Rollercoasters, haunted houses, scary movies — we enjoy being scared, but have you ever wondered why? Some scientists think being scared is good for us!
Category Archives: The Thrill of Horror
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.
Zombie Neuroscience: Inside the Brains of the Walking Dead
What goes on inside the mind of a zombie? Two neuroscientists who are also avid zombie fans speculate about why zombies behave and act as they do. Based on their knowledge of the brain they explore some interesting reasons for their slow shuffle and poor coordination!
Can Fear Actually Be Healthy? 5 Health Effects of Halloween Horrors
Halloween’s popularity grows year after year, perhaps in part because being scared can be good for us.
The Krampus and Fear in the Holidays
This video from the New York Times explains the German Krampus, and why fear is a part of their holiday tradition.
Beyond the Scream: What I Learned from Horror Movies
A diverse selection of editors and writers offer insight about what they’ve learned from the horror genre.
5 reasons why scary books are better than scary movies
Writer Jen Doll makes a case that reading scary books is better than watching horror movies.
Stephen King talks about his writing process
In this interview, author Stephen King uses some interesting visual metaphors to describe his writing process.
Movies may cause special effects on the body
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.
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.