Driving down I-4, coming home from work, I saw two scary faces resting atop a billboard, meant to look like the {drama} faces. At 1 in the morning, see those faces glaring at me as I drove by was quite scary, especially since I wasn't quite expecting it. As I got closer, I realized it was for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. This one billboard made me wonder: what is our fascination with horror?
Recently, there have been some articles circulating the internet about some clowns hiding in the woods, trying to lure children in. Even though it wasn’t happening in my backyard, it was enough to freak me out and made me even more aware of my surroundings, especially when I get home late at night. I’ve always been a paranoid person, but now knowing that some crazies are masquerading as clowns in the woods, who knows what will be next.
I was genuinely curious about why we are so fascinated with horror. We have parties dedicated to celebrating this horror phenomenon, such as Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, and Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens, as well as haunted houses popping up around neighborhoods as Halloween draws closer. But, why? Why do people subject themselves to being scared and enduring these movies? According to Psychology Today, people go for the tension, relevance, and unrealism. They want that suspense found in the movies, or hidden around the corner, not knowing what comes next. However, a study was done using college students and they were shown some very graphic videos. At the conclusion of the study, one of the researchers, McCauley, said “…the fictional nature of horror films affords viewers a sense of control by placing psychological distance between them and the violent acts they have witnessed. Most people who view horror movies understand that the filmed events are unreal, which furnishes them with psychological distance from the horror portrayed in the film. In fact, there is evidence that young viewers who perceive greater realism in horror films are more negatively affected by their exposure to horror films than viewers who perceive the film as unreal (1998).”
So, movie goers will pay money to go see something that the know isn’t real for the thrill that comes with the horror movies, yet cannot stomach anything that is real and gory. Either way, I can’t stomach either and still question why people subject themselves to this. While all these people are getting scared out of their minds at Halloween Horror Nights, Howl-O-Scream, and watching scary movies, I will be out trick-or-treating in the Magic Kingdom, getting free candy and enjoying a not-so-scary parade. However, I do applaud those who can endure all the horrors that come with this time of year and wish them luck as they enter houses at Halloween Horror Nights that are meant to scare the pants off of you.
If you are like me and don’t like scary things, but want to laugh at the expense of those who do get scared, check out Ellen sending her producer through a haunted house.
