People react differently to scary movies. What attracts them to watching horror movies? Although it seems counterintuitive to enjoy fear, many people love watching horror movies. What makes people sit down in front of the screen and relive the scary moments when monsters, ghosts, or serial killers appear on screen?

On April 29, 2025, higher education students of the first (bachelor’s) level of the EPP “Professional Education” of the Department of Professional Education in Technology and Design Yevhenia Yevtushok and Natalia Vozniuk, together with PhD, Associate Professor Alla Kolodyazhna, held an educational event “Why are You Afraid of Horror Movies?” as part of the “Know Yourself” club.

Natalia and Yevhenia said that horror films are not just entertainment. They evoke real emotional and physiological reactions. For some people, it’s adrenaline and drive, while for others it’s insomnia, trembling, and refusal to watch further. Fear is an emotional reaction that occurs in response to a real or imagined threat. It is part of the instinct of self-preservation and triggers the body’s stress response: it mobilizes attention, speeds up the heartbeat, activates muscles – all to escape or defend itself. In horror movies, people are not in danger, but the brain reacts as if the threat is real.

The speakers noted that horror films activate ancient survival mechanisms. They are designed to evoke certain emotions, such as tension, fear, stress and shock. Such films can cause the release of hormones in the body, namely norepinephrine, cortisol, and adrenaline. People are afraid not only of what they see, but also of what they imagine. The level of fear depends on personal traits, context, and experience. Fear is normal. But it’s important to recognize the line between “healthy fear” and fear that is harmful to the emotional state.

Natalia and Yevhenia also noted that experiencing fear is like a workout for the brain. When watching horror movies, your heart beats, adrenaline rises, and our attention is narrowed, even if we know we are at home or in a movie theater and there is no real danger. Watching horror movies can help our brains prepare for real-life stressful situations. Researchers suggest that such films act as training, we learn to control our emotions when we are scared, and thus better cope with fear in real life.

01.05.2025