For some of us, the fall season means football games, piles of homework, and everything pumpkin spice. But for others, the dropping temperatures and the longer nights mark the beginning of the spooky season. In comes Ghostface and Art the Clown and out goes Blair Waldorf.
Horror films do much more than give cheap scares. They are fairytales for the older crowd. Horror films unearth universal fears and provide a cautionary tale.
These films challenge viewers to confront their subconscious fears. Both “Babadook,” which came out in 2014, and the 1980 classic film “The Shining” shows the dark side of family relationships. The “Scream” and “Terrifier” series focus on teenage anxiety in middle-class suburban settings.
“Movies and other media shift our perspective, and I think that is really important,” said Sofiia Chub (‘29).
Some horror films address larger societal issues. Jordan Peele’s Oscar-award winning film “Get Out” is a movie that received praise for its exploration of cultural appropriation and systemic racism in the horror genre.
Maryam Rohawala (‘28) said that these movies are “kind of like a warning.” As a teenager who really loves to watch these movies, Rohawala explained that these films are just as important as fairytales, like Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs. “These movies can really show you important themes like to stay safe and careful, and to always be alert and aware of your surroundings,” she said.
As high schoolers, we are soon going to follow our own paths where we may encounter metaphorical Big Bad Wolves and Babadooks in a world much bigger than we know it to be now. For some of us, scary movies are the reason for looking forward to the spooky season.
