A Horror film serves many purposes:
Personal
The audiences’ own identification with the fears or threats of the narrative – tapping into primal fears of: The Creature/Other in darkness, Body being ripped/mutilated, Emergence of terror but from a safe (vicarious) distance.
Ideology
The implicit (hidden) or explicit (obvious) message embedded in the narrative. Themes of punishment/redemption and/or revulsion at any subject which deviates from ‘correct’ thinking. Beginning with ‘basic’ textual messages. (The virgin ‘good girl’ surviving at the expense of the ‘slutty’ rebellious friend) and developing into more nuanced, subtle ‘fears’ of strangers/hitchhikers/different religious beliefs/power of science to ‘conquer’ the darkness – new faith at the expense of ‘old’ religion.
Financial/Industrial
Without a doubt one of the most lucrative genres to continually re-invert and exploit. Horror franchises regularly stretch beyond other genres in terms of sequels, spin off or re-makes because of the profit.
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