Horror — an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust. The definition itself terrifies most people, while in others it invokes a deep fascination and pure ecstasy.

Why are some people drawn to the horror genre? Are there peculiarities in the personalities of these people? Is it just the adrenaline released in our bodies by being in a state of excitement? I could list several other possibilities, but maybe this ‘irrational’ passion has no plausible explanation.

Perhaps this attraction is at such a deep level that it is difficult to rationalize. Perhaps the security of being detached observers of horror books and movies while exploring the unknown, the unexplainable, and unimaginable dangers — situations that in the real world would be beyond our control — is what attracts us to the genre.

I don’t believe in ghosts, the occult, or anything supernatural, but I love reading/watching stories that make me afraid of something I don’t even believe in. That feeling that someone is watching me when I’m alone in a room, that chill down my spine, it’s cathartic.

Horror is a peculiar genre. There is no middle ground in this category. Either you love it or you hate it. And I believe that for most horror lovers, the more macabre the better.

Some believe that fans of the horror genre are people who are more open-minded and willing to try new things, to seek challenges that lead them to feel more intense emotions. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, or maybe not. It may just be that it helps us deal with our fears in a safe way. Whatever the reason for this rapture, one thing is for sure — horror books and movies allow us to face our fears in a controlled way, and the resulting feelings of pleasure and stress relief are addictive.