Horror fans are some of the most passionate moviegoers around. While people who enjoy action, comedy, or romantic films might have seen some flicks from past decades, horror fans often have a Randy from Scream level knowledge of the genre's history. Horror fans are just as comfortable discussing Misery (1990) as they are Midsommar (2019) and they have a lot of fun chatting with others who are just as entertained by scary tales as they are.
While everyone has their own reason for loving horror movies, it's possible to say that there are a few common reasons why these types of movies have such a massive fanbase and why scary films seem to get more popular with each passing year.
Some People Enjoy Being Scared
Some people seek out horror movies the way that others avoid them at all costs and would rather watch a romantic comedy or animated film instead. Horror fans likely have friends or family who tell them that they just can't watch these types of films because they get scared too easily and they just don't enjoy the experience. But for those who love this genre, there's nothing better than curling up on the couch with a blanket, maybe some snacks, and a familiar or new horror movie.
People actually get endorphins from being scared and dopamine, according to an article from USC News. Irving Biederman, the Harold W. Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience at USC and cognitive neuroscience specialist, said, “Your amygdala will give you a fear response, an avoidance response to stay away from something that is legitimately frightful." This explains why so many people love watching horror movies and why some movies are scientifically scary.
The Final Girl Idea
The most famous horror movie final girls are Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), and just like TV fans love seeing the same main characters over five or more seasons of a comedy or drama, horror fans like getting the opportunity to watch final girls in many movies. Audiences enjoy horror movies thanks to the idea of a final girl who is a strong force in going after the killer/villain.
If there was never such a thing as a final girl, and horror movies had minor characters who audiences never learned much about or saw kicking butt, these stories wouldn't feel so powerful and long-lasting. When audiences are faced with a scary villain, they want to know that someone good can beat the evil element.
Some Masterful Storytelling Elements
Horror audiences also love the amazing and inspiring storytelling that has been part of the genre for several decades. Elevated horror movies have become buzzworthy thanks to Tara Carpenter's (Jenna Ortega) enjoyment of them in Scream (2022), and in the last few years, fans have talked about Get Out (2017), Hereditary (2018), and more artistic films.
Whether horror fans are talking about legendary films like The Shining (1980) or Scream (1996), or more recent fare such as Ready Or Not (2019) and The Invisible Man (2020), there is no shortage of inspiring and thrilling storytelling. Sure, there may be some cheesy scary flicks that have corny jump scares or silly moments, but some of the best filmmakers today are making horror films, from Jordan Peele to Mike Flanagan. And fans can never forget the impressive movies directed by the late Wes Craven.
The Familiar Plotlines
While there are some bad horror movie plots, many horror movies fall into similar categories: the paranormal/supernatural, slasher/serial killer, being confined to a maze/escape room/single location, vampires/monsters/zombies/creatures, and psychological/thriller. People love horror movies because the plotlines are often familiar, which feels nice when there is always an overload of pop culture to choose from.
When an action movie or romantic comedy has a plot that feels like it has done before, moviegoers criticize it for recycling storylines and not being original. But in the horror genre, fans welcome when elements feel nostalgic as there are only so many scary stories to tell. Horror filmmakers take familiar tropes and tales and make them more interesting and fresh than ever before, and audiences will always be happy to see what films are being released each month.
Horror Movies Analyze Society, Too
There have been woke horror movies for a long time, and that's because horror movies have storylines that analyze people's thoughts, beliefs, and actions as much as political dramas and satirical stories do. Just like the recent hit Netflix movie Don't Look Up is a sobering look at climate change and also feels relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, horror fans can find some lessons and statements in their favorite films as well.
Jordan Peele's horror movies have a lot to say about race and class. And even the Scream franchise, which is silly, funny, and entertaining, are commenting on how much people love horror franchises by including its own franchise, Stab. Scream also looks at grieving a parent's death and being haunted by trauma that feels like it will never go away. Horror fans know that their favorite films have some fun elements but also some smart statements, too.