Make sure it's not so vague...


I know some women who like certain horror films because of their stories or even just the premise itself. I know some who like blood and guts just like any gorehound. I also know a few that like horror films because of the whole "rush" or the experience of being scared. I don't think you can say, "women like horror movie because X".

I originally got into horror because when I started to become a movie buff, I realized that I had absolutely no experience in the genre and figured that if I was going to refer to myself as a "movie buff," I would have to familiarize myself with all genres of film. I spent a while going out of my way specifically to find good horror movies.

Another reason that I got into horror movies was because, when I was younger, they used to scare the hell out of me (I went to Scream with friends and remember hiding behind my fingers... Blair Witch Project kept me up that night... My parents were out of town and I had to stay at a friend's house I was so freaked out), so part of my watching horror movies was to analyze what, exactly scares me and people in general. And, beyond that, why do people like to be scared?

Then, of course, there's the part of me that is honestly fucked up and filled with self destructive tendencies. Watching horror is a way to externalize the violence, anger, and frustration that I felt. Or, if I was going through a particularly numb period, I would watch horror just to feel something. Being scared honestly makes me feel human.

I'm not sure that I'd relate my above experiences as being directly connected to my being a woman, however. I would say, though, that I can speak to the idea that women might react differently to certain aspects of horror than men do.

I know that watching exploitative movies such as I Spit On Your Grave was definitely difficult to me because of the initial elongated rape scene. Any scene that shows some monster slipping between the legs (Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Nightmare on Elm Street, and even parodied in Slither) honestly provokes a very uncomfortable visceral feeling in me. I'm not saying that these are the reasons that I watch horror movies, but it's scenes like these that make my question why I'm so obsessed with them.

But I have a difficult time stereotyping reactions based on sex, so maybe I shouldn't have rattled on so............

I totally agree with that. Rape and violation scenes really make me feel icky on a totally different level than any other violence. One of the final scenes in Silent Hill just about made me sick.

As a lady ( IN MY FORUM CHARACTER ANYWAY) I personally enjoy horror movies because it gets the adreneline pumping. I've also always been a little bit morbid, so when I need a good cheering up I am not afraid to admit that a bit of gore will do the trick.[/QUOTE]


Also human beings like being frightened and enjoy thrills and a good horror movie does the trick for both male or female.

I think that this sums it up very well!

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/f...sPosingF-8.jpg

:) :) :)

^^ What a fuckin' sexist.

I would imagine that males and females both like horror for many of the same reasons...Reasons that differ would more likely be due to personal preferences rather than a person's gender...I don't understand why there has to be a gender issue here.

Then again, I don't understand why so many females like that romantic drama crap that puts me to sleep...I think there's more of a gender issue there...I don't know many males who are into that, and I do know many that feel they are 'forced' to watch it with their girlfriends/wives.

Mainly because most of the "academic writing" on the genre is stuck in the rut of discussing the final girl scenes.

I think they should change their thesis to why some people find it odd that women enjoy horror, rather than why girls like gore. Even then, I don't know how far they will get, because it's not that uncommon.

Cuz its fun to bathe in the blood of their victims

Agreed...I should have just said it that way.