Nina Nesseth’s Nightmare Fuel—a pop science look at fear, how and why horror films get under our skin, and why we keep coming back for more—will be published by Nightfire in July 2022!
People don’t want to see the terrifying and violent events of horror films play out in real life, but they expect them—evendesireto see them—in scary movies. The horror genre is unique in that it promises a very specific emotional response: fear. And a scary movie’s success completely hinges on hardwired human biological and psychological responses to deliver on this promise.Nightmare Fuel explains the mechanics of what makes what we see on the screen so terrifying and what goes on behind-the-scenes to create the horror in the first place. The truth is that creating horror is about more than loud noises and frightening images.Nightmare Fuel covers everything from jump scares to creature features to the nightmares that keep viewers awake long after a movie is over. Readers will learn the science of how and why horror films get under our skin and keep us coming back for more. And with spotlight features throughout that focus on specific films’ science-based techniques, both science and horror fans will have a reason to engage with the genre in greater depth.
Here’s what Kristin Temple, assistant editor at Nightfire, has to say about Nightmare Fuel:
“I was a Psychology major in college, and I’ve been in love with horror movies since Thirteen Ghosts scared my socks off when I was 7. So when Nightmare Fuel landed in my inbox, it felt like Nina had written it specifically for me. But what’s so great about Nightmare Fuel is that while it is indeed perfect for people like me, it’s also perfect for anyone who just likes horror movies.
Nightmare Fuel is both a deep-dive into the science of fear, and a celebration of the genre. Nina does a wonderful job of straddling the line between science and pop culture, and any horror fan who has ever wondered why they love scary movies so much is going to love this book.”
And from Nina Nesseth:
“I love horror. I obsess over final girls and well-timed jump scares (love them or hate them, they do get the job done!). As a scientist, I can’t help but dissect horror movies as I watch them, tease elements apart to see what makes them tick. Nightmare Fuel lives at a crossroads where genre and science meet. It was born out of those pop science articles that float around the Internet every year around Halloween, articles about how horror triggers the fight-or-flight response or exploring psychological reasons for why people love horror. These pieces always stand out for me because they tell me that I’m not the only one curious as to how horror films, more than any other genre, can burrow into our brains and create bodily responses. I wanted to dig deeper, though, because that familiar horror-fueled adrenaline rush is only one piece of the puzzle. I just knew that there was so much more that we should be talking about.
From monsters that lurk in dark corners to tension-building scores, every part of a horror film is crafted to make its audience’s skin crawl, and we, the audience are as crucial a part of the design as what we see on-screen. I had a lot of fun digging into so many of these factors. Whether you’re a casual fan or an avid horror head, I hope you find Nightmare Fuel interesting.”
Nina Nesseth is a professional science communicator. Her background is rooted in biomedical sciences and science communication, with a special interest in human biology. She is a staff scientist at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario.
In 2017, Nesseth co-authoredThe Science of Orphan Black: The Official Companion, published by ECW Press.She is a contributor toNightmare on Film Street, where she is featured in a monthlycolumn “Science of the Scare” that investigates the strange science questions that come up in horror movies.Other bylines includeThe Mary Sue, Gayly Dreadful, and Shudder’sThe Bite.
Despite being no stranger to many forms of writing—ranging from haiku and playscripts to news articles and educational pieces—she feels most at home writing about science and what makes the human body tick. You can find her on Twitter or Instagram (@cestmabiologie), where she shares her love of science fiction and nerds out about human neuropsychology.
Nightmare Fuel will hit shelves in July 2022!
FAQs
To prevent frightening images from plaguing your mind at night, it's best to purge them from your conscious mind. To do this, try talking about what you just saw, especially anything in particular you found frightening. You could chat about the film with someone you just watched it with, or someone you see before bed.
What is the science behind horror? ›
Biological Reactions to Fear
Horror entertainment can trigger the fight-or-flight response, which comes with a boost in adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine. The brain can then process surroundings and conclude that the experience is not a genuine threat.
How horror movies manipulate the physiology of fear? ›
Physiological Responses
In general, our adrenaline rushes because of the excitement and fear of anticipating when a killer strikes in the movie. By also recalling the physiological arousal when our blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate increases after the movie ends—tension is released.
Is it bad to watch a scary movie at night? ›
This excited response - which is an essential part of the experience of watching a horror movie - can also make it harder to sleep, and the frightening things we've seen on screen may trigger nightmares which disrupt our REM sleep.
Is it bad to watch scary movies before bed? ›
Not surprisingly, horror movies top the list of entertainment to avoid before bed. While some people can watch the goriest slasher flick and go to bed with no problem, many find that watching scary thrillers ignites their fight-or-flight response.
Do ADHD people like horror? ›
The big picture: Some enthusiasts with ADHD or autism may feel scary-good about haunted houses, says Greg Siegle, who is researching autism and threat reactivity systems at the University of Pittsburgh.
What is the scariest form of horror? ›
The Most Terrifying Form Of Horror
- HOME INVASION.
- MONSTERS. ...
- FOUND FOOTAGE. ...
- PARANORMAL. ...
- GORE. ...
- SLASHER. Likely the most popular genre listed, slashers are a classic when it comes to horror. ...
- psychological. Psychological horror relies on curating suspense and fear through one's psyche. ...
Studies indicate that a 90-minute session of horror viewing can help burn up to 150 calories, akin to a brisk half-hour jog or walk. This revelation stemmed from a study by researchers at the University of Westminster, which observed heightened heart and metabolic rates during horror movie-watching sessions.
Why do scary movies turn me on? ›
Holly Richmond, a somatic psychologist and certified sex therapist explains it like this. Something called “horror-induced horniness” has a lot to do with the body's physiological response to fear. When we're scared, our bodies typically have some natural and hormonal responses reports Refinery 29.
Do horror movies reduce anxiety? ›
People seek horror entertainment for thrill and adventure, but studies have found mental health benefits in viewing scary movies, including stress release, managing real-life fears, and gradually reducing the impact of stressors through exposure to danger and fear in a controlled environment.
We know the “Halloween” movie franchise's Michael Myers is not real, but our brain still responds as if he were a knife-wielding threat. One brain imaging study found that watching horror movies activates threat-response brain regions such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex and insula as if the danger were real.
How to sleep at night after watching a horror movie? ›
Anxiety and sleep have a unique relationship -- it can be hard to fall asleep when you're anxious, but your anxiety symptoms worsen without sleep. After the scary movie, turn on the light and eliminate the shadows. This will help you relax enough to go to sleep. You can also sleep with a lamp or nightlight.
Why am I so scared after watching a horror movie? ›
Why is that? When we get scared, our brain's immediate response is to go into fight-or-flight. Our hearts race, our muscles tighten, we jump, we scream. When we watch a horror movie, it stimulates the brain and it responds with the physical and emotional sensations we call fear.
Why is it hard to sleep after horror movie? ›
Scary movies tap into primal human responses, triggering stress and physiological reactions. The release of stress hormones interferes with restful sleep, reducing deep sleep and REM sleep.
Why do I get scared after watching a scary movie? ›
Horror movies trigger your fear with situations and images that are frightening on an instinctive level. Even if you know that what you're seeing isn't real, these kinds of images can kick your nervous system into survival mode.
