[Writer Nаme]
[Supervisor Nаme]
[Dаte]
For centuries, scientists have been trying to map the concept of fear. This emotion is eminent from birth until death. Sociologists believe that this fear is what molds the society and the individual. It is the fear of the unknown that has forced us to develop medicine. Fear, like every other emotion, is developed due to thought. If thoughts did not exist, then the feeling of fear would not have existed either. Once we understand what fear is derived from, we comprehend that it is our own imagination, and we can realize that it is an invention of our own mind.
An important genre that tends to cause fear of the unknown is horror films. Horror movies are specifically designed to create fear and panic in the audience. These horror movies frighten, dread, terrify and shock a person while entertaining them in a unique energizing way. The storylines of these films are centered on the dark reality of life, killings, murder, and to grasp the attention of the audience by linking them to something everyone fears. The most primitive fears of a human being are death, loss of family, and loss of identity. When these primal fears are portrayed in a horror film, it causes fear of the unknown. The advancements in films and with the help of special effects and makeup have increased the horror factor in movies.
A very famous movie for instilling the fear of the unknown in people is ‘Jaws,’ released in 1975. After watching this movie, many people report having developed fear of sharks and water. Every time we go in for a swim, the VHS cover of Jaws and the scenes of the sharks ripping apart human flesh haunt us. Another very famous and haunting movie was the Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film, Psycho. This film is rated to have the most memorable, famous, and most haunting horror scene in the history of horror movies. No matter how many times a person has watched this movie, seeing the famous shower scene from the movie, still sends chills up their spine. This scene took seven days over 70 shots to perfect (Cosgrove). Moreover, it had once purpose; to terrify! There are countless stories of people not showering due to the fear of dying and being murdered brutally after watching this movie. This is the fear of the unknown, when you do not know what to expect.
Another recently released film that too is very famous for creating fear of the unknown is ‘The Conjuring.’ This film has a very eerie tone, and many of its scenes haunt the viewers. Many scenes have pictures falling; sounds, creaks and swinging doors knocking the mother down, etc. probably the most famous horror scene from this movie would have to be the appearance of ghost hands from the back and clapping the lights out (Marsh). Such incidents cause us to over-think things. Our senses are heightened, and we are intimidated by the slightest of noise.
Fear of the unknown keeps our minds occupied and keeps us thinking about the past and what we had seen or experienced. It stops us from exploring and embracing new possibilities. Horror movies play an important role in developing the fear of the unknown by their special techniques and visualization. For us to overcome our fear of the unknown, we need to exercise our mind to remain silent. Then only will it be possible for us to analyze the sequence of events that had led to that fear.
Work Cited
Cosgrove, Ben. "The Shower Scene in 'Psycho' | Nail-Biting Allowed: Alfred Hitchcock’s 10 Most Memorable Scenes | TIME.com." Entertainment NailBiting Allowed Alfred Hitchcock’s 10 Most Memorable Scenes Comments. Times Magazine, 16 Nov. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. <http://entertainment.time.com/2012/11/19/spellbinder-hitchcocks-10-most-memorable-scenes/slide/the-shower-scene-in-psycho/>.
Marsh, Calum. "'The Conjuring' Proves That a Film Can Actually Be *Too* Scary." Film.com. 16 July 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. <http://www.film.com/movies/can-a-film-be-too-scary>.
