Why We Need Horror Now More Than Ever
Horror-based media offers what it always has, a chance to escape from the real life horrors that are out there and a chance to also see our fears fought against.
Article by Jacob Borislow
A little while ago I was in a conversation with someone and since it was the spookiest month of the year the question came up of why I enjoy horror movies and video games, especially now with how the world is? They asked “isn’t the world scary enough and shouldn’t you instead seek out ‘comfort food’ media (or at the very least media that will allow you to escape from this world and offer comfort for a little while)?” While I do enjoy all sorts of movies and video games including the more comforting genres, the question itself is flawed in that horror does in fact give an escape from the world. What horror offers, especially in the case of more Western media, is a story that will show difficulties, suffering and maybe even a few deaths along the way but by the end of the movie the world continues spinning and the people that do survive are free to live their lives free of the previous suffering, at least until the almost inevitable sequel. This is a scary time, no one will argue that, but like a horror movie or game it will eventually end with hope triumphant and people being free to live their lives with hopefully no sequels in sight.
Horror not only offers the hope of an eventual ending to all the scariness but a replacement to the real horrors going on right now.
There is a reason a thriller/horror movie like Contagion which is about a virus from China is not the best movie to watch right now even though it is a high quality film (in fact it’s quality and realism is an even greater reason not to watch it) but barring a horror story about a virus, any other horror movie would be a great experience. The threats that are present in slasher and supernatural films especially are great antagonists in that they are other worldly.
Even though a serial killer “could” break into your house or you “could” practice the wrong ritual as a joke, these are unlikely scenarios that are great to see other people go against and overcome for roughly two hours. While the viewer watches a group of people live their lives and eventually overcome their potential deaths, they are not thinking of their own situations and are instead just thinking of the character’s safety and how they’ll overcome their obstacles. Even horror games where you actually play as a character facing these problems is the same principle as you’re playing a character, not yourself and so can disassociate from them even if you do find yourself saying “I” rather than “they” died. The feeling of power against the terrifying when playing a multiplayer horror game cannot also be understated which helps explain the resurgence of “Left 4 Dead 2” where people team up to fight zombie hordes to proceed and the popularity of the new game “Phasmophobia” where players come together as paranormal investigators to investigate haunted locations.
Horror-based media offers what it always has, a chance to escape from the real life horrors that are out there and a chance to also see our fears fought against. Being scared is fun and that’s why haunted houses are created for all ages just like scary movies and video games are. We never fully outgrow horror because sadly there will always be things we are scared of and while now more than ever has given us more to be scared of, it is also the perfect opportunity to check out some of the most therapeutic ways to relieve that terror. Don’t worry if you have to keep the lights on while doing so.