Scary Movie: The Art and Science of Horror Films
Horror films are a type of film genre that aims to scare, shock, or disturb the viewer by exploring themes of fear, death, evil, or the unknown. They are one of the most popular and enduring forms of entertainment in cinema history. But what makes horror films so scary? And why do people watch them? In this article, we will look at the art and science of horror films: how they are made, how they affect us, and how they evolve.
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The History of Horror Films
The Origins of Horror Films
Horror films have existed for more than a century. Early inspirations from before the development of film include folklore, religious beliefs and superstitions of different cultures, and the Gothic and horror literature of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and Mary Shelley.
The first horror films were influenced by German Expressionist cinema, which used distorted sets, lighting, and camera angles to create a sense of dread and madness. Some of the earliest horror films include The Cabinet of Dr. em> (1920), Nosferatu (1922), and The Phantom of the Opera (1925).
The Golden Age of Horror Films
The 1930s to the 1950s are considered the golden age of horror films, as they produced some of the most iconic and influential horror films of all time. These films were mostly produced by Universal Studios and RKO Pictures, which created the classic monsters such as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, and King Kong. These films used makeup, costumes, and special effects to create realistic and terrifying creatures. They also featured legendary actors such as Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Vincent Price.
Some of the most famous horror films from this era include Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Wolf Man (1941), The Thing from Another World (1951), The War of the Worlds (1953), and The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954).
The Modern Age of Horror Films
The 1960s to the present are considered the modern age of horror films, as they introduced new themes, styles, and subgenres to the genre. These films were influenced by social and cultural changes, such as the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, the sexual revolution, and the rise of feminism. They also experimented with different techniques, such as color, sound, editing, and cinematography. They also explored different types of horror, such as psychological, supernatural, slasher, zombie, vampire, werewolf, alien, and found footage.
Some of the most notable horror films from this era include Psycho (1960), Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Exorcist (1973), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Jaws (1975), Halloween (1978), The Shining (1980), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Scream (1996), The Blair Witch Project (1999), The Ring (2002), Saw (2004), The Conjuring (2013), and Get Out (2017).
The Psychology of Horror Films
The Fear Factor
Horror films are designed to elicit fear in the viewer. Fear is a natural and adaptive emotion that helps us survive and cope with threats. Fear activates our sympathetic nervous system, which prepares us for fight or flight. Fear also triggers the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which increase our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and alertness.
Horror films use various elements to induce fear in the viewer. These include images of violence, gore, death, monsters, ghosts, darkness, and blood. These images stimulate our amygdala, which is a part of the brain that processes emotional reactions. These images also activate our mirror neurons, which are neurons that fire when we observe or imagine someone else's actions or emotions.
Horror films also use sounds to enhance fear in the viewer. These include screams, growls, thunder, music, and silence. These sounds stimulate our auditory cortex, which is a part of the brain that processes sound information. These sounds also affect our mood, expectation, and attention.
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Horror films also use stories to provoke fear in the viewer. These include plots, characters, settings, and themes. These stories stimulate our prefrontal cortex, which is a part of the brain that controls higher cognitive functions such as reasoning, planning, and decision making. These stories also engage our imagination, curiosity, and empathy.
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Horror films are not only scary, but also fun. Fun is a positive and pleasurable emotion that helps us relax and enjoy ourselves. Fun activates our parasympathetic nervous system, which restores our body to a calm and balanced state. Fun also triggers the release of hormones such as dopamine and endorphins, which increase our happiness, motivation, and pain tolerance.
Horror films provide fun for the viewer in various ways. These include catharsis, curiosity, and creativity.
Catharsis is the process of releasing and relieving negative emotions through expression or exposure. Horror films allow us to experience and vent our fears, anxieties, and frustrations in a safe and controlled environment. Horror films also help us cope with our own problems and challenges by providing a sense of relief, empowerment, and resilience.
Curiosity is the desire to learn and explore new things. Horror films stimulate our curiosity by presenting us with mysteries, puzzles, and surprises. Horror films also challenge our expectations and assumptions by subverting or breaking the rules of reality, logic, and morality. Horror films also appeal to our fascination with the unknown, the forbidden, and the taboo.
Creativity is the ability to produce and appreciate original and valuable ideas. Horror films inspire our creativity by showing us different perspectives, possibilities, and scenarios. Horror films also encourage our imagination and expression by inviting us to create our own stories, characters, and interpretations. Horror films also foster our appreciation and admiration for the artistic and technical skills of the filmmakers.
The Fan Factor
Horror films are not only scary and fun, but also fan-worthy. Fans are people who have a strong and lasting interest in and attachment to a certain media product or phenomenon. Fans activate our social brain, which is a network of brain regions that are involved in social cognition, communication, and behavior. Fans also trigger the release of hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin, which increase our trust, bonding, and belonging.
Horror films create fans for the viewer in various ways. These include identification, participation, and community.
Identification is the process of relating to or empathizing with someone or something. Horror films enable us to identify with the characters, situations, or themes of the story. Horror films also allow us to express our own identity, personality, or values through our preferences, opinions, or tastes. Horror films also help us discover new aspects of ourselves or others by exposing us to different experiences, emotions, or insights.
Participation is the process of engaging in or contributing to something. Horror films encourage us to participate in the creation, consumption, or discussion of the media product or phenomenon. Horror films also enable us to interact with the filmmakers, actors, or other professionals involved in the production, distribution, or promotion of the media product or phenomenon. Horror films also motivate us to create our own content, such as fan fiction, fan art, or fan videos, based on or inspired by the media product or phenomenon.
Community is the process of forming or joining a group of people who share a common interest or goal. Horror films facilitate us to connect with other fans who have similar or complementary tastes, opinions, or experiences. Horror films also support us to collaborate with other fans who have different or diverse skills, knowledge, or resources. Horror films also empower us to influence or change the media product, phenomenon, or industry through feedback, criticism, or activism.
The Future of Horror Films
The Challenges of Horror Films
Horror films are not without challenges. As a genre that relies on scaring and surprising the viewer, horror films face several issues and difficulties in terms of originality, quality, and relevance.
Originality is the quality of being new or unique. Horror films struggle with originality as they often repeat or recycle the same tropes, clichés, or formulas that have been used before. Horror films also compete with other media forms that offer more variety or novelty for the viewer.
Quality is the standard of excellence or merit. Horror films struggle with quality as they often suffer from poor production values, acting, or writing that undermine the credibility or impact of the story. Horror films also deal with high expectations or standards from the viewer who demand more sophistication or innovation from the genre.
the current or emerging issues or trends that affect or interest the viewer. Horror films also contend with changing tastes or preferences from the viewer who seek more diversity or complexity from the genre.
The Opportunities of Horror Films
Horror films are not without opportunities. As a genre that thrives on creativity and innovation, horror films offer several possibilities and advantages in terms of technology, diversity, and social commentary.
Technology is the application of scientific knowledge or skills to achieve a practical purpose. Horror films benefit from technology as they can use new or improved tools, methods, or platforms to create, distribute, or consume the media product or phenomenon. Horror films also adapt to technology as they can incorporate or explore the effects, implications, or challenges of technology in their stories, themes, or styles.
Diversity is the state of having or showing variety or difference. Horror films embrace diversity as they can feature or represent different types of people, cultures, perspectives, or experiences in their characters, settings, or plots. Horror films also promote diversity as they can challenge or question the stereotypes, biases, or inequalities that exist in society or media.
Social commentary is the expression of opinions or criticisms about social issues or problems. Horror films provide social commentary as they can reflect or address the fears, anxieties, or conflicts that affect or interest the viewer in their stories, themes, or styles. Horror films also inspire social commentary as they can provoke or stimulate the viewer to think, feel, or act on the issues or problems that are presented or implied in the media product or phenomenon.
Conclusion
Horror films are a fascinating and complex genre of cinema that have a long and rich history, a deep and powerful psychology, and a bright and promising future. They are more than just scary movies; they are art forms that express and influence our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. They are also fun and fan-worthy media products that entertain and engage us in various ways. Whether you are a horror fan or not, you can appreciate and enjoy the art and science of horror films.
If you want to learn more about horror films, here are some recommendations for further reading or viewing:
The Philosophy of Horror: Or, Paradoxes of the Heart by Noel Carroll
Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film by Carol J. Clover
Horror Film: A Critical Introduction by Murray Leeder
The Shining directed by Stanley Kubrick
The Conjuring Universe directed by James Wan and others
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a horror film?
A horror film is a type of film genre that aims to scare, shock, or disturb the viewer by exploring themes of fear, death, evil, or the unknown.
Why do people watch horror films?
People watch horror films for various reasons, such as experiencing fear and fun, satisfying curiosity and creativity, and connecting with fans and communities.
How do horror films scare us?
Horror films scare us by using images, sounds, and stories that trigger physiological and emotional responses in our brain and body.
What are some subgenres of horror films?
Some subgenres of horror films are psychological horror, supernatural horror, slasher horror, zombie horror, vampire horror, werewolf horror, alien horror, and found footage horror.
What are some trends and innovations in horror films?
Some trends and innovations in horror films are using new or improved technology, featuring or representing diversity, and providing or inspiring social commentary.
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