why horror films are addictive

003 - the role of suspense in horror films (feat. interview with director Harry Waldman)

Have you ever wondered why people willingly subject themselves to fear and discomfort through horror films? Why do people enjoy the slow buildup of something awful, the creeping uncertainty, the anticipation of that terrible moment they know is bound to happen? That’s what suspense is, and it's one of the most important elements of a horror film. Suspense is what makes horror films terrifying, take it away and the film risks falling flat. As filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock famously said “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it”, the build up of tension is usually more terrifying than the scare. We are only afraid of what we don’t know. Horror films use this to keep us on edge, cultivating that need for us to find out more so we can finally release our tension.

But what is it about horror movies that makes us crawling back for more? How can something that’s so terrifying feel pleasurable? For those who aren't fans of the genre, I know this might seem like pure torture. Fans of horror, however, find it pleasurable, addictive even. The scarier a film is, the harder it is to look away; it’s like you need to find out where the story goes. And in that moment when you finally do, the tension breaks, and you can finally take a deep breath. This cycle of tension and release sort of mimics the mechanisms of addiction, there’s a certain pleasure you get in that release of tension after a suspenseful scene; it feels thrilling, euphoric, and hedonistic. Right when it's over you crave the next scare, the next moment you feel on edge because that is the art of suspense; tension and waiting. Suspense in horror is almost like a drug, the more we consume it, the more we need it. We don’t chase the fear but rather the emotional highs and excitement we get from being scared. However, when the human brain is exposed to things repeatedly, it adapts. Similar to addictions, the more used to horror you get, the more your brain craves something more intense to achieve the same level of emotional satisfaction. Which is why fans of horror become desensitized; what used to be terrify them, becomes boring and predictable. (It’s important to note that this desensitization can be harmful in some cases, and might cause certain people to seek very unsettling and even harmful content to fill the void, as the lines between fictional horror and real world violence become a blur )

According to psychologists, the human brain cannot tell the difference between excitement and stress, because they both activate the same parts of your body and brain. Dolf Zillmans excitation transfer theory¹ suggests that those strong (negative) feelings we get when watching horror films often produce positive and pleasurable emotions. In other words, experiencing stress and fear during a suspenseful film can lead to a great sense of relief afterwards. In order for the brain to gain pleasure instead of distress from a horror film, you’ll need: safety, detachment, and control² Those three factors are requirements for your brain to distinguish between terror and pleasure territory. Understanding (even just subconsciously) that you are physically safe while viewing a film, and that what you’re watching is a mix of professional acting, CGI, and visual effects is what makes horror films an (uncomfortably) enjoyable experience. In a conversation with director Harry Waldman who’s a long time horror enthusiast, he explains why he personally enjoys watching horror movies: “As long as it’s not something in real life, where I feel like my life is in danger” proving that as long as your brain knows you are physically safe, you’re able to turn a displeasure experience into an exciting and thrilling one.

In his film Enter the Room (2022), Harry Waldman uses multiple techniques to create suspense. According to him, building suspense begins in the screenplay, but is enhanced by cinematography and editing. Waldman utilizes cinematography in his film, using tighter shots to create a claustrophobic feel to the film. The shots used in horror films have a huge impact on how suspense is created; darker and tighter shots usually elicit fear and signal danger to the audience. Coming back to the concept of being afraid of the unknown, by strategically not revealing information in the frame, the audience is left with the fear of what they’re not seeing. Another technique Waldman used was hold shots; which can create an uneasy environment, because at any moment something could go wrong. The long, lingering scenes leave gaps that the audience fills with anxiety. Editing acts as the cherry on top when creating suspense, in Enter the Room, Waldman mentioned using jumpier, quicker shots, which can raise the audiences anxiety levels as they process the flashing frames on screen. He even played with the colors, starting the film with what he described as melancholic blue colors, and as things get more intense the lighting shifts to red. Visually signaling instability to the audience, Harry explains: "As the film ramps up and things become more intense and angry, […] going for the very saturated red, and then mixing green at the end. Just to create this kind of chaotic almost nightmarish scenario for the character Brian”.

Enter the Room (2022)

However, suspense can be created in several other ways, in Get Out (2017) suspense is built through the social tension, the awkward conversations, and the dreaded silence, all while the dark truth slowly unravels. Whereas Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) creates suspense through misleading the audience, creating a constant sense of uncertainty. The famous shower scene is a masterclass of suspense; it builds up slowly and silently, leaving the audience at the edge of their seats as they anticipate the worst. Despite their differences, something all these films (and all good horror films) have in common is that they play into the audiences anticipation and fears, using good timing and pacing to inflict fear onto the audience.

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About the interviewee:

Harry Waldman is the director of the short horror film Enter the Room (2022) he used films such as Memento (2000) and Donnie Darko (2001) as inspirations for his work. In our interview he explained the techniques and methods used to build suspense in horror films and the audiences emotional reaction to it. For more information, you can visit Waldman’s IMBD page here. If you want to hear my thoughts on his film “Enter the Room” check out the review I wrote on letterboxd here.

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Thanks for reading!

1. Perroni, R. (2023, August 17). Why do people like horror movies? Verywell Mind.

2. Yang, H., & Zhang, K. (2021, October 29). The psychology behind why we love (or hate) horror. Harvard Business Review