I think the number one reason people enjoy the horror genre is because of the adrenalin rush it tends to supply its viewers with. An avid fan of anything "spooky" or "mysterious" myself, I acknowledge the fact that I find a strange beauty in things commonly discarded or cast away by most people. While, albeit, I am quite a unique individual, I personally love watching people explore creepy, crumbling houses, just to watch the awesome architecture and feel the mystery of what happened there. Why did the previous inhabitants just get up and leave so quickly? Is there a ghost haunting the house? Or is it just some school kids from down the street? What bits of forgotten history can be uncovered by simply pawing through the various, every-day objects left behind?
The horror genre feeds on a wanting to know more. People are afraid of what they do not understand, and horror movies are definitely one of those things. There's a certain fascination and curiosity found in the genre that isn't often touched upon in other niches of literature and film. You get hints of it, but primarily, stories outside of its loop tend to be lighter, and emphasize less of the real darkness that is inside of our world.
For example, while reading the Chronicles of Narnia, you aren't going to read about graphic, disturbing murder or a tear-jerking tragedy. It's a lighter tale meant for children; to make it overly-dark would be inappropriate. It's still a great read, and I myself am in love with the books and movies alike, but you're not going to get the same amount of adrenaline or "edge of your seat" action that you often may encounter in a horror/thriller novel. The stakes aren't as high, Aslan is on their side, and you know that in the end, no children are going to be hurt.
With horror and thriller stories, however, the stakes are often literally undefinable. Characters die left and right, causing a sense of stress that pulls the readers or viewers into a sense of paranoia, and the stories, when written correctly, are often unpredictable.
In short however, yes, I would have to say adrenline. I don't know if any of this made any sense, but yeah, my guess is that it's the thrill that keeps audiences (including me) coming back, as well as the unrestrained ability to write about difficult subjects not touched upon in other works. I personally am a fan of teaching lessons through difficult topics, so you could consider me a "darker" writer. Maybe that's just me.
By the way, I have seen Stranger Things, and I found it an excellently written show. I guess I'm just a sucker for being on the edge of my seat, while simotaneously getting to know an entire cast of likable characters. And as for benefits? That one's tough. I mean, there's always entertainment, but some stories considered frightening genuinely do teach some good lessons, and may even instill a sort of caution in dangerous situations. (Don't open that door, Billy...) XD
The horror genre feeds on a wanting to know more. People are afraid of what they do not understand, and horror movies are definitely one of those things. There's a certain fascination and curiosity found in the genre that isn't often touched upon in other niches of literature and film. You get hints of it, but primarily, stories outside of its loop tend to be lighter, and emphasize less of the real darkness that is inside of our world.
For example, while reading the Chronicles of Narnia, you aren't going to read about graphic, disturbing murder or a tear-jerking tragedy. It's a lighter tale meant for children; to make it overly-dark would be inappropriate. It's still a great read, and I myself am in love with the books and movies alike, but you're not going to get the same amount of adrenaline or "edge of your seat" action that you often may encounter in a horror/thriller novel. The stakes aren't as high, Aslan is on their side, and you know that in the end, no children are going to be hurt.
With horror and thriller stories, however, the stakes are often literally undefinable. Characters die left and right, causing a sense of stress that pulls the readers or viewers into a sense of paranoia, and the stories, when written correctly, are often unpredictable.
In short however, yes, I would have to say adrenline. I don't know if any of this made any sense, but yeah, my guess is that it's the thrill that keeps audiences (including me) coming back, as well as the unrestrained ability to write about difficult subjects not touched upon in other works. I personally am a fan of teaching lessons through difficult topics, so you could consider me a "darker" writer. Maybe that's just me.
By the way, I have seen Stranger Things, and I found it an excellently written show. I guess I'm just a sucker for being on the edge of my seat, while simotaneously getting to know an entire cast of likable characters. And as for benefits? That one's tough. I mean, there's always entertainment, but some stories considered frightening genuinely do teach some good lessons, and may even instill a sort of caution in dangerous situations. (Don't open that door, Billy...) XD