Unveiling the Shadows: The Unjustly Overlooked Artistry of Horror Films

As we approach that one night of the year meant to frighten and… Alright, you got me, it’s all about the candy. We do still love to watch something scary while we put ourselves into a sugar coma though.

Consider this, in the United States the lowly horror flick ranks dead last in popularity according to Statista.com. Of those surveyed, horror movies were only reported to be enjoyed by a meager 52% of respondents. While I admit, horror is not my personal favorite, or second favorite, maybe not even third. You know, I am actually a bit of a chicken and I do not like them at all. Even so, I was astounded to see that even musicals outranked horror by raking in a 57% approval rate. What gives? Is there anything really that bad about horror movies?

On consideration, it may seem that the genre of horror may just be the most underrated of them all, and unfairly, I might argue. Let’s look at the pros and cons that with horror movies. There have been movements claiming that horror shows and video games are the scourge of our society and the root of all the bad that is done by American youth. To this, I say stop listening to politicians and read what scientists and researchers have to say. As Dee Snider (frontman for the 1980s heavy metal band, Twisted Sister) explained to Tipper Gore and the Senate panel he was testifying before in 1985, “It is you who have the dirty mind (paraphrased)” (watch the testimony on the streaming service of your choice, it is brilliant). In short, there has never been one iota of evidence that music, video games, or movies make people violent, so let’s just get that out of the way for starters.

On the serious side, we must acknowledge the fact that there are some drawbacks to horror movies. First, for people already suffering from or at risk of depression or anxiety, there are some risks that the genre may intensify the conditions. The physiological response to fear is to release cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenaline, in preparation to fight or flee. These hormones released into the bloodstream may cause the viewer to have difficulty falling asleep resulting in physical exhaustion. Sleep deprivation can lead to worsening of the anxiety or depression someone feels and extended periods of sleep deprivation can lead to physical and mental health risks. Ask any college student around finals time how they are feeling.

So, what could ever be good about scaring ourselves into insomnia? I’m glad I asked because there is a lot that horror movies can do for us. First of all, there is a good amount of clinical testing that says exposure therapy may have positive effects in treating several mental illnesses, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Just make sure to consult your doctor or mental health professional before self-treating. The idea is that through repeated exposure the viewer begins to understand that even though they are frightened they are perfectly safe. Through repeated exposures, the viewer learns to control their fears and even starts to enjoy the experience. What happens once the viewer understands that they are in no danger is that in the end the viewer finds themselves, subconsciously, being proud of themselves for managing to make it through the experience. A second benefit comes as the body’s parasympathetic system releases dopamine to start the process of calming the mind and body. This gives a euphoric effect, similar to a “runner’s high”. People begin to look forward to these effects more than they are frightened by the film.

I hear you out there saying, “But Josh, I am not stressed by the horror films, I just don’t like them.” Okay, I get it, you are all braver than me. For you I offer the body of Adonis, or Aphrodite, your choice really. We don’t judge here; we love all of you equally. Follow me now. Do you remember that list of hormones we talked about earlier? They do things to your body, including increasing the heart rate, speeding up breathing, and tensing up muscles, all in preparation to either fight off Freddy Krueger or run from Michael Myers. All of those things burn calories to the point that a two-hour movie can have effects similar to a long walk or a brisk jog. Alright, maybe that won’t get you the body of a Greek god or goddess, but every little bit helps.

If the exercise isn’t enough for you, try this on. Something happens in the brain when you watch scary movies. After a while, the neurons in the brain start to rewire themselves in such a way that they create an express lane between the points in your skull where sensory input, data processing, and physical reaction live. This means when the sympathetic system gets the first whiff of trouble, it can kick into gear faster and figure out what the best plan to either fight or flee will be. In a real-world zombie attack, you will be faster than those people around you who were too scared to watch The Last of Us. Even better than your lightning-fast reflexes will be the fact that you will have the mental stamina to withstand the topsy-turvy world that will exist afterward, because you, my friends, have learned to master your fears and maintain a cool head. Real-world research has shown this to be true based on surveys of people and their ability to withstand the stress induced by isolation and the unknown during our recent COVID-19 pandemic. People who regularly watched horror movies had a significantly lower rate of anxiety and depression as the pandemic dragged on. One more thought on this. The military uses chaos, noise, high stress, forced confusion, and actual (controlled) danger to train soldiers to control their emotions and fear in combat.

Maybe I have been too quick to judge the poor horror genre and perhaps I need to consider watching a few more scary movies myself. I could stand losing a couple of pounds. Give it a shot yourself. If you need to, just take it slow. Watch with a friend. Leave the lights on. Drink a lot of water so you have an excuse to take regular potty breaks (to catch your breath and decompress for a minute), and don’t push yourself past your own limits. Like anything else in life, know when to say when, and don’t let anyone pressure you into doing something you are uncomfortable with. If it gets too intense, just change the channel.

Have a happy Halloween and tell us what your favorite scary movie is in the comments.