Why do we like horror films?

There are various answers to that question but I think most of the answers are linked to the way we live today. In the developed world, people live in such safe and cushioned environments, that a lot of them are very unlikely to experience strong emotions like fear or emotional pain in their daily lives. After an adrenaline rush people can feel happy and relaxed, so being in a cinema and experiencing a scary movie is like simulating dealing with a real life threat in fake circumstances and also then simulating the reward felt after that experience. It could be therapeutic because it could suggest to a viewer, that some of our fears are not as real as we imagine them to be, or that threats in real life are not always as hard to deal with as we first thought.

People also like going to the cinema to watch a horror film for the societal factor. It’s exciting and fun to watch and share the experience with friends. Living through any threat, even an imaginary one is likely to bond the group together. Lastly, another reason why certain horror film connoisseurs enjoy horror films is because they like well-made films in general. The fact that the visuals and the plot might be beautifully crafted is not useful from an evolutionary standpoint although one might argue that the ability to appreciate different forms of art, including horror films could be good for our well-being, as it provides a change from the routine and excites us emotionally.

Being scared can give you a thrilling rush- In turn, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode, which means it’s flooded with adrenaline and euphoria-inducing brain chemicals like endorphins and dopamine—all of which can pump you up and make you feel like you’re ready to take on the world (or at least Michael Myers).

You’re terrified, but you're also safe- “It goes back to early childhood,” she explains. “Think of a toddler learning to walk: One of the things they like to do is run away from the parent, get to a certain point where it’s a little scary, and then run back. It’s about playing with danger but with a sense of security.”

It helps you prepare for the worst- Gardere admits he has a fascination with zombie horror, and he explains it this way: “There’s a small part of me that believes that at some point there may be some side effect of some medication that’s not going to reanimate the dead, but that may truly affect a frontal temporal lobe or something, and people could behave in ways that could be very dangerous,” he says.

Horror teaches you to cope- “We think what’s going on is that horror fans are essentially building a toolkit for how to deal with feeling anxious or afraid,” says Scrivner. “Because that’s exactly what you do when you’re watching a horror movie. You regulate your emotions such that you’re in a sweet spot for feeling afraid but also having fun."

It lets you explore your own dark side- One reason we might be drawn to horror, she posits, is that it allows us to explore those taboo parts of ourselves. “With a movie like Carrie, for example, a lot of people identify with her being bullied and tormented at school and at home,” she says. “But do you then root for her to slaughter her classmates? I think a lot of people do."

It makes you think you’re different than the victim—and therefore more likely to survive- By watching victims in horror movies make obvious mistakes—like that old chestnut “going back in the house”—you’re able to convince yourself that, if presented with the same situation, you’d manage to survive. “I think there’s that part of us that’s trying to say, ‘That would never happen to me,’” explains Jordan. “‘Here are all the ways that I would respond differently.’” For example, you’d hide better, think quicker, and never, ever trip while running in the woods.

Scary Movies: The Fear Is Real

So is the fear you feel when you watch someone being chased by an axe-wielding murderer any different from the fear you might feel if you were actually being chased by an axe-wielding murderer?

Morbid Fascination

Yet another theory suggests that people may seek out violent entertainment as a way of coping with actual fears or violence. Sparks points to a study that showed that shortly after the murder of a college student in a community, interest in a movie showing a cold-blooded murder increased, both among women in the student's dormitory and in the community at large.

Lingering Effects

Just because people seek out scary movies doesn't mean their effects are benign, researchers say. In fact, Cantor suggests keeping children away from these films, and adds that adults have plenty of reasons to say away, as well.

The Torture Trap

As people become more desensitized to violence in the media, Sparks and other experts worry that we may also be becoming more desensitized to violence in real life. And Cantor worries that films with explicit gore may be more likely to be traumatizing.

Well I hope I did answer some of my own questions here on why I love horror movies and films a little to much!