For me, Halloween is a time for scary movies. Do you love scary movies, too? Do you hate them? Or do you love and hate them?

Why Do We Love Them?

Some say we're not truly afraid when we watch scary movies but instead having fun. Others say we really are afraid but willing to go through the fear because of the pleasure when it's over. Another theory sort of combines the other two: it's fun to be afraid, as long as we know we're really safe. Is it possible that scary movies are a safe way for people to manage their fears?

Why Do We Hate Them?

Most of us have images in our minds from scary movies we saw long ago, and for some this can be quite troubling. Scary movies, especially of the horror (or torture) variety, come with a generous dose of violence, which raises another red flag for many. Still, it seems like the jury is out on whether scary (or violent) movies are bad for everyone, children and adults alike.

Why Do I Love and Hate Them?

Scary movies get me out of my head. Actually, I especially like scary movies of the psychological or suspense varieties, which replace the usual worries in my head with "pleasurable" anxiety. But sometimes, my experience is mixed. As much as I "liked" Silence of the Lambs, I'm not in a hurry to see it again.



Wanna Not See Something Really Scary?

If you haven't seen any Hitchcock lately, you might check out Psycho, Rear Window, or The Birds. If you want to go out, you might try the new Paranormal Activity. This ultra low-budget film knows the classic truth Hitchcock exploited so well, that what you don't see is the scariest. Come to think of it, my film Inside Darkness is about fear of the unseen and unknown. Maybe scary movies distract us from what's really, invisibly scary.

Why do you love, hate, or love and hate scary movies? What will you be watching on Halloween? Share your thoughts with a comment below.