A Critique of Stephen King’s “Why We Crave Horror Movies”
Elliot Potter
In Stephen King’s essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies” he suggested that
we are all mentally ill, demonstrated by those who talk to themselves on
occasion, make grimacing faces or have hysterical fears of snakes, the dark,
or tight places. King also stated that he believed that a horror movie
appealed to all that is worst in us, allowing us to experience morbidity,
basic instincts and fantasies in the darkness of the theater. We all know
someone who talks to himself on occasion or someone who fears something. We
all know someone who loves horror films.
I agree with Stephen King’s statement that we are all mentally ill,
because mental health or mental illness is conditional to whether our
actions interfere with daily task and are acceptable responses to demands
and opportunities. We are all capable of crossing the line between
acceptable and unacceptable actions that determine being classified as sane
or insane. Horror movies allow us to view and emotionally experience the
consequences of insane actions.
I agree that horror movies appeal to all that is worse in us. Horror
movies allow us to experience extreme emotional excitement through
unacceptable actions acted out in the films. People crave the thrill they
receive from experiencing extreme nervousness, disgust, panic and fear.
The Essay on Horror Movies King Society Man
May 2001 English 115 - In today s society, popular culture is often accused of having a negative effect on individuals. In Lee Ballinger s Rock and Rap Have Never Been Better and Stephen King s Why We Crave Horror Movies, the authors express their opinions on the inaccuracy of this statement. Both Ballinger and King believe that pop culture is something that is beneficial to society; however, they ...
Horror films cause these sudden, temporary emotions and reactions, but will
not interfere with our daily lives once we leave the theater.
Packed theaters showing horror films and best selling horror novels are
proof that people crave the thrill derived from viewing or imagining insane
actions and their consequences.
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