people’s suffering. — Anonymous
The most obvious and common answer is the thrill factor. Horror movies trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, which then releases adrenaline, cortisol, and endorphins. Not only does it make us feel good, but it can also create a sense of connection with others. Making group experiences more intense and memorable. Not only that, they also serve as a test of bravery. People like to see how much fear and pain they can handle as a way of proving their toughness. But these explanations still leave gaps. After witnessing real-world horrors like war, serial killers, and numerous other tragic events, why do we still scroll down to the horror category? The short answer is it satisfies deep, almost primal needs. Fear is a survival mechanism that has helped humans stay alive for numerous generations. As disturbing as it may seem, humans have an innate curiosity about danger, death, and the unknown. Horror movies allow us to explore these morbid curiosities in a controlled environment, serving as a release for our darker impulses.
North Scott Thoughts
North Scott students appear to have a strong affinity for horror films, spanning across various subgenres such as slasher, psychological, and supernatural horror. Many students appreciate the thrill, suspense, and adrenaline these films evoke. Although some students have experienced nightmares after watching horror movies, they continue to engage with the genre because of the excitement and enjoyment it offers, often in the company of friends. The majority of students do not find it odd to enjoy horror movies. Many view the genre as a thrilling and safe way to experience fear. Despite the unsettling nature of some films, the adrenaline rush, sense of challenge, and emotional release seem to be key factors that motivate people to continue viewing.
Horror lets us explore the darkest parts of life from the comfort of a couch, giving us both a thrill and a strange sense of satisfaction. In that way, horror may be weird—but it’s also completely natural.
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