Frightening films have consistently been a staple of Halloween for decades. Horror movies are extremely popular, particularly during the month of October. Horror movies are highly in demand but also immensely divisive on whether they are more entertaining or scary.
Part of the appeal of horror movies is that moviegoers can experience a thriller with friends or family without leaving the comfort of home.
“You get to experience fear and suspense without actually being in danger, and that excitement keeps you hooked,” explained junior Abhay Kumar Prashanth.
Horror movies often consist of fantastical elements such as ghosts, ghouls or mythical characters. These elements carry over heavily to Halloween, which is known for the spooky stories and an overall spooky aesthetic. Horror movies’ and thrillers’ release in October is no accident; spooky films are meant for the eeriness of Halloween.
Halloween’s identity is closely tied to the identities of horror movies.
“When you watch scary films in October, it just makes everything feel more like Halloween.”
While horror movies can provide entertainment for anyone, the social aspect of Halloween can be amplified by watching movies with friends. As many of Lambert’s high school students phase out of trick-or-treating, thrillers and horror movies could potentially provide the social enjoyment students are looking for in a more mature form. The dark colors, more mature or graphic themes and frightening jumpscares all make horror movies appealing to an older audience looking for less “kiddie” experiences.
Halloween has been about bonding with friends through costumes, decorations and activities like trick-or-treating for decades. However, as kids mature, horror movies provide the potential for a new social bonding experience that is both inclusive and Halloween-themed.
Scary movies have proved to be more than adrenaline-boosting, manufactured films; the same elements that make movies like ‘It’ or ‘Terrifier’ so frightening encourage a sense of social bonding and togetherness unlike in any other holiday. Watching scary movies with others creates shared emotion, strengthening relationships and promoting the importance of sticking together.
