Why are people attracted to gorefest movies?

Question

Especially nowadays, bloodier the movie the more box office hits. Is it just because it's entertaining or is there something more to it?

Answer 1

This person isn't-ugh.

Answer 2

Im not sure if some hoidy-toidy philsophy guy created a term for it, but it deals with certain human characteristics. One part is the exhilaration/adrenaline rush/fight or flight...whatever you want to call it. The same thing that makes serial killers kill over and over again.

Next a mix of bravado and wanting to experience something more thrilling. Like going on the next "scariest rollercoaster" or adding a bus or two when a stuntman does a jump.

Alot of people use them as a means of release or fantasy. Maybe they're thinking of someone they want to kill like their boss, or just find amusement in others suffering. The effect people experience when watching Jerry Springer and feeling good about themselves cause their lives don't suck as much as the people on tv.

Lastly and probably the most rare. People feel vulnerable or who have been victims before watch the movies to bolster their evil side. They will watch the most horrific stuff out there (reality death films). They watch this stuff to become numb to it all. They believe that if they become more evil than anyone else then they wont have to be afraid of anybody. They can walk down a dark alley and not be afraid, be if anything they will not be the victim. But it turn, they could end up destroying themselves. I guess you can compare it to someone living with intense hatred or bitterness eating you up inside.

Answer 3

This is a concept that has been discussed quite a bit in art theory. It is what Uvedale Price called the Sublime, and Freud, the Uncanny. Essentially, these are things that are so out of the ordinary, so shocking and disturbing, that we cannot help but be awestruck. These things may be found in the devastation caused by a natural disaster, the bizaare and disturbing facial "features" on a substitute teacher, or the horrifically bloody and torturous murders of the new main characters (who, by the way, we have finally, after an hour of shotty attempts at character development, just started to like.) Whatever the event, the result is the same dumbfounded curiosity that's killed so many cat's and wounded so many others, like the guy who was so amazed by the size and proximity of the grizzly bear that he wasn't even thinking about finding safety...

my point is that I think people are attracted to this type of phenomenon, and/or this type of horror movie, because we crave imagery that shocks us, that scares us, that is so outside the realm of day-to-day reality that we can freely gape and gawk at its occurring, and what safer place than on the screen? In the theater none of those nasty little consequences of watching spellbound, like a sore jaw from its dropping, lack of fingernails from so much biting, or death from shock, can reasonably make their way into our lives.

three cheers for terrifyingly gorey and poorly written screeplays!!! hip hip...

Answer 4

The chemical reaction the body has, heart pumping, adrenalin flowing.. the body reacts to these things, giving us a temporary high. People addicted to the thrill of it all.

Volence, torture and terror have always facinated mankind. Perhaps what ever made your predecessors see the sadism of the inquisition, and the gore of the gladiators, is the same thing that makes us stare at the bloody highway accidents, and feel the thrill of watching violent sports.

Movies and television gives us the luxury of observing these things without anyone actually getting harmed.

Answer 5

its just entertainment, i will say the horror movies from the 80`s were bloodier than the thrillers of today.

Answer 6

They're intrigued that they can observe and get so close to a scence so horrific, yet not be hurt as well in the process. To watch these scenes and be able to walk away without a scratch is very intriguing to some people.

Answer 7

Who knows. I hate that stuff because it grosses me out, but there's a part of me that for some reason likes it. I have no idea why. It always gives me bad thoughts of my famoly members dying in tragic ways though and i can never get them to go away,

Answer 8

it's just an evidence that people are sensual carnal and devilish by nature. these movies become box office hits because they naturally appeal to the natural man.

Answer 9

Because of the primal, sadistic natures of our ancestors.
Though not all people are like this such as vegetarians.

Answer 10

You said it. It's just entertainment.

Answer 11

For me.. just entertainment and some kind of fascination.