Fears or Favorites?
Yutan students share thoughts on horror movies
As fall sports are wrapping up, spooky season is just beginning. Scary movies, a fall and Halloween tradition for many, start trending again on streaming platforms like Netflix. Loved by some and hated by others, scary movies don’t seem to fall on middle ground.
Scary movies and shows can be anything from the stereotypical horror flicks, such as “The Conjuring,” to psychological horrors such as “It” or “The Shining.” They also include slashers such as “Scream” or true crime thrillers like “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.”
I think I just like them because they’re different. They’re fun. It’s really funny when you’re watching a scary movie with someone or with yourself and there’s a jumpscare and you freak out, and then you’re kind of like, ‘Oh, that was really stupid. Why did I jump at that?’
— Libby Winn
Junior Haley Kube, who considers herself a horror movie fanatic, has been watching scary movies since she was six years old. Watching scary movies around Halloween is one of Kube’s favorite traditions.
“I would definitely say one that I can always watch is ‘The Nun,’ which is based off ‘The Conjuring’ series, because it’s very graphic,” Kube said. “It’s like a psychological horror at the same time because it’s a mindset type of thing.”
Sophomore Libby Winn, although she only recently started enjoying them, also has no hesitations when it comes to scary movies. A favorite pastime for Winn, she watches horror movies year round, not just around Halloween.
“I think I just like them because they’re different. They’re fun,” Winn said. “It’s really funny when you’re watching a scary movie with someone or with yourself and there’s a jumpscare and you freak out, and then you’re kind of like, ‘Oh, that was really stupid. Why did I jump at that?’”
Although both students love the surprises and fun times scary movies often bring, both admit they are not for everyone.
“Personally, I understand why people might not like them because I was scared of scary movies as a kid,” Winn said. “Some people just don’t enjoy the jump scares or the gore.”
Senior Abby Keiser is one of these students who is not a fan of scary movies.
“I don’t understand why people enjoy just getting scared,” Keiser said. “I’m just a really scared person to begin with. So when the scary thing with a scary voice and a scary face is making these big, loud movements, I’m gonna freak out.”
I don’t understand why people enjoy just getting scared. I’m just a really scared person to begin with. So when the scary thing with a scary voice and a scary face is making these big, loud movements, I’m gonna freak out. — Abby Keiser
Although Keiser does not enjoy them, she will try to watch a scary movie on occasion.
“I always try to test my limits and watch the scary movies,” Keiser said. “But I can only watch it for 10 minutes before I’m crying.”
All three students, however, made an important distinction between scary movie sub-genres. There is a difference between traditional horror flicks and other scary shows, such as true crime thrillers.
“I think it’s just really interesting and like, it is real…you see how people overcome it,” said Keiser, who does enjoy watching true stories. “The other ones you know, the whole ‘It’ movies and everything, they’re trying to purposely scare you. ‘Dahmer’ is educational.”
Winn has a similar view on the difference between these genres, though she prefers fictional horror movies.
“Even though some horror movies can be based off of real events, it’s not like an actual thing,” Winn said. “I think they can both be creepy, and they can both be scary. But there’s a distinction between them because one is real life and the other one is fictional.”
Whether just a Halloween tradition or a year-round pastime, scary movies remain a key characteristic of fall for all.
“Scary movies just get me in the mood for spooky season,” Kube said. “Because what’s Halloween without a good scare?”
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Bella Tederman is a senior in her fourth year of journalism. She enjoys writing stories and taking pictures. Outside journalism, Bella is involved in...
Libby is a junior and in her third year of journalism. She enjoys writing stories and editing photos. Outside journalism, Libby is involved in cheerleading,...
