We all enjoy a good slice of scary every now and then. With the technology progressing at an alarming rate, each new horror flick is better than the last. But have we ever stopped to wonder about the first-ever horror film created? And the kind of impact it might have caused on the people watching?
The first-ever horror flick known to date that has caused such an alarming impact is none other than The Exorcist which was released in the year 1975.
Keep in mind that this was the first time ever that people were virtually witnessing an unbridled, uncensored version of explicit horror and violence that only used to be confined to the people’s imaginations or books.
The first time people watched The Exorcist, collectively, a number of them started to show the same symptoms and condition as that of the main lead/protagonist who was going through the said exorcism. People in the theater witnessed the said individuals crying out loud, exclaiming that they, too, have been possessed by Satan. The events became serious enough that 6 people had to be admitted into a Chicago hospital straight from the theater. So much so that the entirety of the theater had to be cleared and people were too afraid to come back and watch the movie again. Many superstitious rumors went viral in regards to watching the Exorcist, which included causing the Devil to possess the person etc.
This entire event went so out of proportion, with numerous patients came to hospitals months after viewing the film, that an entirely new term was coined just for the condition called “Cinematic Neurosis”. This term was first used by Psychiatrist James Bozzuto who came up with it after examining 4 of the initial 6 patients.
There is a set initial reaction that a body might possibly go through when in contact with particular situations. The evolutionary response of the three F’s (Fight, Flight, Fright) when someone is in danger is one example of such a reaction. This initial reaction is the body’s most basal instinct generated subconsciously by the body itself and involves no thought process or conscious decisions. An example of this reaction could be given of the Reflex Arc, a quick reaction by the body that does not involve the message going to the brain. For people watching the horror movies, it somewhat the same case. The brain knows that they are in a theater or the living room with no actual possibility of danger and yet, still, the body tends to react to the jump scares or scary scenes.
When watching a horror movie, a body experiences several symptoms, some of which include;
Brain – horror movies can trigger reactions in people who suffer from anxiety, especially those who already have traumatic memories that can also sometimes be hidden in the subconscious. When it comes to memory, it is possible for the brain to be unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy which is why, even when the person, going through a reaction, knows that nothing is happening in the present, the body is still reacting regardless of that confirmed information. This is also one of the reasons why children should not be allowed to watch horror movies because, at a young age, it becomes less likely that they would be able to separate reality from fiction.
Heart – as with any other thrill-seeking activities like sky diving or bungee jumping, the increased adrenaline levels can cause the heart to beat faster than normal. While for people with no pre-existing hear conditions, scary movies can be fun with symptoms like heart pounding or rapid breathing which subside after a while. However, for those who suffer from cardiac issues and high blood pressure, this could be potentially fatal. If the psychological and physiological symptoms come together at the same time, it is highly likely that a person with pre-existing heart conditions might have a cardiac arrest.
Hormones – studies conducted show that while watching a horror movie, the brain releases dopamine and adrenaline, both of which are crucial to the body’s stress response system that occurs when the body is experiencing a threat, be it real or perceived. These hormones, after being released, travel throughout the body, acting on specific sites to control energy mobilization. The most immediate reactions include excitement, the opening of the lungs, more blood to muscles all of which are what our body deems essential responses to a threat, or in this case, watching a scary movie. Once the brain determines and tells the body that the threat is not real, the nervous system then starts working on curbing the initial reaction. This is why you might scream or jump when a scary scene comes on but do not, necessarily, get up and run out of the room, etc.
Research conducted on the patients who experienced different symptoms after watching The Exorcist states that cinematic neurosis is more likely to occur in previously unidentified psychiatric patients. However, it is also true that some horror movies actually cause disorders like insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, etc.
The frightening images and scenes that get stored in the subconscious can cause nightmares which disrupts the REM sleep and therefore causes sleeplessness. The amount of sleep a person is getting has the potential to affect the persons’ perception the following day and, therefore, less to no sleep may cause erratic, sensitive, or aggressive behavior. Not only that but continuous exposure to horror flicks can cause the brain to keep releasing the stress response hormones, which will eventually reduce the effects of neurotransmitters that affect the mood and emotions.
People who already suffer from anxiety disorders are much more likely to have an adverse effect and might even suffer from panic attacks on the spot.
Ballon B., Leszcz M. (2007), have stated in their research that that watching horror movies can cause physical violence, emotional damage, especially in children, and psychological damage including behavioral and psychological disorders.
Many people have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after they watched movies with extremely realistic horror occurrences.
Despite the horror and gore depicted in these movies, it is also possible for them to have a healing effect. Many people with anxiety have admitted to having felt great after watching a horror movie as they were able to forget their issues for a little while and think of only the film. Some even report on having felt a sense of victory and pride after making it through a scary movie and relief that they did it. Some of these movies are therefore used as exposure therapy for those suffering from anxiety or PTSD and help the people confront their fears and irrational beliefs.
Scary movies, albeit less likely, can be a good distraction for people suffering with mental disorders. They can validate or normalize anxiety, provide a sense of control over one’s reactions and emotions and help them feel better in general once the euphoria sets in.
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