Move over rom-coms, horror movies are the new comfort movies.
I was rewatching Insidious a few nights ago when, while stuffing my face with popcorn, I suddenly had a life-changing revelation: horror movies are the new—and dare I say, better—genre of comfort movies. What’s more comforting than watching Mr. Darcy confess his undying love for Elizabeth, you ask? It’s watching the members of the Losers Club defeat Pennywise in the final battle of IT Chapter Two. Obviously.
Buckle up and hold on tight, because we’re going to explore a whole new world where creepy is comfort. Here’s a list of reasons presented by a horror movie connoisseur (i.e. me) on why you should opt for The Shining instead of 10 Things I Hate About You for your next chick-flick night.
Quick and easy guide to unlock your Main Character Syndrome
Okay, listen: have you ever seen how cocky the main characters are in horror films? They act like they can do anything, like nothing scares them, and like they are uniquely equipped to save the entire world. They aren’t scared of the dark or the monsters under their beds. In my books, that’s a big SLAY. It is a truth universally acknowledged that by observing these characters and their mannerisms, you can become like them too! (Don’t fact check me on this.) Be the main character of your life while pretending to be the main character of a Wes Craven film.
The Insane World-Building
I know, I know—movie buffs will complain that fantasy or sci-fi movies do world-building better, but I disagree. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than learning about a town that has been haunted by demons for years or seeing how a lab experiment went wrong ages ago. The fictional towns and cities built up in classic horror films take my breath away (literally). Who’s with me for a trip to Camp Crystal Lake to test out our main character syndrome?? But seriously, one good thing about world-building is that the less you explain to your viewers, the more chilling an effect you create. (Work smarter, not harder.) There’s a special place for this craft in my heart.
Free Therapy
Hear me out on this one!! Do you ever watch a horror film and feel thankful that you’re not in their shoes trying to run away from demonic spirits? You become humbler because, for some unknown reason, you are still safe from being decapitated. To me, it’s very therapeutic to watch someone suffer while I make fun of them for their stupid decisions (I’m not a sadist, I promise). It can get a little draining to scream at your TV while the protagonist plans a dumb move that will sabotage their entire save-the-world mission, but at the end of the day, they suffer the consequences while I sleep peacefully in my own bed. Nothing makes me feel better than knowing that even I am not dumb enough to go into a creepy basement or follow terrifying voices emanating from places I shouldn’t be in.
Quick confession: I also believe that the soundtracks of horror films are soothing in their own twisted ways. Gives you the perfect amount of an adrenaline rush. Delightful.
Now that you’ve made your way down the list, I hope you plan on watching Sinister instead of Mamma Mia! at your next movie night!