Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
I did not grow up with horror movies, and before I started exploring the genre, I thought I would hate them. I figured horror movies were mostly unrelenting sequences of jump scares and intensely disturbing images, and I didn’t want to give myself any new fears.
However, I still had a distant interest in creepy stories, and as I got older I started getting out of my comfort zone with the movies I selected. “The Sixth Sense,” “The Silence of the Lambs” and “The Conjuring” franchise were some of the first movies I checked out, and I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying them.
Several of my friends also love horror, and now we frequently rent movies to watch when we have a free night. “Pearl,” “Insidious” and “Scream” are some of our most recent picks, and though all of these appeal to very different tastes, I liked watching each of them.
In my opinion, horror movies are much more varied than they seem. They cater to a wide variety of preferences, sometimes playing on suspense, the paranormal, mystery, humor, startling effects, shocking violence or psychological thrills.
It surprised me to realize that some horror movies don’t scare me as much as I anticipated they might. I usually gravitate toward ghost stories and quiet tension, but I don’t often find these movies very disturbing in the long term.
The frightening events keep me in suspense the whole time, and they might make me jump with a well-timed scare, but their creepy effects don’t linger in a bad way after the screen has gone dark.
Even though this response might seem to defeat the purpose, I appreciate horror movies that allow me to briefly confront fear and the unknown. They have been a useful tool in helping me understand what I’m really afraid of, and they are also just good movies to begin with.
“The Sixth Sense” left me thinking years after I saw it, not only due to its haunting atmosphere but also because of its story and characters. I think horror movies have a reputation for being fairly superficial and silly, but I find they are often written with precise attention to detail and characterization.
Most horror movies attempt to create strong fear in the audience, but they also rely on inducing strong empathy for the characters. I think they can also be a potential exercise in coping with fear in a safe environment.
There’s no right or wrong way to be a horror fan, and it is fine to try them out at one’s own pace. Everybody has different preferences within the genre, and I don’t think somebody is less or more of a fan because of their comfort level.
Lots of horror movies don’t scare me, but lots of them do in a way that I do not find beneficial. Personally, movies that feature very graphic violence or body horror are difficult for me to watch, and I try to avoid them because they tend to put me in a bad mood.
Some moviegoers are interested in being disturbed for a while and some only want to be scared for an hour and a half. Engaging with fear can be helpful for some, including myself, but it is not helpful for everybody and might even be harmful.
Most viewers watch horror for different purposes, whether to have fun with friends or treat their anxiety in a safe environment. This genre is rich in explorations of the human experience, and as it changes over time, I think it will continue to offer something valuable to many people.
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Contact Alyssa Johnson via email: alyssa.johnson@pepperdine.edu
