Scary Movies: The Best and Worst of Horror Cinema, from Classics to Modern Masterpieces
What is scary?
Scary is a word that describes something that causes fear, anxiety, or discomfort. Fear is an emotion that arises when we perceive a threat or danger to our physical or psychological well-being. Fear can be adaptive, as it helps us to avoid or escape harm, or maladaptive, as it can interfere with our normal functioning or cause distress.
The definition and psychology of fear
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), fear is "an unpleasant emotion triggered by the perception of imminent danger, pain, or harm". Fear can be divided into two types: innate and learned. Innate fears are those that we are born with, such as fear of loud noises, heights, or strangers. Learned fears are those that we acquire through experience, such as fear of spiders, clowns, or ghosts.
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The psychology of fear involves the interaction of various brain regions, hormones, and neurotransmitters. When we encounter a scary stimulus, our amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for emotional processing) sends a signal to our hypothalamus (the part of the brain responsible for regulating bodily functions). The hypothalamus then activates the sympathetic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that prepares us for fight or flight) and the adrenal glands (the organs that secrete stress hormones). These responses increase our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, muscle tension, and alertness.
The types and genres of scary content
Scary content is any type of media or entertainment that aims to elicit fear in the audience. Scary content can be classified into different genres based on the source, theme, style, or tone of the fear. Some of the most common genres of scary content are:
Horror: Horror is a genre that focuses on creating feelings of terror, dread, disgust, or shock in the audience. Horror often involves supernatural elements, such as ghosts, demons, vampires, zombies, or monsters. Horror also explores themes such as death, violence, madness, evil, or the unknown.
Thriller: Thriller is a genre that focuses on creating feelings of suspense, excitement, anticipation, or nervousness in the audience. Thriller often involves realistic elements, such as crime, espionage, conspiracy, mystery, or action. Thriller also explores themes such as danger, deception, betrayal, or survival.
Psychological: Psychological is a genre that focuses on creating feelings of anxiety, paranoia, confusion, or unease in the audience. Psychological often involves mental elements, such as hallucinations, delusions, dreams, memories, or manipulation. Psychological also explores themes such as identity, sanity, reality, or morality.
Gothic: Gothic is a genre that focuses on creating feelings of gloominess, darkness, or melancholy in the audience. Gothic often involves historical elements, such as castles, ruins, cemeteries, or curses. Gothic also explores themes such as romance, tragedy, isolation, or decay.
The benefits and drawbacks of being scared
Being scared can have both positive and negative effects on our physical and mental health. Some of the benefits of being scared are:
Being scared can release endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin in our brain. These are chemicals that make us feel good, happy, and motivated. Being scared can also boost our immune system, as it prepares us for potential threats.
Being scared can enhance our learning, memory, and creativity. Being scared can make us more attentive, alert, and focused on the information we receive. Being scared can also stimulate our imagination, as we try to make sense of the scary stimulus or situation.
Being scared can improve our social and emotional skills. Being scared can make us more empathetic, as we share the feelings of others who are scared. Being scared can also make us more cooperative, as we seek support and comfort from others who are scared.
Some of the drawbacks of being scared are:
Being scared can cause physical and mental stress. Being scared can increase our blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tension, and cortisol levels. These are signs of the fight or flight response, which can be harmful if prolonged or repeated. Being scared can also trigger or worsen anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks, phobias, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Being scared can impair our judgment and decision making. Being scared can make us more impulsive, irrational, and biased. Being scared can also make us more prone to errors, mistakes, or accidents.
Being scared can affect our mood and well-being. Being scared can make us more negative, pessimistic, and depressed. Being scared can also reduce our self-esteem, confidence, and happiness.
How to find scary content online?
If you are looking for some scary content to enjoy online, you have plenty of options to choose from. Depending on your preferences and tastes, you can find different types of scary content on various websites. Here are some of the best websites for horror stories, movies, games, and images.
The best websites for horror stories
If you love to read horror stories that will keep you up at night, you should check out these websites:
: This is one of the most popular websites for horror stories that are short, original, and creepy. You can find stories about urban legends, paranormal phenomena, monsters, serial killers, and more.
: This is a subreddit where users post horror stories that are realistic, immersive, and terrifying. You can find stories about haunted houses, cursed objects, demonic possessions, and more.
: This is a website that contains a collection of fictional documents about anomalous entities, objects, and events that are contained by a secret organization. You can find stories about aliens, mutants, artifacts, and more.
The best websites for horror movies
If you love to watch horror movies that will make you scream or jump out of your seat, you should check out these websites:
: This is a streaming service that specializes in horror movies and shows. You can find movies from different genres, such as slasher, supernatural, psychological, or zombie. You can also find original content, such as documentaries, podcasts, or series.
: This is a streaming service that offers a wide range of horror movies and shows. You can find movies from different countries, such as Japan, Korea, Spain, or France. You can also find original content, such as The Haunting of Hill House, Bird Box, or The Platform.
: This is a video-sharing platform that hosts a lot of horror movies and shows. You can find movies from different eras, such as classic, modern, or indie. You can also find user-generated content, such as short films, animations, or web series.
The best websites for horror games
If you love to play horror games that will make you sweat or shiver, you should check out these websites:
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: This is a digital distribution platform that offers a huge selection of horror games. You can find games from different categories, such as survival, adventure, action, or puzzle. You can also find user reviews, ratings, and recommendations.
: This is a website that hosts indie horror games. You can find games from different styles, such as pixel art, retro, 3D, or VR. You can also find games that are free, paid, or pay-what-you-want.
: This is a website that features indie horror games. You can find games from different themes, such as fan-made, experimental, parody, or creepy. You can also find games that are