Horror Movies: Feeding the Monster of Our Imagination
Faculty Sponsor
Lisa Silvestri, Gonzaga University
Research Project Abstract
Horror movies have been popular for their enticing stimulation of fear. This paper examines how tropes of fear have evolved to account for an audience conscious of the conventions of fear. As we begin to break down fear in popular horror movies, there is something to be learned about contemporary attitudes, values and beliefs. There must be a change in the way we see horror movies in order to keep us entertained and coming back for more. Filmmakers who have developed horror movies have improved their work to keep up with the audience and their ever escalating levels of fear. It seems that today there are a few things that horror movies include that work for the audience. Movies that we find horrifying include ones that are considered to be based off of true stories, playing with expectations of the audience, and are defined as psychological thrillers.
Session Number
RS2
Location
Robinson 210
Abstract Number
RS2-b
Horror Movies: Feeding the Monster of Our Imagination
Robinson 210
Horror movies have been popular for their enticing stimulation of fear. This paper examines how tropes of fear have evolved to account for an audience conscious of the conventions of fear. As we begin to break down fear in popular horror movies, there is something to be learned about contemporary attitudes, values and beliefs. There must be a change in the way we see horror movies in order to keep us entertained and coming back for more. Filmmakers who have developed horror movies have improved their work to keep up with the audience and their ever escalating levels of fear. It seems that today there are a few things that horror movies include that work for the audience. Movies that we find horrifying include ones that are considered to be based off of true stories, playing with expectations of the audience, and are defined as psychological thrillers.
