Theory of scary film

This post is relating to the last post.

It is about theory of scary films.

 

Why do we watch scary film?

§  Do we like seeing evil punished?

§  The excitement “the truth”

§  To face their fear

Why don’t you want to watch scary film?

§  Knowledge that everything is safe

        (Not scary if not believable)

§  Found the scary film boring 

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Aristotle

Believed in CATHARSIS

   §  A release of suppressed emotions

   §  We are attached to what scares us to PURGE emotion

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Zolf Zillman

Excitation Theory

Negative emotions gained from violent/scary imagery INTENSIFY the positive

            + We enjoy seeing evil vanquished. 

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GlennD Walters

What makes a film scary?

1.    Tension – suspense built up with filming techniques

2.    Relevance – the fear generated has to be relevant and believed by the audience.