Why horror movies captivate us

I am obsessively into movies of all genres. (Well, truth be told, I rarely fall in love with musicals.) I have a particular affinity for sci fi, action, comedy, drama, and horror films. Being a card-carrying AMC Stubs “A-List” member allows me to consume virtually every new release that I want to see. As I await films like “Smile 2” and “Bagman” to premier, I am pondering (as I often have) why I — and tens of millions of other Americans — pay good money to be scared out of our wits. In a society that is constantly striving for comfort, safety, and predictability, why do horror movies — a genre that is built on fear, shock, and the grotesque — hold such a magnetic pull? Is it paradoxical that we willingly plunge ourselves into tales of terror, thereby trading tranquility for tension? To unravel this enigma, perhaps we should look beyond the surface of screams and shadows. Horror movies are not just a pastime; they are a mirror reflecting our deepest anxieties, a controlled confrontation with the unknown, and an exploration of the human psyche. In short, such movies are a safe playground of fear. At the heart of...