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Rhetorical Analysis Of Why We Crave Horror Movies

790 Words4 Pages

Megan Fisher
English 9X
Dasovich
Rhetorical Analysis Essay

People have always seemed to wonder why humans partake in such guilty pleasure such as horror films, suspenseful murder stories, and jump-scare games. We should find gore, disturbing thoughts, and intense suspense as something to avoid, a yet we indulge in it anyway. In fact, we come to them for fun, and we enjoy them. But why do we enjoy such sick hobbies as these? In the essay “Why We Crave Horror movies, that age-old question is finally answered in detail. Stephen King uses rhetorical devices and tone to inform the reader of the psychology behind humanity’s sick hobby. By developing ethos and using logos, the essay gives readers insight into the reasons why our brain enjoys the …show more content…

Throughout the essay, King uses a dry sense of humor, keeping the reader feeling dark and uneasy as they read about how horror movies are an outlet for every humans’ psychopathic tendencies. For instance, King sardonically recites an old joke, dripping with dark humor: “What’s the difference between a truckload of bowling balls and a truckload of dead babies? (You can't unload a truckload of bowling balls with a pitchfork)." This horrible joke provides an example of human nature’s desire to laugh at the pain of others, while simultaneously reiterating the same point by recreating the example by having the reader entertain themselves with the joke they read. The images brought on by the simple quote are horrifying and gruesome, and yet, the dark tone has a sort of twisted humor about it. Though the joke is a horrid one, it proves an important point as readers can't help but crack a small, guilty smile. Another example of this dry, leering tone is the frightening metaphor King presents towards the end, as he sees our favorite horror stories "as lifting a trapdoor in the civilized forebrain and throwing a basket of raw meat to the hungry alligators swimming around in that subterranean river beneath." The gory flicks we indulge ourselves in are feeding our lurking insanity, so that it doesn't get out. This dark and disturbing analogy once again leaves readers uncomfortable and

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