In the 1970s, horror films were different from today’s genres. The genre evolved from slasher films to vampire stories and sci-fi thrillers. In 1987, horror had its most successful year. Since then, horror has never been out of style and has developed into various subgenres. The success of horror movies largely reflects how well they interpret society’s fears.
Fear
There are some reasons why people enjoy horror movies. Some of the reasons are psychological. For example, watching a classic horror movies can be pleasurable and allows people to experience strong feelings without real consequences. Others say that horror movies can bring people closer together. It has been proven that watching scary movies can bond teenagers. Horror movies have always fascinated a segment of the population.
Social Critique
The genre of horror movies has long been a vessel for social critique. Its ability to instill a sense of physical dread in the audience makes it a perfect vehicle for social commentary.
Moreover, the films can potentially expose the privileged to the oppression of the disadvantaged. In this way, horror movies can help us understand the nature of oppression and change our behavior.
Horror movies often portray real-life injustices and portray the monstrous nature of monsters. Though not all horror films deal with such issues, successful ones tend to speak to the fears of a particular culture.
Monsters
Horror films have always been popular among a certain population. This is because the genre has been around for a long time. Horror movies often explore themes beyond the conventional, including themes of loss and grief. Recently, some films have explored violence and grief’s effects on society.
Women in Horror Films
Unlike in previous years, where women were often under-represented in horror films, nowadays, there is a much greater variety of women in these genres. Many of today’s leading horror films feature strong female leads. These films are not only entertaining but also empower viewers. In fact, some many female directors and actors have contributed to the genre’s popularity.
The women who are murdered in these films are usually murdered in compromising positions, while men are usually instantly killed. Many films also feature scenes where women try to escape but are brutally murdered. This pattern of victimization is still present in many horror films today, but it is beginning to change.
Jump Scares
Jump scares are a great way to scare audiences but can also become tiresome and dull when overused. Some horror movies have many jump scares but others are guilty of relying too heavily on false scares.
These movies also tend to have predictable endings. For example, the film opens with a too predictable scene and features a predictable fake-out. The jump scares are not very scary and are either too loud or too formularized.
People with Lower Levels of Empathy
Because they are less affected by the suffering represented onscreen, less empathic people also tend to enjoy horror films more.
However, this does not imply that those with stronger empathy do not appreciate horror films in any way. While they might avoid horror movies because of the agony and misery they depict, if they do watch one, they like the suspense and danger the stories provide and happy-ending horror movies.
