Horror and Our Brain: Why Do We Consume Horror?

What is the appeal of horror?

Scene from a horror movie. Image provided by Fotokita Shutterstock

Horror has long fascinated and terrified audiences, pulling us into a world of suspense, fear, and the unknown. But what draws us to consume content that makes our hearts race and palms sweat? 

Neurologically, when we experience fear, our brains release adrenaline, dopamine, and endorphins, creating a high that is both intense and, in the safety of a movie theater or behind a book, exhilarating. "[T]he emotions experienced in response to horror, being potentially beneficial and rewarding, are attitudinally pleasurable or enjoyable," explains Dr. Katerina Bantinaki, a professor specializing in philosophy and social studies, especially when in an environment where “we have control over our experience.” This contrast between real and perceived danger allows us to explore our fears in a controlled environment, where the stakes are low. Still, the emotional impact is high, especially for those who love seeking sensations.

Horror can also serve as a form of catharsis, or as a safe space for people to confront and resolve their fears. Mathias Clasen, director of the Recreational Fear Lab of Aarhus University, suggests that watching horror “may have positive effects in terms of fine-tuning coping strategies,” and “may help people learn about their own fear responses and about regulating their own emotions through watching horror movies.” By engaging with horror, people can possibly learn how to navigate their emotions and emerge feeling stronger, having faced and overcome fear.

Horror often brings people together, creating a communal experience of fear and survival. Mark Bould explains to the Guardian, “Horror is also one of the genres that has a particular kind of sociality to it – for the last half-century or more it’s often been about young people going in groups to experience vicarious threats together. It has a special kind of pleasure to it. So undoubtedly that heightened kind of audience experience is also part of the appeal.” 

The allure of horror lies in its ability to simultaneously terrify and enthrall us - from the adrenaline rush of fear to the cathartic release of tension, horror taps into fundamental human emotion of fear and excitement. As we continue to consume and produce horror as a society, what we consider to be horror will continue to change and evolve, and it may very well become an examination of what it means to be human in a world filled with fear.