Glenn avoids watching scary movies because he is prone to fight or flight responses and negative recurring thoughts.

“I don't watch scary movies you don't watch scary movies ever not really no really yeah I I like reading how do you feel things then if if you're not well I feel scared all the time so I don't see the need to mimic it and yeah you're in fight ORF flight all the time”

He avoids watching scary movies because they impact his ability to sleep.

“I don't watch scary movies and I the word scary movie and like I'm going go on a walk I'm going to check out I don't even get scared in them I don't jump I do anything but then at night my mind will just like roam”

She believes that the movie Megan is Missing can cause long-term mental distress.

“and then the last 22 minutes obviously will absolutely scar you mentally for life until you do your research and find out that it's not a true story it's just inspired and dramaticized”

Watching horror movies can have a lingering negative impact on a viewer's sense of safety.

“I enjoy doing multiplayer horror games with you guys I enjoy like group scared stuff like that I enjoy watching like ghost hunting things with people and stuff but like when it comes to like going into haunted houses or like you know even like the haunted corn maze where people wear masks and jump”

The horror genre serves a significant function in society as a way of exploring gods, demons, and transformation through masks.

“And then I took it into into horror movies, which it seemed to me is where the legacy gets carried forward in the 20th century. Gods and demons and magic and transformation.”

Horror movies can support better mental health during stressful global events by providing practice in emotional regulation.

“it looks like people who watch a lot of horror movies actually had better mental health during the pandemic possibly because they have a lot of practice in fear regulation”

Shotzi believes that people are attracted to horror movies because the fear they experience makes them feel alive.

“I think that's why I like it so much because it like it gets me going, you know, like it it triggers something like the emotions. I remember I interviewed the director of actually one of the Saw movies and I said, "Why do people want to be scared?" And he's like, "I think people want to feel alive."”