Revisiting the Philosophy of Horror by Joan Hawkins - Essay Example

The plain suspense in horror films like Paranormal Activity has enabled the movie to draw massive viewing. The movie is about a young couple who placed audio-visual equipment to capture unusual activity going on in the house. The suspense in the movie is so strong because the viewers want to know the cause of the strange activities. The climax of the horror comes out when zombies go on massive killings towards the end of the film (Hawkins 1).

The psychological effects of horror movies on viewers also make them interesting to view. Neuroscientists argue that the neurons in human brains work in a complex way that allows human brains to think, reason, and act in different ways from other animals. They further argue that fear is an emotion derived from newly learned cautions as well as deep-seated evolutionary factors (Hawkins 1).

Analysis

The catharsis theory can also be used to explain why horror movies are enjoyable. The movies are appealing due to their traffic in thoughts and emotions that have been subdued by the ego though they seem vaguely familiar. Neuroscientists believe that horror touches on elemental images in the joint unconscious. Several individuals have not repressed feelings like the drowning of children or slaughtering of women, they may want to watch more horror movies to overcome such fears. Horror films may combine traditional horror film themes and comedy. Comedy-Horror movies are intended to scare the audience and provide humor for the viewers to laugh at their fear. Another thing with horror movies is the intense experiences it brings to the audience. This explains why young people would prefer watching horror movies. The intense experiences make their hearts race and bring out the true nature of life (Hawkins 1).

McIntyre, Gina. The Horror . . . The Horror. Loss Angeles Times. 2009. Web. 4th August 2013.

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/25/entertainment/ca-horror25
Summary
Horror films are movies that are intended to create a sense of alarm, fear, and panic among the audience. The films are usually unsettling and rely on scare tactics to capture the attention of the audience. The movies are usually centered on an evil person, event, or force. “. Most horror films are set in lonely places, ruined houses, deserts, or forests. The villains are bad-looking individuals who could be dressed in masks. The villains live a strange life such as feeding on humans and raw meat. The victims are innocent individuals who could be out on a tour only to fall at the hands of villains (McIntyre 1)

Analysis
Most researchers think that the killings and blood in horror movies make them interesting. For example, Zombie-horror is characterized by mindless beings raised from the dead. They contain zombie invasions on human territory and feed on human beings. A struggle then arises between human beings and the zombies, the Zombies wanting to feed on humans while humans are defending their territory. The struggle between the humans and zombies keeps the audience glued to their seats. However, other factors motivate the audience when watching horror movies. This could be the moral lesson that is found in such films.

“If horror films reflect the anxieties of a culture, then it makes perfect sense that so many nefarious characters are emerging from the darkness: The collapse of the housing market, the menacing approach of a potential economic depression, an ongoing war, and international unrest -- they're the stuff of nightmares” (McIntyre 1).

For example, the elimination of bad people as depicted in saw films could be a motivating factor. This is because all the corrupt individuals in society are brought to justice by Jigsaw. In the end, it is justice that prevails over corruption and other social evil. Furthermore, horror movies could be appealing to viewers who like neat endings and predictability. For example in Texas Chain Saw, despite the brutal killings, the film ends with a happy mood when the main killer in the movie turns out to be the hero who fights for justice for his killed family (McIntyre 1). An example is Slasher which is a horror film that has a psychopathic killer as a villain. The villain hunts and kills his victims most horrifically or brutally. How the psychopathic killer kills his victims makes the films enjoyable to watch Read More