Why scary movies

In the context of horror, however, it is hypothesizable that increased screen size leads to increased visibility and that this would result in a stronger fright reaction because more of the horror can be seen and seen more clearly.

It is also possible that the augmentation of the screen would also augment the sound an auditory-sound illusion so that bigger screens might affect our perception of horror because of this visual illusion. There is also scope for further research on coping with the effects of watching horror film and of mitigating the fright if the experience is considered too intense or too unmanageable. Of course, individuals could choose not to watch or could chose to watch selectively if they are in front of the screen.

But there may be more imaginative strategies that might be adopted such as the introduction of non-visual, non-verbal, and non-auditory stimuli e. It is possible that the presence of a pleasant scent might alleviate some of the fright generated by horror film if such alleviation is required either because it distracts or because it creates or elevates positive mood.

There is some evidence that this might be possible Martin, , and this is a question that merits pursuit. The majority of the studies reviewed here has included mono-cultural samples, and the current review was unable to uncover any cross-cultural research on horror enjoyment or preference.

An understanding of the cultural influences on film preference especially horror and the individual differences that may underpin them warrants investigation given that certain genres of horror appear to be more popular and appear more often, in specific cultures: Different cultures place different emphases on certain types of content and Japanese horror with its emphasis on ghosts, the supernatural is an obvious example Balmain, ; McRoy, There is a considerable literature on the difference between collectivistic and individualistic cultures with research suggesting that the psychological responses of individuals from each type of cultural background are different Matsumoto et al.

In the field of horror film perception, experience, and enjoyment, it could be hypothesized that individuals from collectivistic cultures might respond differently to horror and victims in horror than do individuals from individualistic cultures — specifically individuals from collectivistic cultures may express greater fear compared to those from individualistic cultures — and this is an hypothesis that can be easily tested. With interest and appreciation in horror increasing, the scope for undertaking research into horror film has never been more timely.

There is still much to discover and still much to understand. Horror, said Adorno in another context, was beyond the scope of psychology. Without psychology, Dario Argento once said, the horror film does not exist. The author confirms being the sole contributor of this work and has approved it for publication. The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

The author would like to thank Dr Charlie Allbright, Phil Hughes, and four reviewers, especially reviewer 2, for their detailed and thoughtful comments on earlier drafts of this paper, and to Edward Lionheart for planting the seed for this review. Allmer, P. Allmer, E. Brick, and D. Google Scholar.

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Monica Jimenez can be reached at monica. Skip to main content. Malcolm Turvey, director of the Film and Media Studies program, explains the attraction to the dark side. Photo: Kelvin Ma. By Monica Jimenez. October 30, June 28, All rights reserved. Then, in junior high school, I found salvation at the local video store.

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