Insidious, The Conjuring, Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Shining. Classic examples of horror films. This is an over 400 million dollar business in literally scaring their audiences out of the theaters, keeping them awake at night, and frightening them to never walk down that dark hallway alone. Why? Even after all those moments during the movie where we hide our faces or scream obscenities at the screen, we find ourselves as a community going back and purchasing tickets again and again for those off putting (yet thrilling) movies.
It’s a well known fact that most humans seek pleasure and happiness, but that doesn’t answer why these horrifying movies can provide these pleasurable experiences. In an article by Science Daily, two dominant theories rule in science as to why this peculiarity may be. The more obvious of the two would be that the individual is actually excited for this movie, the exact opposite of petrified. Another idea is that the horrific trance throughout the movie can possibly turn into relief once the plot has concluded. If your feelings on these theories are similar to mine, then you will be grateful that Eduardo Andrade of UC, Berkeley and Joel B. Cohen of University of Florida are masterminds behind a newer study that may disprove these theories.
The pair conceived an idea that viewers are “happy to be unhappy.” If their ideas are correct this could spin past theories around, citing that movie-goers could possibly experience negative and positive feelings simultaneously. A sense of euphoria may overwhelm the audience as they stimulate both scared and relieving sensations. These ideals, according to Andrade and Cohen, could be applicable to thrill seeking sports or high risk activities. “When individuals who typically choose to avoid the stimuli were embedded in a protective frame of mind, such that there was sufficient psychological disengagement or detachment, they experienced positive feelings while still experiencing fearfulness,” the authors explain.
So the next time you find yourself questioning why you are sitting in a sold-out midnight premiere of The Devil Will Find You Part II, remember that those dual sensations of relief and horror will make your stress during the movie all worth it.
Photo courtesy of news.discovery.com