"Fear of Death. This is ultimate human fear, both existentially and psychologically. There are very few horror films where people don't get killed, or at least face the possibility of death. The Dark. We develop a fear of the dark in our early childhood years - not the dark itself, but what it might hide. Most horror films take place at night, and watching them in a darkened theater, or a dark living room, makes them even scarier."
"Suspense. The very best horror films are suspenseful (think Alfred Hitchcock movies). Suspense creates the anticipation that something bad will happen, and it is seemingly unpredictable. Some of the most shocking horror films also violate the audience's expectations (e.g., the hero gets killed; the killer is the one the audience least suspects). Sudden Movement and Noise. A loud noise, or sudden movement/light, after a period of quiet, is what is called a "jump scare." This creates a startle response, and a rush of adrenaline."
Fear of death functions as the ultimate human fear, and horror films commonly involve characters being killed or facing the possibility of death. The dark amplifies fear by concealing threats; many horror scenes occur at night and watching in darkened settings increases fear. Suspense builds anticipation and unpredictability and can violate expectations to shock audiences. Sudden movements and loud noises produce jump scares that trigger startle responses and adrenaline. Grotesque disfigurement or dismemberment elicits aversion, reflecting early developmental sensitivity to asymmetric faces. Spooky musical scoring sets mood and sharp musical bursts intensify suspense and shock. Personality dimensions influence who is attracted to or avoids horror films.
Read at Psychology Today
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