Hungerstone

Bella Santulli, NAMI Intern

A fiction of fun that is well-known throughout the world, introduced in the early 20th century, is horror–my personal favorite. Is it so wrong that one of my favorite movies is Terrifier 3? Yes, a movie comprised of heavy gore, the annihilation of others, and psychological torture of the main characters is one of my favorite movies. Well, I am not the only one. Terrifier 3 well exceeded its quota, accumulating more than 73 million at the box office, dethroning larger productions such as Joker 2 in 2024. Still, the real question is, what is the psychology behind deriving pleasure from horrifying fiction?

Several factors must be considered when discussing the appeal of the genre, including underlying biological elements, cultural influences, and connections to fear, among others. Awareness of personal safety is a colossal contributor to enjoying horror movies. As sociologist Margee Kerr told The Atlantic, it is partially due to a biological phenomenon known as excitation transfer. After the physical reactions to fear, such as an accelerated heart rate and heavy breathing, wear off, viewers experience intense relief. Positive feelings intensify and, in short, “fear floods our brains with feel-good chemicals.” This cascade of ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters and hormones, such as endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline, that influence our brains and our bodies gives us a moment of relief or excitement. This, in turn, can serve as a break from an overly routinized and even mundane everyday life, or it can make us want to experience the “high” (adrenaline rush) again.

Here is a breakdown of the unconscious, wonderful ways of the human brain: 

• The thalamus determines where incoming sensory data should be sent in the body.
• The sensory cortex interprets this sensory data.
• The hippocampus can store and retrieve memories and process stimuli to give context.
• The amygdala determines possible threats and “decodes emotions” while storing fear memories.
• The hypothalamus activates the fight-or-flight response.

Psychologically, we love to scare ourselves silly because when we make it through a terrifying yet safe activity, it results in feelings of confidence, competence, accomplishment, and success–a real self-esteem boost. Overall, horror offers a cathartic experience, allowing people to confront and release their fears in a safe and controlled environment. This can be therapeutic and help individuals process their anxieties, while also functioning as a controlled exploration of fear without genuine risk. Additionally, the horror genre is more than just a source of entertainment; it’s a powerful cultural tool that allows us to confront our fears, engage with social issues, and explore the depths of the human psyche. The individual traits/interests are also dependent on the enjoyment of the adapting genre. First spanning folklore and religious beliefs, it has evolved into numerous subgenres, as well as the modern slasher.

In the upcoming months of summer, various new horror movies are being brought to theaters, such as A24’s Bring Her Back, I Know What You Did Last Summer, 28 Years Later, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Saw XI, etc. Enjoy the adrenaline rush! 

Book of the Week: Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

A bite-sized masterpiece of gothic horror and sapphic romance that will leave you hungry for more. This story revolves around Lenore, trapped in a loveless marriage to steel magnate Henry, whose ambitions drag them from London to the shadowy Nethershaw manor. After a mysterious carriage accident near the manor, Carmilla enters Lenore’s life: vibrant at night, pale by day, and irresistible. As Carmilla awakens a deep hunger within Lenore, young girls in nearby villages begin to fall ill, consumed by a bloody thirst that hints at a much darker truth. Every page drips with gothic allure, every chapter pulses with tension, and by the end, you will be left starving for another taste!

Resources

• NAMI Mercer Helpline Phone Number: 609-799-8994 x17
• NAMI Mercer Helpline Email: helpline@namimercer.org

References

• “The Psychology of Fear | CSP Global.” Concordia University, St. Paul, 13 July 2020, online.csp.edu/resources/article/pyschology-of-fear/. 
• Carollo, Laura. “Horror Movies – Statistics & Facts.” Statista, 29 Oct. 2024, www.statista.com/topics/12896/horror-movies/#topicOverview. 
• Cooper-White, Macrina. “This Is Why We Love to Scare Ourselves Silly.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 16 Oct. 2014, www.huffpost.com/entry/science-of-fear-why-we-love-to-scare-ourselves_n_5976266.
• Hoffner, Cynthia A., and Kenneth J. Levine. “Enjoyment of mediated fright and violence: A meta-analysis.” Media Psychology, vol. 7, no. 2, May 2005, pp. 207–237, https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532785xmep0702_5.