Experts reveal why we are so obsessed with horror movies

Cinemagoers are flooding into theatres to watch horror films as they show ‘how to navigate hardships’ which is resonating with Britons amid the cost-of-living crisis, experts have revealed.  

Scary movie Smile became the first 18-rated film to top the weekend UK box office for years this month, after topping the weekend box office in the States with $49.9M in 3,659 theaters for a global total of $89.9M.

And this week, it was announced The Silent Hill franchise is being revived after a decade in limbo, with a new film titled Return to Silent Hill set to be released. 

Meanwhile films like Halloween Ends and the most recent Scream film have also taken millions at the box office, despite less than favourable reviews from critics.

Executive coach, therapist and writer Andre Radmall explained that horror films provide a ‘focus outlet for fear and a sense of being out of control’ which could be giving audiences a ‘release of pressure’.

He told FEMAIL Brits are ‘flocking to horror as a release valve’, saying: ‘For many people life is a daily struggle against big forces. It’s easy to feel less in control of our own destiny. A horror film takes all this pressure off and for a couple of hours the story carries us along. Escapism has never been more needed.

Andre explained: ‘I think it’s more than providing a ‘pure sensation’. I think it’s because they provide a focused outlet for fear and a sense of being out of control.

‘I believe that people are suffering from three big problems that horror films address.

‘Firstly, people are suffering more ‘free floating anxiety’. There are many things causing this, cost of living, Ukraine war and the trauma of the pandemic. These combine to make people generally anxious about life in general.

‘Secondly, people feel their lives are out of control and powerless over decisions that impact them directly, and thirdly, there is no obvious outlet for fear and anger.’

This week, it was announced The Silent Hill franchise is being revived after a decade in limbo, with a new film titled Return to Silent Hill set to be release

He continued: ‘Horror films channel the general anxiety and give it a target, a monster to run from. This narrows down all the different fears and plants them on one thing. 

‘This provides a cathartic release of pressure. Like a release valve. We are finally given a way to face our fears, and using the genre of horror makes this easier.’

He added: ‘I do think audiences are going to flock to horror as a release valve. In a secular society it also provides a quasi spiritual framework into which we can project all those massive worries that overshadow our lives.’ 

Meanwhile psychologist Barbara Santini told FEMAIL audiences could be attracted to horror films during the cost-of-living crisis because most stories ‘feature problem solving and how to confront adversity.’

And consultant Giulia Bianchi agreed, saying: ‘In my opinion, the British public has gravitated towards horror movies because they reveal the truth about life (it is full of challenges). 

There could be similar response to Zach Cregger’s Barbarian, about a nightmarish double-booking at an Airbnb, which has earned back 10 times its $4 million budget in the United States alone 

‘Watching these movies can show you various ways challenges can knock at your door, thus, helping you prepare to face any threat or situation. 

‘Another reason the British public enjoys horror movies at the moment is that they teach how to navigate hardships.’

Smile, Parker Finn’s $17M-budget feature directorial debut, has seen huge success both in the UK and US since it was released this month.

The movie – based on his 2020 short film Laura Hasn’t Slept – stars Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s daughter Sosie Bacon.

The 30-year-old actress plays psychiatrist Dr. Rose Cotter, who believes something supernatural is at work after witnessing the bizarre suicide of a patient as well as other disturbing experiences.

Smile – also starring Kal Penn – currently holds a 78% critic approval rating (out of 156 reviews) and a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

It’s popularity comes as Konami, the Japanese company that owns the rights to the video game series Silent Hill, announced the new projects during a live global streaming event on Thursday.

Meanwhile films like Halloween Ends have also taken millions at the box office, despite less than favourable reviews from critics (pictured) 

Silent Hill 2 is one of the most critically acclaimed horror games of all time, selling more than a million copies worldwide.

The original 2006 film starred Australian actress Radha Mitchell and it topped the U.S. box office and grossed $100million.

It was followed by a sequel, Silent Hill: Revelation, which was less successful.

A new film titled Return to Silent Hill is in production with French director Christophe Gans, who directed the first Silent Hill movie in 2006.

According to Gans, the movie will be based on the game Silent Hill 2, which is arguably the most popular entry in the franchise.

Smile, Parker Finn’s $17M-budget feature directorial debut, has seen huge success both in the UK and US since it was released this month

‘We decided to go back to the best of these stories,’ he said during the stream.

‘The film tells the story of a young guy coming back to Silent Hill, where he has known a great love, and what he’s going to find is a pure nightmare.’

Gans also said the new movie will be more about ‘psychological horror’ and ‘true to the video game’, while also being more modern.

In addition to a return to the film franchise, the video games are also coming back in a big way.

Konami announced a remake of Silent Hill 2 for PlayStation 5, along with two brand-new original games: Silent Hill Townfall and Silent Hill F.

A new film titled Return to Silent Hill is in production with French director Christophe Gans, who directed the first Silent Hill movie in 2006. (Pictured: Radha Mitchell in the first movie)

The remake is being developed by Polish studio Bloober Team, who are behind the 2019 Blair Witch game, which was based on the horror movie of the same name.

‘We want the game to make the same strong impression today as the original did 21 years ago,’ the studio said.

 It’s unclear when the new movie and video games will be released, but the Silent Hill 2 remake is expected to come out first.

There could be similar response to Zach Cregger’s Barbarian, about a nightmarish double-booking at an Airbnb, which has earned back 10 times its $4 million budget in the United States alone.

It’s already being hailed as ‘the must-watch horror movie this Halloween’ according to Digital Spy.