BARTZ: Horror films can help release negative emotions

Whenever my friends try to convince me to watch a movie like "The Last Exorcism" or "Antichrist," I almost always refuse.

I inevitably think of the night I saw "Paranormal Activity."

After seeing a midnight showing in Omaha, my roommate and I came back to our dorm, finished up our homework, and went to sleep — or at least tried to.

I spent almost the entire night periodically looking over at her to make sure she wasn't possessed, ready to leap over and kill me.

Luckily, I finally passed out in the wee hours of the morning and the next day she admitted doing the exact same thing with me.

The horror movie genre is definitely something people either love or hate.

Some completely abhor horror movies and avoid them at any cost; others can't get enough, often renting the entire Blockbuster collection to get their fix.

Until recently, I was wholly on the side against them.

I didn't enjoy watching almost any horror movie.

I didn't get how anyone could enjoy being scared, disgusted, or any of the various feelings one could get, and I certainly didn't get why people keep making them in abundance.

My main issue with horror flicks is that most only have one purpose: to either scare or horrify you.

Many of them, from what I gather, don't have good plots, interesting characters or even actors who can actually act, so why would I want to see it?

A movie should at least have a character to like or sympathize with, or an engaging plot with more than just some cheap thrills.

Which brings me to the other issue I have: Why would a person want to be scared in the first place?

Or disgusted?

If I want to be distressed, I can just pick up the newspaper or turn the TV to Fox News.

Fear seems like an emotion most would want to run away from, not welcome.

So why watch horror? Why rent DVD after DVD of this madness?

One reason Stephen King discusses in his Playboy article "Why We Crave Horror Movies," is that our negative emotions need to be exercised.

When people display positive emotions, they're rewarded, even applauded.

If one wishes to display a negative emotion, or act in a way that isn't deemed "sane," they're locked up or scorned.

According to King, horror movies are a safe way to exercise these instincts and feelings, and not be punished.

Although I don't generally like horror movies, I do agree with him on that point.

Sooner or later, we all become curious about something we haven't experienced before or don't experience often, including certain emotions.

I could have chosen not to see "Saw V" with my friends a few years ago, but I was definitely curious about how I would react.

Another trend I've noticed among horror movie fans is that they like to watch horror because they want to prove they can see it through to the end and explore their boundaries.

Seeing the entirety of "Paranormal Activity" or "The Human Centipede," for example, is similar to running a gauntlet.

If you make it to the end of a horror film unscathed, you're the bravest of the brave; if you can't sleep for a week afterward (like me) or you're afraid to take a shower, you're a baby.

Horror movies also tend to provoke intense feelings from their audiences, which is necessary for a good movie experience.

Some of my favorite films were ones that kept me on the edge of my seat and never let me go until the ending credits.

If a film doesn't trigger a substantial reaction, what's the point?

If you're not going to be thinking about it five minutes later, you probably shouldn't have watched it at all.

In light of all of these reasons, I would say I haven't given horror movies much of a fair chance.

I've always thought I disliked them because they seem to be terribly made, but maybe there are more underlying reasons.

If what King says is correct, then perhaps I don't want to exercise my negative emotions, or I'm afraid of them.

And, admittedly, I do think I take some of the imagery and storylines too seriously.

Deep down I know I probably won't be mowed down by a serial killer with a chainsaw or be possessed by an otherworldly demon, but that's rather difficult to keep in mind when it's blown up on a big screen in front of me.

Either way, I still don't enjoy horror and I don't think I ever truly will, but I've become slightly more open to seeing them.

Sometimes it's OK to be a little stressed when watching a movie, because if I don't mind watching movies that make me cry or worry about the world we live in, I can certainly try one that makes me scared shitless.

Erica Bartz is a film studies major.  Reach her at ericabartz@dailynebraskan.com.