Essay Sample on Why Psychological Horror Movies Are Better Than Jump Scare Movies

Introduction

The film industry applies various mental perceptive and advanced emotional and mental attraction of the viewers' psychological functioning. As part of cinematography technique, film producers digs deep into the audiences psychological performance to attract and make the audience part of the movie by the introduction of scary events. Jump horror movies involve the abrupt introduction of the scary scene which may incorporate darkness, scary images and loud freaking sound and the total silence among other elements used by various producers. The scary scenes in jump scare horrors are introduced at different stages of the movie and are characterized by uncertainty. On the other hand, psychological horror movies are developed based on the psychological attraction of the viewer and are characterized by unidentified characters.

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Psychological horror movies are linked to mental stimulation of fear, with the audience taken part of the uncovered uncertainty of the characters. However, the flow of the scenes can be anticipated though not unfolded. This leaves the audiences with unanswered questions. Horror movies seem to attract a vast audience across the world. Horror movies are divided into different categories which include jump scare movies, slasher, psychological, body horror and gothic horror. This paper takes a close view on psychological horror movies and jump scare horror movies and brings out summative reasons as to why psychological horror movies are perceived better than the jump scare movies.

There stand different perception and affiliation to psychological horror movies as opposed to jumping scare movies. Many people cite the abrupt scare of the jump scare movies as overrated and cheap means of instilling fear in the audience. The feeling of fear and the use of loud music and sudden silence is painted to bring about the forced feeling of fear rather than the natural and systematic psychological control exhibited by the psychological horror movies. Psychological horror movies slowly impart fear in the audience eschewing individual reality and interpretation of the movie. The variation in the means of exhibiting fear between the psychological and jump scare horror movies the slow and timely introduction of the scare scenes in the movies gives the psychological horror movies an upper hand (Hayes). Most horror movie viewers prefer slow introduction and taking part in the movie scene. Psychological horror movies give the viewers an opportunity to involve their brain. The reality eschewed through the slow introduction of events ignites the need for investigation for the facts and discovery of the dark reality behind the plot and the character of the movies. The creepy introduction of jump scare horror movies denies the audience the time to comprehend the possible movies and the contemplation of the character behind the mask.

According to some critics of the suitability of psychological and jump scare horror movies, some people claim that psychological horror movies are presented in a friendly and easier manner to understand the flow of the events and increases the anticipation of the and uncertainty (Griffiths). Through the psychological trigger of critical thinking and anticipation of events, psychological horror movies trigger for creativity and alertness. Psychological horror movies command for alertness silently without the use of attention seeking strategies such as the use of external features such as sound and images. Jump scare horror movies are believed to bear complexity in understanding and comprehension of the scenes as well as the flow of the movie. However, the flow of scenes enhances the understanding of the movie as well as its characters.

Movies should provide an entertaining feeling in the audience. Therefore, captivating the events and characters in the movies improves the appeal to the audience. Cat and mouse nature of the psychological horror movies keep the audience intact and eager to know more of the next move. The uncertainty involved in the free flow of events keep an individual maintain inner self and mind at the same time (Griffiths). Taking over the audience's emotions in the slow and teady flow of events provides attention seeking command to the audience. Psychological horror movie provides the scintillating flow of events pinning the audience on each every scene.

The uncertainty in the flow of events makes the movie interesting. Psychological horror movies take the audience's emotional feelings and command individual emotional connection with the audience. The uncertainty created during the slowly introduced characters and events exposes the viewer to critical thinking and investigative mood. The investigation is channeled to realizing the truth and why the events and character are presented. The audience wonders what to believe in the course of the movie. However, jump scare horror movies use hype nature of introduction which may entail screams, loud voice, darkness and the appearance of images. The incorporated fear factors provide an over reactive way to command fear in the audience.

Psychological horror movies stick with the viewer long due to the mental trigger caused. They cause a lasting effect on fear and suspense. Similarly, jump scare horror movies cause fast adrenaline rise and instantly instill fear in the viewers (Bischof). However, this is only limited to the rare use of the jump scare scenes in the movie. Over use of the creepy characters and events attracts induced overreaction of the audience or loss of interest in watching. The mind games brought about in psychological horror movies makes the brain juggle around for possible links to the puzzle (Hayes). Jump scare horrors set the heart into palpitations which can arguably set in a heart attack. The abrupt introduction sets the body into a forced change in events and can as well take out the heart with it through a heart attack.

Conclusion

The wide varieties of horror movies use different strategies to attract the attention of the viewer. However, the methods might vary and attract diverse reaction. Each category has its own way of introducing itself to the audience. However, the important part is the strategy that attracts the audience with the most relaxed and appealing nature. The flow of the events and character performance to maintain a hidden identity and the next outcome in the movie plays a role in connecting the audience to the movie. The domination of the audience through the scenes and movie characters improves the alertness of the viewer and the resultant understanding of the movie. A horror movie should set the audience's hearts pounding and the adrenaline flowing. However, the sudden introduction of the adrenaline and heart pounding destructs the flow of the movie and the eventual understanding of the movie outline (Bischof). Mind games and the cat and mouse games give psychological movies a scintillating flow and appeal to the audience. The games also invoke the viewers' attention to detail and sets in an investigative attitude. The movie instills the need to know more and the uncovered truth behind the character and movie scenes. The psychological effect brought about by jump scare horror movies, the effect is introduced with the aid of fear enhancing effects may trigger mental distraction in the audience. This makes the movie complex to comprehend and unfold to the audience. In summation, psychological horror movies provide a viewer friendly platform that enhances entertainment, understanding and critical thinking along the movie. This makes psychological horror movies serves a better role to carry and emotionally engage the audience compared to jump scare horror movies.

Works Cited

Bischof, Jackie. "The Psychological Case For Forcing Yourself To Watch Scary Movies". Quartz, 2017, https://qz.com/1101290/the-case-for-forcing-yourself-to-watch-scary-movies/. Accessed 2 Dec 2018.

Griffiths, Mark D. "Why Do We Like Watching Scary Films?". Psychology Today, 2015, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-excess/201510/why-do-we-watching-scary-films. Accessed 2 Dec 2018

Hayes, Daniel. "13 Top-Tier Horror Movies That Don'T Resort To 'Jump Scares' To Be Delightfully Frightening". Thought Catalog, 2016, https://thoughtcatalog.com/daniel-hayes/2016/12/13-top-tier-horror-movies-that-dont-resort-to-jump-scares-to-be-delightfully-frightening/. Accessed 2 Dec 2018