Why do so many horror movies get made each year? Why do they sell most of the time?
The act of being thrilled, frightened, or scared to the point of exhaustation can be a great experience for those of us that yearn to live on the edge.
The act of being thrilled, frightened, or scared to the point of exhaustation can be a great experience for those of us that yearn to live on the edge.
Though many would not want to be in the same shoes as legendary characters such as Laurie Strode from the Halloween films -- we do enjoy watching her being stalked by a prolific mass murderer (Michael Myers). It is the safety of knowing that we are fine ourselves, nestled in our movie theatre seating jumbling on loads of popcorn, but also the knowing that the person on-screen is in a ton of trouble that allows us to enter a alternative world -- so to speak. We are in complete control at all times! If we are scared, we are able to walk out of the theatre or throw a swap of hands in front of our darting eyes. yet, if the situation presented itself in a real life situation we would be in a load of trouble. But, it soesn't or, at least, hasn't to this point - so we can gain satisfaction in seeing it happen to others.
Personally, I am not a fan of horror films and choose to avoid them at all costs. I have never been one to live on the edge, and I tend to play it safe. However, I do feel that there is indeed a security in knowing that we as individuals are going to be okay at the end of the movie. We enjoy seeing the characters partake in such extravagant, terrifying activities but find comfort in knowing that we are going to walk out of the theater safe and in one piece. These horror movies allow us as individuals to escape the security of our own lives and embark upon a journey that is unlike anything that may occur in our own lives. This is just as you state, an alternative world, a world unrecognizable to anything we may have ever known or may ever know. We do possess the control in these movies and situations that are presented in the alternative world.
ReplyDeleteI understand the personal entertainment this fear brings to people, but personally I have a difficult time separating the real world from the movies. No matter how unbelievable the plot is, somehow I twist it into something that could possibly happen. I realize that this is an alternative world but for some people it is not as easy to differentiate between the real world and make-believe making it difficult to view these horror films.
I decided to comment upon this particular post in large part because of how you mentioned that horror movies “sell most of the time.” It seems that a genre that (to the untrained eye) repeats and copies itself from film to film would grow old. And yet, horror movies are released at all times of the year, not just in October. I agree that it is the thrill of being frightened, the knowing that the movie is gong to put you on edge. And such thrills do not lose their knack to entertain, even after they have been reused and recycled. I also agree with the blog post’s claim that it is perhaps the ability to see others in trouble, from a distance, that truly excites us. Perhaps there is an underlying aspect of humanity that enjoys seeing others in trouble, a sort of twisted amusement more perverse and unwholesome as the horror movies being made in Hollywood.
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