http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070725152040.htm
After seeing a preview for the new Nightmare on Elm street movie I thought of two things. One, Hollywood is hard up for new and creative ideas, and two, why do people sit through 2 hours of being on the edge of their seat scared?
The authors of the article state "horror movie viewers are happy to be unhappy. This novel approach to emotion reveals that people experience both negative and positive emotions simultaneously -- people may actually enjoy being scared, not just relief when the threat is removed and that the most pleasant moments of a particular event may also be the most fearful.
Reeve writes "fear motivates defense" and states that fear "serves as a warning signal for physical or psychological harm that manifests itself in autonomic vervous system arousal." Fear is also an emotional reaction that comes from a person's way of interpreting a situation they may face and see as a danger or threat to their well being.
While I'm not a big fan of scary movies (I'm not a bed-wetter, I just prefer comedies or dramas) I'll probably see this movie just for the heck of it. I've seen most of the other Nightmare films and know the concept but if I get too scared, or if the movie is just too stupid, I can do what Reeve describes as "fleeing is putting physical distance between the self and that which is feared"...see you in the lobby.
I am personally a big fan of scary movies myself. I have all the Halloweens, Elm Streets, and Jason's. I think this has to do with the saying "something worth fearing usually ends up being the most worth while." The article also states a similar explanation. It's kind of like why do people go to haunted houses in October? Why put yourself in that position? Because being scared isn't always a bad emotion as Reeve's says, fear optimally facilitates protection. Although when watching a scary movie, you already know you are protected and hopefully you don't have nightmares later that night.
I really enjoy watching scary movies. I think that a lot of people watch them for that feeling of excitement. A lot of horror movies do follow a basic pattern but some of them you have no idea what exactly is going to happen next and that is part of the excitement. In the article it talks about how a person who finds enjoyment from horror movies is happy to be unhappy. I think that is the case for most people. People enjoy watching a horror movie because they will get scared at some point during the movie.
I found this article (http://www.wisegeek.com/why-do-people-like-to-watch-scary-movies.htm) that also helps to give some insight into why people like watching horror movies. One particular part that relates to me is where they compared watching a horror movie to being on a roller coaster, and the rush that a person feels at certain times during the movie. How a person’s heart rate will go up along with a boost of adrenaline that their body delivers. During a horror movie a person also knows that it is not real. So a person can get the rush of begin afraid while knowing that they are safe the entire time.
I enjoy scary movies, well all expect the Elm Street ones, but I must admit that after watching them I am usually the one with a light on going to sleep. I would have to say that the fear that Reeve talks about for me is physically infront of me fear, like danger in 0.2 seconds and I find that scary movies while watching don't really give me need to run away from the T.V. set. It is when the T.V. set is off that my mind goes, okay, now did you lock your front door, the windows, are the blinds or currents drawn in, is that feeling of being watched an actual feeling, (here is where leaving a light on becomes a check)? The light for me is more of a congitive response, for lets say, I were to wake up and the lights on and I see Jason standing in the corner, ha I can get up and run, but if the light is off I don't get that chance. And plus I have a slight fear of the dark and being in my mid 20's that should not be the case. Like I said that leaving the light on is my way of being prepared, you can see this in the Cognitive Model in chapter 11 on page 301. The movie was the event and I became more aware of my surrounding, because of the fear and prepared myself mentally by checking everything and leaving the light on, which calmed me down and lead me to feel safer.
Which leads me to agree with the article, that I do love to watch and be scared watching a scary movie but hate the after math.
I enjoy scary movies a lot, but I can never seem to find any that aren't predictable. I'm good at guessing when someone is going to die, where they will be hidden, etc. It's all too predictable for me. However, I love the jumpy parts in the movie. The sudden start gives me what I assume to be an adrenaline rush.
According to Allyce Snider on About.com, adrenaline is a neurotransmitter that is used to signal the fight or flight technique. This includes such things as increased oxygen and glucose to the brain (improving the speed of functioning), increased blood pressure, and surprising other body functions to improve concentration on fighting or flying.
After doing a quick google search for "adrenaline movies", I got over two million results which included the best adrenaline movies. Obviously, we like some aspect of the adrenaline rushes. Whether it's the increased oxygen to the brain, the sensation of your body, or the subconscious recognition of you body that you "were in danger" and now are fine.
Either way, I'm not the only one who enjoys scary movies for the rush / exhilaration, and I certainly plan on watching this remake of a horror classic.