Fears

Fear

Why do we watch scary films

Media plays with human fears, fears in another way attracts the audience because it gives the audience thrills and challenges the audience. Physical responses appeals to the audience to satisfy the need for emotional stimulus, the thrill and excitement created by the film. This is due to the adrenaline and noradrenaline release due fear, which satisfies the audience, since adrenaline combats stress.

Glenn D Walters : What makes a film scary?

Tensions

The tension created in the film which requires skills from the filmmaker. 

Relevance

Films are made scary due to the universal, societal, personal and subgroup relevance, when audience can relate to the film, they will tend to feel scared since it convinces the audience that the storyline can happen in real life. 

Unrealism

We know that it isn't real, therefore we watch the film to relieve our negative emotions.  Aristotle believed in CATHARSIS ( release of repressed emotions), we are attracted to violence and what scares us. In order to purge negative emotions.

Excitation Transfer Theory

Zolf Zillman

Negative feelings gained from watching scary imagery INTENSIFY the positive feelings gained when goos triumphs.