Why do People read Horror books/watch Horror movies?

Medieval ghost

While writing the previous post, I pondered upon why people read horror books/watch horror movies? I don’t think I’ll be excited to do either of that – I have written one ghost story, but it’s more humor than horror!

In fact, I was so afraid after watching one Tamil horror movie (13 Number Veedu) that I didn’t sleep properly for a couple of days! I know someone who went to see ‘Evil Dead’ in Theater, that too night show, and was not able to sleep for a week! πŸ™‚

But people do read horror/watch horror – that’s why Stephen King has become one of the best-selling authors of all time! So, why do people want horror? I tried to analyse and come up with some (possible) reasons. Here they are –

  1. Their life is so boring and horror adds some spice/variety to it.
  2. They love the gut-wrenching excitement born out of fear.
  3. They are so happy in life and they need horror for balancing their emotions.
  4. They are so sad in life and watching horror gives them satisfaction because they realize that things could be far worse.
  5. They are sadistic and love to see others suffer; Other’s suffering reduces their own suffering.
  6. Horror creates a deep impact and they remember it for a long time.
  7. Horror is an inspiration to increase their human-inspired terror. Maybe they want to learn some techniques from ghosts.
  8. They got (only) a horror book; TV/Theater is showing (only) a horror movie.
  9. They use horror as an excuse to escape reality to believe/live their fantasies.
  10. They want to get over their fear for horror (Thanks to Praveen in the comments section, for this point).

Do you think any of the above reasons make sense? Or is there any other reason?

What do you think is the reason why people read horror books/watch horror movies? Let me know in the comments section!

Destination Infinity

Photo credit: By Gallowglass (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

26 thoughts on “Why do People read Horror books/watch Horror movies?

  1. Praveen

    You almost summarized all the pointers for watching a horror movie. Well, I watch movies for two reasons – for amazing horror fantasies & for growing up from my fears of the unknowns. πŸ˜›

    1. Rajesh K

      Thanks for your last point – I added it in my post. So, some horror fantasies are ‘amazing’ is it? I need to see at least one. Can you recommend any?

      Destination Infinity

  2. Ankita

    yesterday only I saw a horror flick, ‘Drag me To Hell’ ! it was awesommeee! It gave some respite from boring emotional TV drams and mindless romantic hindi movies

    1. Rajesh K

      Horror being awesommeee? I admit that I have not watched horror after ‘growing up’. I will try watching this one – thanks for the reco πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  3. SG

    Horror movies make me laugh. Right. I laugh at those terrifying scenes.

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, when compared to all the horror perpetrated by human beings, ghosts may seem incompetent πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  4. KP

    Horror movies I think are of two kinds.Those with ghosts and deep fearful suspense of an impending danger.The other is the horror of violence of the extreme cruelty.I detest the latter.Some people visit such action movies to get the thrill.
    Your post gives all the plausible reasons.Do such films attract larger crowd than a happy one?

    1. Rajesh K

      I don’t think horror movies are popular in India, unless they are paired with some other genres. I too detest the horror of violence and extreme cruelty – only sadists will like them. I think it is the fear and suspense that draws people into horror. Many might find it exciting πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  5. Kismitoffeebar

    I have no idea DI. I never watch horror movies. I don’t read books either except for short stories maybe.

    1. Rajesh K

      I have not tried reading/watching horror after college. I am in a mood to give it one more chance, especially if it is combined with some other genre. Let me see…

      Destination Infinity

  6. Ashwini C N

    Lol. I was laughing so much reading your reasons :-). Perhaps people love the adrenaline rush when they get to see/read sudden transformations πŸ™‚

    I loved the list of reasons that you have composed.

    1. Rajesh K

      That’s my guess too. But, I get nightmares too that disturb my (usual) peaceful sleep!

      Destination Infinity

  7. Sandhya Kumar

    Your list of reasons made me laugh! Most of the reasons are right, in some way, I think! I don’t like horror movies. My son made me to watch ‘Silence of the lambs’…real horrible story. Now, I run away more from horror movies!

    1. Rajesh K

      You can be sure that I am also not going to watch that movie. I have black-listed it already! πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  8. sm

    just other type of entertainment

    1. Rajesh K

      Just another type of torture! πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  9. Avada Kedavra

    Hehe.. nice list πŸ™‚ I am scared of horror movies but I still watch them. I just like that suspense and the sense of not knowing what will happen. Recently watched “Rosemary’s baby” and I got so scared that I could not sleep for 2 days πŸ˜› I don’t like violent movies but I like the psychological thrillers πŸ™‚

    1. Rajesh K

      I have already black-listed ‘rosemary’s baby’ – what a name for a horror movie! πŸ™‚

      Need to see a psychological thriller sometime – can you suggest the name of one movie?

      Destination Infinity

      1. Avada Kedavra

        Rosemary’s baby is also a psychological thriller. Other than that, Shutter Island was a good one from recent times. I am yet to bring enough courage to watch “Psycho” movie.

  10. Rachna Chhabria

    I did not know that you wrote short stories. Interesting, Rajesh. I love horror novels, maybe not horror movies.

    I think the reason people like horror movies or reading horror books is because we love being spooked.

    1. Rajesh K

      I thought horror novels were even more frightening than movies! Yes, that ‘spooky’ feel is what they are looking for, I guess.

      Destination Infinity

  11. Pratikshya Mishra

    Your points are quite true.. But i mostly think, they like that feeling of ‘fear’, they enjoy the horror related fear.. it’s like ‘darr ke aage jeet hai’.. I have never been able to do so till now.. Spooky stories or suspense tales go somewhat well with me, but Horror- not at all.

    1. Rajesh K

      For some people, like me, darr ke aage sleeplessness hai! πŸ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  12. Ashwathy

    I have never understood why people PAY to get scared out of their lives!! Forget movies, those horror houses in the malls these days are the perfect example!

    1. Rajesh K

      I guess it’s the same reason why people pay to hang upside down in an amusement park ride! πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  13. Amruta Bhave

    Well, some people (such as I) also watch horror movies only to prove to themselves that they can watch horror movies, and aren’t afraid of supposed ghosts, in spite of firmly not believing in ghosts! πŸ˜› πŸ˜€
    And yes, I do get more scared later, than while watching the movie itself. πŸ˜€

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