“I’m Nervous about What the Popularity of Horror Says about Society”

Abstract

Some people may be concerned that the explosion in horror movie production is a symptom of a sick society, but that is not the case. Not only is movie production in general increasing, but horror movies specifically fulfill an important function of addressing widespread, topical anxieties. Horror movies work on two levels: a literal and a metaphorical level. On the literal level, the horror movie induces fear and anxiety through primitive cues that might frighten a monkey, but on the metaphorical level, it can address more abstract worries such as concerns over conformity or racism or other aspects of cultural context. Moreover, horror movies seem to thrive in periods of cultural and social unrest. Horror films are not just symptoms of cultural unrest, however, but may also be a cure for pervasive sociocultural anxieties—a means for people to cope with a scary world.