Watching movies doesn’t just affect our brains; it also affects our bodies. Find out how the effects of horror movies compare with those of other genres.
Category Archives: The Thrill of Horror
Why do we like to be scared?
Sociologist, Dr. Margee Kerr, explains what we feel when we are scared and why it’s so fun.
8 books that wouldn’t exist without Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’
Learn about some of the literary offspring of one of the earliest horror stories.
How to write a horror story: 6 terrific tips
Have you ever wanted to write your own horror story? Get some practical tips to jump-start your ideas.
Laughter in the Dark: A History of Dark Rides
Early amusement parks may not have had high-tech thrill rides, but they managed to frighten people in simpler ways. Find out about the horror potential of a dangling string and other tricks of “dark rides.”
Factoring Fear: What Scares Us and Why
Fear is a basic human response, but scientists still don’t completely understand it. Read about their efforts, using scans of blood flow in the brain, to further comprehend this complex reaction.
Why ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ Is Still the Scariest Story of All Time
On the occasion of a new film adaptation of W.W. Jacobs’s classic tale, a reviewer digs into what makes this “be careful what you wish for” lesson so memorable.
What horror movies do to your brain
Even though you know that what you’re seeing onscreen isn’t real, your brain can react to a horror movie as though it is.
Is horror the most disrespected genre?
Every movie genre includes thoughtful, well-made films and cheap, awful ones. So why do some reviewers assume that most horror movies are trash?
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Charles Brockden Brown’s Wieland is considered the first American horror novel. Read what one modern-day reviewer thinks of its twists and turns.
5 Reasons Horror in Children’s Literature Is a Good Thing
How young is too young for a horror story? A parent and book reviewer shares his thoughts.
Pop Culture’s Undying Edgar Allan Poe Obsession
There’s no question that Edgar Allan Poe has made a lasting impression on American popular culture. This article uses the release of a movie about a dangerous obsession with Poe to take a look back at the author’s pop culture legacy.
The Oscars’ Biggest Win? Acknowledging the Power of Genre Movies
According to the author of this article, movies in genres such as horror and science fiction are being recognized as part of the mainstream because audiences connect with them in meaningful ways.
Getting to the Roots of “Plant Horror”
Check out this article to find out more about the quirky subgenre of “plant horror.”
Social Lessons from Our Favorite Horror Movies
Click this link for a list of valuable social lessons that are reflected in some well-known horror films.
What Makes Horror Movies Scary? “We do,” Says Baylor Film Expert
A film historian at Baylor University believes horror movies are so compelling because they reflect the difficult and disturbing aspects of our society and ourselves.
Researchers Examine the Fun of Fear
Two faculty members at the University of Pittsburgh have teamed up to study the science of fear. They are interested in learning more about the psychological benefits of being scared.
No ghost stories at camp?
Telling scary stories around a campfire is an American tradition. In many modern summer camps, however, scary stories are being phased out in favor of activities that have more identifiably “positive outcomes” for everyone. Read this article and decide how you feel about the issue.
7 Nightmarish Reads
Interested in reading some creepy stories? Check out this list of seven recommendations from the School Library Journal.
Horror movies tap into a primal fear instinct in your brain
Click this link to learn about “neurocinematics,” an area of research that investigates the connection between the mind and the experience of watching movies.