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    Horror is one of the most enduringly popular film genres. They routinely top the box office and many of their characters have become part of the cultural zeitgeist, from Norman Bates in Psycho to Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street to Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. Of course, not everyone likes horror films, so we'll also discuss the individual differences that can account for who gravitates to horror films and who doesn't. 

    Finally, we'll wrap up with a look at the therapeutic potential of consuming horror. Horror movies allow us to experience extreme emotional excitement through unacceptable actions acted out in the films. People crave the thrill they receive from experiencing extreme nervousness, disgust, panic, and fear. Horror films cause these sudden, temporary emotions and reactions, but will not interfere with our daily lives once we leave the theatre. Packed theatres showing horror films and best-selling horror novels prove that people crave the thrill derived from viewing or imagining insane actions and their consequences.