During the spooky season, I typically veer towards cozy mysteries like 'Scooby Doo' or 'Murder, She Wrote.' However, this year, I found myself watching more and more horror films, a genre that has never been my cup of tea due to my tendency to get easily spooked. In fact, my siblings often tease me for supposedly hating horror. Nevertheless, I've developed a growing appreciation for the genre, and I believe I've pinpointed why it can be so frightening.
When watching horror movies, it's not the jump scares that get me; it's the screams, fear, and death scenes that really get under my skin. I couldn't help but recall a college course I took, "The Biology of Creativity," which explored creativity and how it connects to our bodily structures. One lesson touched on how the stimuli in our brains correlates with visual art. In particular, when audiences observe actions in a visual medium like film, the stimuli in our brains can’t necessarily discern the difference between that and real life. Which is what unnerves me in horror scenes is the visceral fear I experience. When a horror movie is well-executed, it's as if I can feel the fear emanating from the screen.
In my quest to learn more about horror, two factors have had the most significant impact on cultivating my appreciation for the genre. The first is delving into the classics such as 'Dawn of the Dead,' 'The Blob,' 'Friday the 13th,' and 'Halloween.' Although I've only scratched the surface of horror classics, watching these films that inspired modern horror flicks has given me a profound appreciation for the creativity and originality they brought to the genre. For instance, 'Friday the 13th' cleverly incorporated the killer's point of view, while 'Halloween' popularized the use of suburban settings as a playground for the killer.
However, what truly cemented my love for the horror genre was the experience of watching it with others. Horror and comedy share a common trait – they thrive in a packed venue. I vividly remember my first screening of 'Halloween' during its 44th-anniversary show in a crowded theater. Being part of that communal experience, with a room full of people who either appreciated the film and the genre or were new to horror (like me), created a hive of emotions—fright, laughter, and joy, depending on the point in the unfolding story. Witnessing Laurie Strode's final confrontation with Michael Myers, knowing she would survive, was even more enjoyable thanks to the shared experience.
Another memorable experience was watching 'It's a Wonderful Knife' in a theater during Regal Cinemas' Mystery Movie Monday in October. Although this movie had a campy slasher theme, the audience's reactions, particularly their vocal commentary on the film's flaws, added a layer of enjoyment. It was a movie that might not have filled a theater on any other occasion.
Lastly, while 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' isn't strictly a horror movie, it comfortably resides in the horror-esque/ Halloween realm. Seeing it on the big screen was a delight for a fan of Tim Burton's unique style and stop-motion animation.
In conclusion, my journey into the horror genre has been marked by watching classics and experiencing it in a social setting. Horror films have taught me to appreciate the finer aspects of filmmaking, such as pacing, framing, and acting. In this genre, every second counts, as a single misstep can disrupt the flow of the entire film. It's why the horror classics have intrigued me, as their time-tested engagement is evident. Horror is unique in its ability to make you feel a gamut of emotions all within the same film.
Update (10/31/2023): I recently watched 'Five Nights at Freddy's' in theaters, an experience enriched by the audience's comedic commentary. While I'm usually a quiet moviegoer, I found the humorous comments from the audience added a layer of enjoyment. It was particularly helpful for a movie like this with a deep video game lore that I'm not familiar with.
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