Horror has never been my favorite genre of film because it invokes a primal response in me, flight or fight, that takes over my body in an adeline rush that leads to no where and at the end of the film I am sitting there thinking to myself, "why did that frighten me, if it was only a movie." I guess our fear of the unknown or wickedness persists in us to this day. In watching the Purge (2013), I found myself crossing my arms and legs and drawing myself inward trying to make myself smaller; the way snails retract into their shell when they are frightened. Even though, the Purge is a different type of scary as from the Exorcist, it is still frightening to me because of the surprising characters that jump at you out of no where. In The Paradox of Horror, Carrol attempts to answer what makes horror pleasurable or compelling even though it is repulsive, hence the name of her chapter.
One theory that I found interesting and believe can answer the question of why people get scared, is H.P. Lovecraft's theory of Cosmic Fear. For Lovecraft, Cosmic Fear is an, "exhilarating mixture of fear, moral revulsion, and wonder" (161). The reason I believe this is found in the Purge is because the film invokes the fear of the unknown that Lovecraft claims has haunted us through human history. In the Purge, anyone at any time and anywhere can attack, rob, murder, or do anything to anyone for 12 hours. This sort of the unknown causes one to be in awe and "charged with wonder," and though it disgusts people it also keeps others wanting more.
Lovecraft suggests that the experience of feeling in awe and charged with wonder is a religious experience that can account for the reason people keep coming back to fear. I do have to admit that there is something about horror movies that makes me want to watch them and experience the pleasurable sting when a person jumps at the screen with a knife. It releases chemicals in my body that produces the feeling of being disgusted and repulsive at the same time and it is in this moment that I feel the fight or flight response. In addition, for Lovecraft the thing that is causing the fear is the supernatural. In a sense one is elevated to a state of temporary perplexity and numbness, when one is experiencing fear for the supernatural. Therefore, making it a religious experience because one is drawn to this state (162-163).
The Purge draws out this state of perplexity and numbness because one fears the unknown's actions. The other heart cringing part of the Purge is the idea that all of this is permitted and the government does not assist one. We are transplanted to a time in history where there is no social order and government during those 12 hours and one is left to his/her own devices. Therefore, movies like the Purge, are addicting they invite us back because they are pleasurable but they are also disgusting because of the feeling it gives us. It is this experienced charged with wonder that makes it addicting.
I love the way in which you described your body language when watching a horror film, like retracting like a snail. Body language is very telling in this manner, and I had never really given thought to it like you did. My body language when I watch horror, is similar and I am someone who enjoys horror films. I would like to argue that most people probably act this way because whether or not you like horror, I think it still makes everyone uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteAs a good friend of yours, I am still in awe how much you don't like horror movies lol. lol The Big Leo is a Pussy Cat (just kidding) but you are not all my friend. I am among few who enjoy the adrenaline rush of fight or flight. My response is fight lol. My best friend, Brandon hated horror movies but I got him hooked because we watched Insidious together. From then on, he doesn't like horror movies like I do but he now understands the enjoyment from a good quality scare.
Ok, so I think it's really interesting how we both touched upon the same things but you agree more with Lovecrafts theory than Carrolls and I can see why a little more. For me, I think that cosmic fear is a good way to explain why people get scared of things like aliens and supernatural movies because it's something that doesn't have a voice in the same way that the characters in the film do, you know? It's like with entities and demons and hauntings it's different because of the fact that there isn't as much of a human factor in it. With the Purge and horror films like it with serial killers and murderers and that suspense, we watch because we want to know and understand how someone can do that. Often, I've realized that we want to believe that its because of some terrorizing thing that happened to them that led them to be this way, as if we want that relief that there's an explanation or voice of reason as to why someone commits the acts they do. The purge kinda does this by saying that the government has to allow this for people to get it out of their system.
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