What Are You So Scared About?: Understanding the False Fear Response to Horror Films

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Sarah Seyler (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Jeffrey Adams

Abstract: When a horror movie delivers a scare to an audience member, it is able to achieve something that is entirely illogical; it has made someone scared of something that poses no threat. So what is the logic behind a horror film? What aspects make a horror movie, something that can pose no physical threat, scary? In order to solve this question, many different aspects of filmmaking in horror will be looked at, including filmmaking techniques, psychological manipulation through storytelling, and the exploration of certain cultural elements in horror films that contextualize the fears a society has.

Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Language: English
Date: 2019
Keywords
horror, films, horror films, fear

Email this document to