Stephen Kings Why We Crave Horror Films Essay

There was bright lightening. They looked up, frightened. Above them black furious clouds started to gather. They began to run. Then the thunder roared, and the rain came down in torrents. <<

Unfortunately, we could all be mental cases just waiting to wake up. As Stephen King says it best “I think that we’re all mentally I’ll; those of us outside the asylums only hide it better” He makes a remarkable argument testing the metal state of every true horror movie fan. He points to craziness as if it were normal, as if without these movies people couldn’t unleash a sleeping demon that lies inside us all. He mentions how adolescents show signs of insanity with use of jokes, proving that without “horror movies” people would have no place to free emotions that are kept concealed. Our society makes young people hide their emotions by reinforcing good behavior and punishing those with bad behavior keeping them from having an outlet to vent their frustrations. He believes we go see others menaced- sometimes killed to satisfy an inner twisted psychic, to allow our pathos to escape us, without these films we could be at risk of becoming another “funny farm crazy” or “Jack the ripper “but to what degree is another matter.

We got inside and covered up as much as we could so the dust couldn't get in. Soon the storm hit with much ferocity. It was brutal, and I couldn't breath. For much time it continued to hit us as if the Devil came knocking at our door.

Horror!! Probably one of many humans biggest fears. We all have many fears but horror is the one that gets the best of us. Stephen King gives pretty good reasonings in the essay “Why We Crave Horror” such as: facing your fears while watching the horror film and to re-establish the feeling of normality, but there's one in particular that he is wrong to claim that humans crave horror to just have fun.

When I awoke in the middle of the night I went outside on the ledge and looked along the shore, peaceful and quiet except for the small waves crashing ashore. As I turn my head to go back inside I saw an orange, red flare in the night sky. It was on the volcano! Magma was oozing out of it like an overflowing bath. I quickly ran inside and grabbed all my valuables and rushed out the door, I stole someone's canoe (I'm not sure who's). I then took my oar and pushed the boat out with a loud grunt. It let out a loud squeak as I hopped in, “I haven't been in one of these for months!” I thought to myself. It was shaking as if the earth was too, it was a struggle to get out in the water but I made it safe, all in one piece. It was dark and gloomy and the moment had a horrifying tone to it. I couldn't see past the surface of the water it seemed like I was on top of a layer of coal. I tried to sleep but the rocking of the boat was against that idea so I stayed awake and waited until morning. When the sun started to rise, a dark ashy cloud started to fill the sky, just as I thought it was over, the horrifying feeling struck again. The sky started lighting up and let out loud roars, lightning was upon us. Though it was morning, it felt like midnight, except, no moon, no light, nothing except me and my boat… That suddenly changed though, along with the roaring I started hearing cries of terror as flying cinders with a size ranging from pebbles to boulders started plunging into the water. It was hard to notice what was going on but I knew Vesuvius was erupting and people were dropping like flies. I tried to remain calm but it was a struggle. All of the sudden before I knew it I was knocked out by a cinder… When I awoke I was further out but I still had a small glimpse of Pompeii

As I sat on top of Schaefer's Pass in the pouring rain the only thing going through my mind was “Oh God, I’m going to die!”. The day had started off really well. With only two more days left on our trek I was gleefully thinking about re-entering civilization. The storm arrived with little to no warning as reached the top. Dark clouds quickly approached and a downpour of rain hit our group. Hiding underneath some trees we patiently waited for the storm to pass. Little did we know that this was no normal rain shower. When the first bolt of lightning hit the mountain it sounded like a bomb had gone off. The ground shook and I was blinded by a flash of blue. For the next hour we were pounded with torrential rain and hail and shook by the constant strikes of lightening. “What have I gotten myself into”, I thought as I sat shivering in my soaking wet clothes.

In Stephen King's article "Why We Crave Watching Horror Movies," he gives us three reasons for why people crave watching horror movies. Where as in Nicholas Carr's article "Is Google Making Us Stupid," he argues how technology is negatively affecting our brains ability to concentrate and comprehend information it receives.

We are all in some degree of insanity from time and time again. That is why in the essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies” is where Stephen King explains why we enjoy watching horror movies that are meant to scare the daylights out of us. Exactly why people love to watch suspenseful thrillers or gory murder films is up for debate. Yet King brings up an interesting suggestion: that all of humanity is mentally ill, but those outside asylums are able to hide their illness, sometimes. Furthermore, King depicts seeing horror as a challenge for us, to claim that we are not afraid; however the appetite for scares simply wanes as time passes. Also, though humanity is not completely seen as beautiful, horror movies occasionally portray gory imagery of humans

“Why We Crave Horror Movies” In Stephen King’s essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” King discusses how and why horror movies attract audiences with their gruesome characteristics. King starts off with saying that individuals are confronted with their own personal insanities such as abnormalities and excessive fears. To deal with these issues one faces their fear, king explains, through horror films to prove that he or she is not afraid. King then describes how one is reinforced with a sense of normality while viewing the atrocious sights in horror movies. Another reason to go see these films is for fun: a fun that comes from witnessing the downfall of others.

After reading “Why We Crave Horror Movies” I feel that Stephen King is right. Every human has their own degree of insanity. I am terrified of the dark, but I will go sit in a dark theater to watch some of my biggest fears. For instance, I am scared of clowns. When the new “It” movie came out I had to see it. I knew what I was getting into, but the exhilarating feeling you get when you are sitting in the theater not knowing what is going to happen next is why I do it. The metaphor comparing a horror movie to a roller coaster that King used I really related to. You go to an amusement park and see this huge roller coaster and you get a pit in your stomach. There is always that one friend that says, “Let’s do it!” and you don’t want to look like

In “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” Stephen King explains some of the reasons that people like to watch horror films. In his essay, King believes that people need horror movies as a method for young people to calm their psychological illness that grows within them. King also mentions, that horror movies help people differentiate themselves from the abnormal behavior of the bad guys, which establishes a sense that they are normal. Furthermore, King’s third reason is “To show that we can, that we are not afraid, that we can ride this roller coaster”(67). In other words, young people are able to demonstrate their courage by watching horror movies.

Horror Movies: An Outlet for Insanity We are all insane. Thus, man is evil. Stephen King declares this belief in his essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies”, adding his opinion to the extensive debate on the nature of humankind. Those who believe man is evil are also unable to deny their own corruption.

Stephen King, in his essay, ‘Why we crave horror movies’ said that all human beings have a dark side and so, all human beings are a little insane inside no matter how civilized they appear. He says that people watch the horror movies for various reasons. They watch the movie to show that they are not scared of anything. They take it as a challenge to be completed. Some others watch the movie for fun.

Many people throughout the world enjoy things that scare them. These things can include scary movies, roller coasters, haunted houses, etc,. In an essay called. “Why We Crave Horror Movies”, Stephen King explains his reasoning to readers about why people are attached to horror movies. For the most part, King believes that people enjoy horror movies, because people are all slightly insane, but there is another reason that can cause people to enjoy scary events and movies.

Why do humans need and out lit to get built up anger and aggression? Have you every craved horror movies? I’ve personally craved horror movies for the thrill and being able to get out any bad emotions or thoughts of hurting other people that I’ve had. In Stephen King’s short writing of “why we crave Horror Movies?” he suggests that “I think we’re all mentally ill; those of us outside the asylums only hide a little better…”. I Agree with King and I feel like everyone is crazy in their own way some are worse than others; The ones that are not that crazy simply find an outlet like horror movies to get out the negative thoughts that go through their head and are able to control it.