Topic
In his essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies”, writer Stephen King focuses on two topics: why people love watching horror movies and people’s need to release their inner insanity. While these are the underlying themes of the article, note that the writer also touches upon topics like mental illness and social no…
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Why people love watching horror movies
King begins his essay by hinting at a response to the original question in the title “Why We Crave Horror Movies”: “I think that we’re all mentally ill” (l. 1). This bold and broad statement grabs the readers’ attention from the start and compels them to read further so they can learn its explanation.
The writer continues: “When we pay our four or five bucks and seat ourselves at tenth-row center in a theater showing a horror movie, we are daring the nightmare.” (ll. 9-11). King’s statement suggests a horror movie is a tes…
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People’s need to release their inner insanity
According to King, people are attracted to horror because they provide psychic relief for their unexpressed madness:
It may be that horror movies provide psychic relief on this level because this invitation to lapse into simplicity, irrationality and even outright madness is extended so rarely. We are told we may allow our emotions a free rein . . . or no rein at all. (ll. 41-44)
King further supports his statement by explaining the dynamics of emotional expression: “Our emotions and our fears form their own body, and we recognize that it demands its own exercise to maintain proper muscle tone.” (ll. 58-60). However, not all emotional expression is treated the same in society. Positive emotions are encouraged from an early age: “Love, friendship, loyalty, kindness -- these are all the emotions that we applaud” (ll. 62-63…
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Argumentation
Stephen King’s essay is characterized by a mix of direct and indirect argumentation. The writer expresses his ideas in a straightforward manner but also uses metaphors and juxtaposition to illustrate and support his views.
At the start of his essay, King states directly that he believes all people are mentally ill (l.1). He explains this by providing examples:
We’ve all known people who talk to themselves, people who sometimes squinch their faces into horrible grimaces when they believe no one is watching, people who have some hysterical fear – of snakes, the dark, the tight place, the long drop . . . and, of course, those final worms and grubs that are waiting so patiently underground. (ll. 3-7)
In King’s opinion, people who watch horror movies are “daring the nightmare.” (ll. 10-11). He goes on to explain openly why he thinks people do this: “S…
