General Audience Research

When studying horror films, the question is always asked "Why would anyone enjoy watching a repulsive gore fest, with nothing but blood and violence?" It seems ridiculous to believe that anyone would actually want to watch the process of characters being murdered and brutally massacred for their own enjoyment. However studies have shown that people go to watch horror movies for the adrenaline rush, and that people like the feeling of being frightened. There is a definite excitement which looms around horror films which simply cannot be mirrored by any other genre of film. Although other genres can provoke certain reactions, such as laughter and tears, no other genre can actually have a person completely gripped with fear. This is what makes horror films so enjoyable.

Studies have shown that the male audience is one that mostly enjoys the horror genre, and in particular, single males, this may be because a couple would rather see, for example, a romantic comedy than a horror movie.  Not ruling out the female audience however, who still do attend  horror films, but not in the same mass as males. The most interested age range in the horror genre being 17-30 year olds. 

In comparison to other genres of films, the horror genre is reasonably unpopular, with only 2/10 people going to watch a film of the horror genre at the cinema, there seems to be a shrinking market for, arguably the most emotion provoking genre of film available. The highest grossing horror film of all time being The Exorcist (1973), which reached a massive $441,071,011, however in recent times horror films have struggled to make anywhere near as much money as The Exorcist, with Van Helsing grossing $300,257,475, its the most successful horror film since the millennium. 

Overall, I think there will always be a place for the horror genre in cinema due to the un-paralleled thrill experienced while watching a horror film, which simply cannot be matched by a film of another genre. Although data suggests horror films are becoming less popular with todays audiences, there are still some thrill seeking horror fans who will never fail to watch the latest slasher or psychological horror movie. 

Kieran Browne