Stephen King Why We Crave Horror Movies

Have you ever wondered why people enjoy watching scary movies? Horror movies are a genre of film designed to scare or shock the audience, relying on elements of fear, suspense, and gore to achieve their effects. In Stephen King's article, "Why We Crave Horror Movies," he presents arguments for why people appreciate horror movies, including thrill-seeking, catharsis, and dealing with uncivilized emotions.
Firstly, many people enjoy watching scary movies because of the thrill-seeking experience. They like to feel a profound emotion and mistakenly believe they are brave enough to face the horrors portrayed in movies, often judging the characters for their decisions without realizing the true fear and danger involved. According to King, "To show that we can, that we are not afraid, that we can ride this roller coaster." He suggests that horror movies offer a safe and socially acceptable way to

King states, "It may be that horror movies provide psychic relief on this level because this invitation to lapse into simplicity, irrationality and even outright madness is extended so rarely." The fear and anxiety that build up in people's everyday lives can be released and channeled through the experience of watching a horror movie, allowing them to purge negative emotions in a controlled environment.
Lastly, King highlights that people enjoy watching horror movies because they can deal with their uncivilized emotions. According to him, "But anticivilization emotions don't go away, and they demand periodic exercise." King argues that people are all mentally ill to some extent, and horror movies allow individuals to exercise their "sick" emotions, which cannot be expressed in a civilized society.Watching a horror movie allows you to delve into the emotions without being culpable for any violent actions, as you are simply observing rather than practicing any form of