Why do people like horror films?

[Roundy210]

I don't get why people will pay to go to the theatre and have the crap scared out of them. It just makes no sense.

[sp00k]

It all depends on who you ask. Some people like the gornography genre because of inner desires to see blood and violence.
I myself love feeling terrified, it's a way to get a huge jolt out of your emotions. Why to people like seeing a tear-jerker? They like to feel their emotions.

[MitchellStafiej]

^ Exactly. Films are meant to evoke emotion. And fear is an emotion that can sometimes be the most overwhelming. We want to feel our primal instincts jolting off during horror films. I think it's a great rush! It's great to have the hair stick up on the back of your neck. Because you know you're alive when you're scared.

Mitch

[Alasdair]

ugh I hate it when people like things that I don't!!!!! it just sucks!!!

[WesScog]

I don't get why people will pay to go to the theatre and have the crap scared out of them. It just makes no sense.

For most of mankind's existence (and the existence of our genetic ancestors), we've lived our day to day lives fearful of death.

We go out on the hunt, and maybe the Mastodon will smash us. We gripped the spear, sweaty, nervous, and we throw it, and POP, the exhilaration of victory, and the triumph over death.

Most of us don't have that anymore, we live in a safe, sanitized world, where most of us in the western world, simply have no major fear of death.

So, from time to time, we like to ride a roller coaster, we like to feel, at least indirectly, the fear of death, the exhilaration of the hunt.

It's why we like action films, and it's why we like horror films, they get our blood pumping, they are exciting, and after it's all over, we walk away feeling stronger for having ridden the ride and stayed in the seat the whole time.

People love seen horror films, because they like feeling alive, and feeling the fear of death is something that can make us feel so good after it's all over.

[Lettuce]

I love being scared. That's why I work at the London Dungeon. No horror film can match up to working a late shift for a new exhibition thinking you're alone in the building, when in actual fact, one of the actors has (for some reason) decided to stay, and for a few hours lurks about the place in the darkness to ultimately give you the fright of your life. Bricks have been shat.

I also have a feeling I'm a bit of a sick puppy, loving the gross stuff. It desensitizes us for real life I guess.

[Greasefire]

I like the old school horror,
because the only people that usually died, just did somthing wrong.

notice how, the couple that just had sex,
the guy that just snorted coke,
any body doing somthing illegal...

usually got slashed first.

but now, everybody is free game,

preachers, babies, old people...
now, everybody gets slashed....

[Jakekilgore]

why go watch a comedy?
you go and pay so you can laugh!
so stupid

[rrh]

I like the old school horror,
because the only people that usually died, just did somthing wrong.

notice how, the couple that just had sex,
the guy that just snorted coke,
any body doing somthing illegal...

usually got slashed first.
So old school = 1980 ?

[Cris Cole]

Same reason people ride roller coasters, to get that thrill.

I am more of a fan of those movies that keep you guessing. Like When A Stranger Calls or The Skelton Key

[Indymoguler]

It all depends on who you ask. Some people like the gornography genre because of inner desires to see blood and violence.
I myself love feeling terrified, it's a way to get a huge jolt out of your emotions. Why to people like seeing a tear-jerker? They like to feel their emotions.

This is true. but when people go see movies like "Meet the Spartans" and "Epic Movie" i dont think theyre going so they can feel their emotions...haha

[GhostOfAllie]

It's people looking to be thrilled. Being in fear gets your adrenaline going, but with films you can be scared, and safe all at the same time. Not to mention, in comedies and romances you see things you could see any day, a kiss or a joke. Rarely do you see someone horribly mutated or eaten by zombies. I have just always, always love horror films since I was a little girl, maybe I'm crazy.

[Johnny_Cool]

Besides, a lot of horror films (at least the good ones) feature a good dose of nudity as well, so you can watch 'em just for the titties and your friends will still consider you a cool bloke rather than a perv or a creep...

[UndergroundLairProductions]

I don't get why people will pay to go to the theatre and have the crap scared out of them. It just makes no sense.
You don't get it huh?
Well... Do you like fish sticks?

But in all seriousness, like the others said: By that logic, why would anyone pay to see a comedy? A drama? Anything? In fact, why would they pay to do anything when it makes so much more sense to simply stay at home and do nothing?

[Scott]

I don't get why people will pay to go to the theatre and have the crap scared out of them. It just makes no sense.

Why do people like boobs? They just do.

[TaseCopterStudios]

Why do people like boobs? They just do.

funniest thing ive read in a while and answers the question perfectly.

[GhostOfAllie]

Why do people like boobs? They just do.

Because their awesome, duh.

[rrh]

http://groovyageofhorror.blogspot.com/
This blog sometimes approaches the near philosophical while justifying the appeal of certain genres, including horror.