To think horror films are horrible

The psychology behind horror films and rollercoasters is that you get to experience fear/adrenaline rush in a safe environment. You can freak yourself out but ultimately know you aren’t in danger.

I find it a little odd that you are focusing on horror and specifically mention that you aren’t meaning crime etc. Horror is exaggerated, unrealistic fantasy. Crime, whether true crime or dramatised focuses on the worst things that happen to humans. Actually happen to real humans.

I think it makes sense to enjoy horror in the same way people might “enjoy” a documentary about Jim Jones or the holocaust. Even cotton candy family Saturday night TVcontains perl of some sort. Britain’s Got Talent has the needless sob stories etc.

No one really only ever watches sunshine and rainbows TV. So whether you enjoy the Saw movies or 24 hours in A&E it’s really all the same.

I thought the Grudge was terrifying too (only seen the Hollywood remake and not the original). That bit in the corridor in her workplace when looking though the CCTV cameras and also the elevator bit TERRIFIED me. But I loved it!

REC is probably my favourite horror movie. I love The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby too. And Alien, Predator, The Thing, the original Halloween and Fright Night. So many good ones out there!

My young adult kids love a horror movie which is a genre I avoid if it’s an 18 (prefer to stick to a 12 in scariness ) . I happily watch true crime and fictional crime stuff which they find horrible compared to their fictional horror. They say that true crime stuff has their brains lingering on the details long after watching where as horror is just on the moment.

I absolutely love the ‘Saw’ films. The music, the story, the games. I do work in a funeral home so the blood and gore is not a problem, and I enjoy the suspense also. I did go to the cinema back in 2015 to watch ‘The Exorcist’ on halloween night. When we went to Washington, we made sure we visited the steps from the film.

I love the terrifier films with art the clown in, i assure you i don't lack empathy.

I agree OP, I just don’t understand the appeal or fascination people have with this genre.

I used to hate them from watching some scary ones as a kid that traumatised me! But then I got a job where I had to watch a bunch and I’ve grown to appreciate why people like them, they’re just exciting, keep you on the edge of your seat type thing.

The only horror fils that have ever actually scared me are the grudge films, its how she moves and the noise she makes. I love horror and gore, like the terrifier and saw movies. It never ceases to amaze me the things human minds can make up to do to one another. It's kind of fascinating.

I personally don't get why people watch or read romances. They are so, SO boring.

I'll take horror over that shit every day of the week.

@MightAsWellBeGretel point horror by any chance 😁

I never watch them. I was traumatised by Poltergeist as a child.

Genuinely don't see why people enjoy them.

Dog Soldiers!!! But both are great films and the special effects are better in AWIL

Haha I was going to say the same.

I enjoy the horror genre, both in film and books, although not the pure gore stuff. Some people like to feel afraid and explore those darker, less comfortable possibilities and/or feelings.

I love (and have done since I was a preteen reading crappy YA 90s 'horrors') the feeling of being in suspense, on the edge of my seat and the feeling of both not wanting to read/watch on bit feeling compelled to. I can't really explain it. I love rides too.

Love horror films - my favourite genre- not overly keen on the torture ‘porn’ stuff but a good psychological horror is hard to beat - I watched Heretic recently which was fab. Also love a creature feature - Dog Soldiers being one of my favourite films.

Horror is escapism, its risk ‘learning’ with no risk, it’s scary and safe and often thought provoking.

I still say American Werewolf in London is the greatest werewolf movie ever. I can't see it being beaten 👌

Everyone has their genre. Personally speaking I really like spooky/ghost films....it's not a film but I'm particularly enjoying uncanny ATM. But I agree that horror and gore is not pleasant to watch. I never got over SAW 😩

Stbxh watches them every night now he tells me. He is currently obsessed with art the clown and tries to tell me the worst bits. I hate it how he gets kicks out of seeing people tortured then murdered. I think it's the lack of empathy in him that is unsettling

I love them but I don’t find many very scary. I certainly don’t have ‘adrenaline flooding my body.’ You’re however conflating two different things - torture porn and scary films. They’re two different things

That’ll be either Night Of The Hunter or the original Cape Fear. Both brilliant.

Robert Mitchum was an incredible actor.

Eden Lake deeply affected me. Absolutely brilliant film. Harrowing. The ending destroyed me for days. As a teacher I completely see how realistic this is as have sadly taught many students like that. I hope to never come across them again. These things can happen. Like you said, that’s why it’s so scary and dark.

Somethingthecatdraggedin7 You are my kind of person! Absolutely Hate Horror films and Ghost Stories I find terrifying .Mind you I am not keen on roller coasters either . My DH and I have a deal .No Horror movies (which he likes) and as much football as he wants (i dont like footy)

The first Saw was good - well-plotted with a new idea, a cool twist and nice grimy look that took inspiration from Seven and detective stories and mixed them into the more pulpy end of the genre. People lump it all together as torture porn now, and it's dated of course, but it was a smart film that had a big impact on a low budget. Again, it's not for everyone, but as Miranda Sawyer once said, all film reviews ultimately boil down to: "It's okay, if you like that sort of thing."

I fucking LOVE horror films. And yes, it’s partly about experiencing fear safely, like going on a rollercoaster. It’s a thrill. It’s also cathartic and liberating for me.

I like most types of horror, but I’m not a massive fan of the ‘torture porn’ subgenre of horror. I don’t find it distressing but I do find it mostly lazy and dull. I do like slasher films, though, which are different from torture porn. A lot of slasher films aren’t actually at all gory, surprisingly.

I’ve liked anything spooky or horror related since I was a very small child. I actually write horror fiction as a hobby. I also wrote my English literature dissertation on a specific aspect of horror fiction.

I love horror movies and always have. I love the adrenaline rush and also the intimacy and bonding experience of watching something so thrilling with a friend or partner. Also reminds me of that sensation of being a teenager and watching banned horror movies at sleepovers under the covers. That feeling of being, carefree, curious, impulsive, sexy, reckless etc. It’s like scary fairytales for adults!

Same reason why people enjoy rollercoasters!

Sadly they don’t make too many good horror movies these days and it’s rare to find a good one! I prefer the suspenseful ones over the really gory ones but that’s only because I’m getting older and they’ve been done to death!

They’re not for me. I just cannot get my head around finding entertainment value and enjoyment in horrific graphic depictions of human suffering, no matter how it’s rationalised as being made up.