Halloween’s just around the corner, and that means it’s time for cosplay, fake cobwebs and most importantly, horror movies. But the question we’re asking today is: Why do some people enjoy being scared out of their minds by blood-soaked slashers and supernatural terror? What is it about these tales of dread and murder that makes us not only watch them, but love them?
It’s not exactly a puzzle you solve with a single answer. The fascination with horror and slasher films runs deep into the human psyche. It’s a love affair built on fear, curiosity, adrenaline and weirdly, a safe way to confront the darkness we try to avoid in real life. No one wants to be chased by a masked lunatic with a chainsaw, but put that same situation on screen, and suddenly it becomes irresistible.
A Safe Place to Be Afraid
Psychologist Mrunali D Patil, Counselor at Department of Psychology, KBP College, explains the paradox: “Horror movies provide a safe environment to experience fear and adrenaline rushes.” It’s the thrill of stepping into chaos, knowing full well that it’s all pretend. You can watch blood splatter, monsters rise from the shadows, and supernatural forces wreak havoc, all while being snug on your couch. The feeling is kind of like riding a rollercoaster. No matter how terrifying the scenes get, there’s the comfort of knowing that the credits will roll and the terror will stay trapped in your TV. That's where the magic lies.
“It may seem paradoxical,” adds Juhi Pandey, psychologist at Mpower Helpline, “but people enjoy horror movies because they know they’re experiencing it in a safe environment.” It’s like poking at your deepest fears from behind a wall of safety. You’ll never have to run from a ghost or get cornered by a deranged killer, but in the world of horror movies, you get to taste just enough of that fear to feel alive without being in danger.
The Sweet Taste of Adrenaline
You ever notice how people often come out of a horror movie looking strangely exhilarated? Fear is only part of the story. What horror fans are also chasing is the high of an adrenaline rush.
“Horror films fulfill psychological desires for thrill and adrenaline,” adds Patil. The suspense, the jump scares, and the ticking clock all work together to stir up a storm of emotions. Your body responds just as it would to a real threat: your heart rate spikes, your palms sweat, your muscles tense. It’s fight-or-flight without the messy part of actually fleeing. Once the tension breaks, you’re hit with a wave of relief, like the calm after a storm. That release is what keeps people coming back for more. Your pulse slows, and you’re left with the sweet satisfaction of having survived the imaginary ordeal.
Curiosity Killed the Cat
Horror movies pull us in with promises of uncovering the darkest mysteries. Whether it’s the identity of a masked killer or what’s lurking in that haunted basement.
“We are often curious about mysteries of life, and horror movies tap into that curiosity,” says Pandey. Horror films give us a taste of things we don’t experience in real life: death, evil, and terrifying creatures. Watching these films is a bit like peering into a void, knowing that nothing can actually reach out and pull us in.
Horror movies also give us a chance to confront life’s ultimate unknown—death. We’re morbidly curious about what happens after we shuffle off this mortal coil, and horror movies feed that curiosity with their endless depictions of what might await us in the afterlife. Watching horror lets us flirt with these questions without spiralling into existential dread.
The Need for Sensation
Some people just crave more sensory input than others. There’s a reason thrill-seekers jump out of planes and dive with sharks; they need to feel something intense to get a rush. For some, that rush comes from horror films.
“People with high sensation-seeking tendencies tend to gravitate toward horror movies,” says Patil. It’s not enough to sit through a rom-com or a drama. They need the spikes of adrenaline, the tension, and the startles that only a well-crafted horror film can provide. For these viewers, the scarier, the better. Pandey echoes this idea, saying that “people who have higher sensory cravings often enjoy horror because it fulfills that need for intense emotion.”
A Cathartic Release
Watching someone get chased down a dark alley by a slasher villain might seem like an odd way to relax, but for many, it’s a cathartic release. Says Patil, “Horror movies offer a safe space to confront fears and provide a form of escapism.” Engaging with themes of death, destruction, and societal breakdown helps viewers process their own anxieties. It’s not that we enjoy seeing people in distress—it’s that watching others face unspeakable horrors can make our own fears feel smaller and more manageable. We leave the movie with a sense of having faced something dark, and in a strange way, we come out stronger.
This is especially true for people with high anxiety. “Those with anxiety often enjoy horror movies because they provide a heightened sense of control,” says Pandey. Watching a horror movie allows them to experience fear on their terms knowing it will eventually end, unlike the anxiety they face in real life.”
Social Bonding of Shared Terror
If you’ve ever watched a horror movie in a packed theatre or huddled on a couch with friends, you know that the collective experience is half the fun. Horror brings people together in a way few other genres do. You gasp, scream, and, eventually, laugh together once the tension breaks.
Horror films also serve a social function. The fear becomes a communal experience—less about the terror on screen and more about the people around you. You’re in it together, and there’s something comforting in that shared anxiety.
Horror Lovers
Who are the people lining up to see the latest horror or slasher flick? According to Pandey, it’s often people with creative and imaginative minds. “People who enjoy fiction or have a more creative outlook tend to enjoy horror movies more than others,” she says. For these viewers, horror is an art form, filled with symbolism, hidden meanings, and metaphors waiting to be uncovered. Pandey also notes that people who score lower in empathy may be drawn to horror. “Some literature suggests that people who lack empathy may prefer horror movies because they aren’t as affected by the violence or terror on screen,” she explains. It’s not that these viewers are cold-hearted—they simply engage with the genre in a more detached, intellectual way.
So this Halloween, as you settle in for a night of jump scares, take a moment to appreciate the thrill of being scared. It’s about satisfying a psychological need for excitement, catharsis, and wanting a little connection with your fellow horror-lovers.
Read more:
