With Halloween just around the corner, horror movies are reaching their highest streaming numbers of the year. People are also flocking to the theaters to get a good scare, but why? 

A poll conducted by CBS News in 2021 said that 48% of Americans claimed to enjoy watching horror movies. These movies are even more popular among young people with 71%  of people under the age of 35 enjoying them.

Psychologist and criminal justice professor Glenn D Walters identifies three trademarks of the genre as relevance, tension, and unrealism. 

Elements of tension, suspense, and gore are played upon to draw the audience in and keep viewers engaged. Relevance is important because people are often drawn to topics they have a better understanding of, and it makes the plot easier to follow. Unrealism is essential because if the concepts seem too real, people will be less likely to watch it out of fear.

Fear has been exploited by dramatists for thousands of years. UMass Greek and Roman Classics professor Debbie Felton says that Procrustes, a figure from Greek mythology, is considered one of the first known serial killers. He was a blacksmith that would lure travelers into his home and dismember them. Felton says “a lot of modern horror has direct roots in Greek and Roman antiquity.”

The first horror movie was a three-minute film created in 1896 known in English as “The House of the Devil”. It was full of skeletons, ghosts, and cauldrons and was the first movie to include a supernatural element. 

The 1920s to 40s were known as the Golden Age of classic horror, when a surplus of horror movies were released because the human desire to feel fear increased in popularity. The latter 20th century birthed many of the movies we consider classics today, like Halloween, Scream, and Nightmare on Elm Street. However, 21st century movies have taken a turn away from simply instilling fear, and have increased our thirst for violence and gore on the screen. 

There are four main reasons people are drawn to this genre: thrill, safety, bonding, and psyche. 

According to Seeker, a division of Discovery, when we are scared, that fear triggers an emotional response in our bodies that many people find exhilarating. The fight-or-flight response that stems from horror boosts adrenaline, dopamine, and endorphins. This reasoning is found most commonly among people with thrill-seeking tendencies, but there are other aspects of horror that appeal to different audiences. 

Just as Walters stated, many people actually find comfort in watching scary movies, knowing that they themselves are safe. The fear-instilling scenes allow for a greater appreciation of our own environment, causing us to become hooked.

Although, according to Ron Tamborini, a communications professor at Michigan State, people who enjoy watching horror movies tend to exemplify less empathy and higher levels of aggression than those who don’t. While this is a blanket statement, there is a direct correlation between the ability to watch others suffer and a lack of empathy.

Horror movies can also provide a sense of bonding among the viewers. Ever wonder why so many people choose to watch horror movies on dates? The hormones released during frightening scenes, such as oxytocin, actually heighten the feeling of connection among viewers, allowing people to bond more on an emotional level. 

One final thing horror movies offer us is a look into the world of human psyche. Especially in movies like Silence of the Lambs and American Psycho, we are given a new perspective on certain psychological conditions. Many find this to be an intriguing way to fully understand what the human mind is capable of. As a species, we are inherently curious, and this type of film can double as a pseudo study of a specific character.

If you’re one of the 167 million Americans that enjoy being scared, UMass holds weekly horror movie screenings in the months of September, October, and November in various locations across campus. They are hosted by Professor Szaniawski every Tuesday at 7pm with popcorn, candy, and the occasional trivia game.

Next time you’re watching a horror movie, keep these things in mind. Whether you’re terrified or excited, know that you’re not alone!