CM1145 #12 Why We Crave Horror Movies

I read this essay in class the other day and I loved it. It's Stephen King explaining why people love horror movies, and he's absolutely right! He says that "the horror film has become the modern version of the public lynching", which is exactly right. In the old days people were executed in public, and it's crazy how many people actually went out to watch these things. Better yet, it's insane how many of them actually enjoyed such a spectacle. Insane? No, not really. Killing and violence is human nature, and it has been for thousands of years. The fact that we've enjoyed seeing other people in pain shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, mostly because of how much we still enjoy it. It's like watching a car wreck or a train derailment... Sure you feel bad for the people involved, but boy is it interesting. You just can't look away, even if someone is lying on the ground next to their own severed head. That's why horror movies are great: you can watch people get killed in ridiculous ways from the comfort and safety of your couch. You can even enjoy some snacks in the process, I mean it doesn't get any better than that.