Why Do People Create Scary Movies: Profitability and Psychological Exploration

People create scary movies for a variety of reasons, ranging from the exploration of fear to the potential for high profit margins. This article will delve into the reasons behind the creation of these often fascinating and sometimes terrifying films, highlighting both their entertainment value and their profitability.

Exploration of Fear

Scary movies allow filmmakers and audiences to explore fear in a safe environment. Through these fictional narratives, they can confront their anxieties and phobias, gaining insights into their own psychological landscapes. By immersing themselves in these films, viewers can vicariously experience fear, which can be cathartic and even serve as a form of therapy.

Emotional and Psychological Experience

Horror films evoke strong emotional reactions such as suspense, adrenaline, and shock. These emotions can create a thrilling experience for viewers, often leading to a sense of catharsis. The genre offers a platform for exploring complex emotions and psychological states, making it a rich source for both entertainment and deeper psychological exploration.

Cultural Reflection and Social Commentary

Horror often reflects societal fears and issues such as trauma, death, or the unknown. Filmmakers can use the genre to comment on cultural anxieties and social issues, bringing attention to important themes in a compelling and impactful way. By leveraging horror as a vehicle for social critique, filmmakers can address and provoke discussions on pressing societal issues.

Artistic Expression and Innovation

Scary movies provide an opportunity for filmmakers to experiment with storytelling, visual effects, and sound design. The genre offers unique opportunities for creativity and innovation. Filmmakers can push the boundaries of what is possible within their storytelling, from intricate plot twists to groundbreaking special effects, making horror a platform for artistic experimentation.

Social Bonding and Shared Experiences

Watching scary movies is often a communal activity, bringing friends and family together. The shared experience of fear can strengthen bonds and create memorable moments. Whether at a movie theater or at home huddled together, the communal experience of horror adds an extra layer of enjoyment and connection.

Escapism and Entertainmen

Horror films provide a form of escapism, allowing audiences to immerse themselves in a thrilling narrative that is far removed from their everyday lives. In a world filled with stress and anxiety, horror movies offer a temporary reprieve, providing a break from the mundane and a chance to engage in a gripping and thrilling experience.

Profitability: The Monetary Motive

Despite the various artistic and psychological motivations for creating horror films, many studio executives and filmmakers are also driven by the monetary potential of the genre. Horror movies can be incredibly profitable, often with much lower production costs compared to other genres.

In fact, horror movies have the potential to generate impressive profits with relatively low budgets. The Blair Witch Project is the poster child for this, showcasing how a student film with a budget of $60,000 ended up grossing $249 million, resulting in a return on investment of over 415,000%. This level of profitability is unmatched by most other investments.

Examples of Profitable Horror Movies

Halloween (1978) - Box office earnings of $47 million on a $325,000 budget, resulting in a return on investment (ROI) of 14,461%. A Quiet Place (2018) - Box office earnings of $341 million on a $17 million budget, resulting in an ROI of 2006%. Paranormal Activity (2007) - Box office earnings of $193 million on a $15,000 budget, resulting in an ROI of 128,666.6%. Jaws (1975) - Box office earnings of $477 million on a $7 million budget, resulting in an ROI of 68,140%. Scream (1996) - Box office earnings of $173 million on a ￡14 million ($19.7 million) budget, resulting in an ROI of 1235%. Get Out (2017) - Box office earnings of $255 million on a $4.5 million budget, resulting in an ROI of 5667%.

The thing about horror movies is that you don't necessarily need to spend money on eye-popping special effects to get the best out of a movie. Outside of a few exceptions, it is almost impossible now to make a successful blockbuster superhero epic or disaster movie for less than $100 million. However, with horror, a guy in a creepy clown costume holding a knife can be just as effective, and it costs a few bucks. In fact, one of the most popular horror movies of the last few years used a slightly creepy smile as its main scare element, which was all it needed to create a chilling atmosphere.

While making a horror movie is not a guarantee of instant financial success, if you make a series of low-budget horror movies, the potential for significant profit is high. As long as one of these movies hits big, the overall profit can be substantial. This low-risk potential for high reward is what keeps studios interested in producing horror films, contributing to their enduring popularity and success in the film industry.