If most of us are good people why do we enjoy horror, sadistic torture movies?

[desibaba]

I went on Netflix today and one of the top movies being watched was the “New” Texas Chainsaw Massacre so I just finished watching it.

The story doesn’t really mean anything because it was mainly watching humans get slaughtered and murdered as graphically and painfully as possible.

If most of us are inherently “Good” human beings then why do we spend money on watching these things and in many cases we will go to the movies, spend money on popcorn and soda only to watch ourselves get disgusted and grossed out.

What makes us do this to ourselves and in many cases we love to drag along friends and family members so they can have the same “Experience”?

 

[G34RS]

It’s the same reason people like roller coasters. You can simulate a dangerous or frightening experience and the exhilaration that comes with that while being safe and in control. Also some people are sfx nerds and appreciate the craft of creating convincing gore effects especially if it’s practical effects. I like horror movies of all kinds but real life injuries are still deeply disturbing to me because I can separate fantasy from real life.

 

[Sparta12]

Because it can stimulate your brain in a few different ways, excitement, joy, fear, awe all of these can release adrenaline, dopamine etc... so it can be a nice experience even though you get **** scared haha. Sometimes you just wanna see someone get their head bashed in on the screen so you don't do it in real life? haha

 

[GQdaLEGEND]

Bump

Very interesting thread and yeah us as humans .. or should say atleast for me i love serial killers movies/documentaries

maybe since ive done BA in psych or just attracts how the human mind can work in various ways.

I agree with @G34RS part of it has to be with us knowing that if it was too happen in real life, we would be sh1tting our pants lol

 

[GQdaLEGEND]

Hmm it's great you must be very amused with the movies at the net-flex but I don't have the Id to watch , how I would get the id??

ask everyone you know if they have netflix and if they do .. ask for their login.

you too can be amused

 

[Nodus1]

I don’t particularly enjoy these types of movies. Also, I’m not convinced that most of us are good people.

 

[Beau]

I don't watch them. I think we have to be very intentional in what we watch.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

You think that's bad? Look at how people casually watch cartel execution videos, war videos, live leak, torture porn, and other sadistic forms of media for pleasure. The fascination for the horrid, cruelty, macabre, taboo is deep in our genes.

 

[GQdaLEGEND]

Devil walks among us .. we have seen some sick sick minds

 

[Smont]

I don't enjoy sick horror movies, things like saw just don't do it for me, I don't like gore be it movies or real life. I do however love watching real fights, boxing/MMA, even occasionally street fights. I don't know how many of you have ever knocked someone out but I equate it to the feeling of hitting a home run in baseball, or scoring the winning touchdown in football. It's a instant high.
I don't think that makes me a bad person as long as your not going around starting fights. I look at is as a sport or hobby like basketball or woodworking. Whatever you enjoy doing

 

[Smont]

You think that's bad? Look at how people casually watch cartel execution videos, war videos, live leak, torture porn, and other sadistic forms of media for pleasure. The fascination for the horrid, cruelty, macabre, taboo is deep in our genes.

It's sick, my buddy and his girl watch them all the time, I will be shocked and there laughing like it's funny, blows my mind

 

[Kronic]

I like horror, but usually sci-fi or fantasy in some way. give me some dinosaurs, zombies, vampires, aliens etc. serial killer and gorefest (hostel) movies are not very interesting for me.

from dusk til dawn is like one of the best movies ever made

 

[Smont]

I like horror, but usually sci-fi or fantasy in some way. give me some dinosaurs, zombies, vampires, aliens etc. serial killer and gorefest (hostel) movies are not very interesting for me.

from dusk til dawn is like one of the best movies ever made

Same boat here those are the types of horrors that I like, supernatural horror movies especially

 

[GreenMachineX]

Bump

Very interesting thread and yeah us as humans .. or should say atleast for me i love serial killers movies/documentaries

maybe since ive done BA in psych or just attracts how the human mind can work in various ways.

I agree with @G34RS part of it has to be with us knowing that if it was too happen in real life, we would be sh1tting our pants lol

Bumping an old thread...but I actually find slasher horror boring. I much prefer supernatural, cosmic, alien, and occult type horror (and sci-fi) for the same reason I like cryptozoology and such. There's something interesting about things we don't know. To me, that's something far more scary then being attacked by a mere mortal.

 

[GreenMachineX]

Also, I’m not convinced that most of us are good people.

Agreed.

 

[celc5]

I do like psych thrillers way more than gore. The bad guy or idea of fear has to be believable for me to allow myself to fully engage. Interestingly, believability isn't required for me to enjoy sci Fi adventures though with aliens, orcs, AI, or time travel. I guess that could be psychoanalyzed for fun