The Psychology of Scary Movies

[@S.T.A.R]

"Horror films don't create fear, they release it." ~ Wes Craven ♡

[@ThePodcastStudioMiltonKeynes]

Whose watching in 2020 and heard him say "in fear of a viral pandemic"??

[@theneedle6785]

Fear of those using a viral pandemic to further special interests ...

[@FilmmakerIQ]

We use After Effects for all the animations and the lettering is from a template called Blackboard - each letter must be placed individually.

[@frankincisco]

wow I love this guy. really amazing how he explains things. This is gold for other filmmakers. Thank you very much.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

+Frank Christian Marx Thank you for your kind words.

[@casperes0912]

I'd like to just second the original comment. This really is gold, and your videos have been helping me a lot. I'm studying filmmaking, and I feel like I'm getting better and getting better ideas from watching your videos. You sort of expand my tool belt in a way, not always by handing me new tools, but also by reminding me of ones I rarely use Thank you

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Thanks Casper!! That really means a lot to us.

[@DIYCameraGuy]

I can't imagine the amount of research you must have put into this show. Thanks for sharing.

[@potenvandebizon]

That look and intonation at 'erotica' is just priceless.

[@bryanlathrop3492]

Mistermaarten150 you got 69 likes

[@mimilils9335]

100th like! Woo

[@FilmmakerIQ]

The chalk sound effects are actually essential, we've tried it many ways and this feels the most natural.

[@chickennuggets1837]

ok

[@ohigetjokes]

I've been researching horror - this is the first time I've found something that wasn't just nonsense. THANK YOU for this! Subscribing!

[@contravariant_functor]

For me personally, there's another reason why I watch horror movies. They are like magic tricks. Sure, it's cool to see them working, but trying to find out how they did it or revisiting a movie you read about how they pulled of the gorier parts is what I mainly get out of horror, especially splatter. However, this feeling is not exclusive to splatter, as it's always great to look at great filmmaking or indulge in B-movies which clearly were way too ambitious for their budget. If I were to pick a favourite movie genre, it would definitely be horror, as it is one of the most versatile, creative, and innovative because it needs to be, in order to appeal to an audience getting tired of old fashioned cliches way more easily than in other genres. It's also a teriffic starting point for many directors since it has always been a huge sector of indie moviemaking. It's such a shame that everytime a horror movie is critically acclaimed nowadays it gets called psychological thriller or mystery thriller instead because the horror genre has a needlessly bad image in the public perception just because it's not as accessible as comedy for instance.

[@mariewelsh1487]

Fnffg VFC mfggc van begb vjcdx hbfdfg

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Look in the description for a link to the history, we can't post that on KZbin right now

[@drewsmith5614]

This guy is good at explaining things!

[@RatchetandSly]

Way he said "erotica" made me very uncomfortable. lol

[@AkoPanotti]

You really like Scarlett Johansen don't you

[@lmsorenson8503]

Who doesn't? ;)

[@Ricadamu]

I really appreciate the research and commitment to the content this channel puts out. Really easy viewing and you just leave feeling that much smarter. Very well done.

[@Snooperking]

My opinion this channel is so much better and more professional than IndyMogul and FilmRiot and all those other channels. They point out everything in film and i absolutely love it.

[@timespace.productions7513]

Everyday I look to see if Filmmaker IQ posts new videos. I wait patiently to be educated & entertained. These videos aren't just instructional. They represent the passion for Cinema & its emotional relevance...

[@martinmoselarsen3175]

The Filmmaker IQ videos are great! They are not filled with tons of different effects; John slides down, John slides in from the right and scales up and down. He wears a red shirt. There is a red frame with white letters and a little whoosh sound - and that's about that! :-) No teenager gone crazy in a PowerPoint candy store raid! One thing that makes these videos really stand out from the masses though is, that there is no background music! :-) (Many KZbin videos have background music that, at times, almost drown the sound of the speaker)

[@willgetcarriedfornudes1417]

I love horror movies and games because I love the rush I get of being scared.

[@mindlessgreen]

There has to be phenomenal effort going into these videos. These are almost better than university lectures.

[@moustikdu91]

It is women who love horror. Gloat over it. Feed on it. Are nourished by it. Shudder and cling and cry out, and come back for more. -Bela Lugosi

[@user-sy4jl3vs2t]

Your videos and lessons help me a lot with my current school project about the genre horror. You deserve a very big "Thank You!" and - 'cause filmmaking is very interesting anyway - my subscription. :D

[@naeemahmadi5507]

your channel is one of the most informative channels i watch on youtube if not the best...awsome

[@oelverlust8250]

I lost it when you started showing Scarlett Johanson.

[@AgoraMediaTv]

I'm with you, I know what you mean :)

[@Dainius8888]

I understand and appreciate when you say that film is the ultimate art form as it combines many others and almost resembles dreaming, but what about video games? They are the same but also an interactive experience, which makes them resemble dreaming even more

[@talkingcontroller9396]

Dainius Obcarskas exactly. Videogames are the ultimate art form if done right, they can scare you off more than movies.

[@britling9101]

I think movie still resemble dreams more because in your dreams u mostly can't control it (unless it's a lucid dream)

[@asgermortensen5835]

First of. I like video games. But you'll need a way more complex fantasizing brain to hold that level of storytelling intact (Except for video games that are basically just movies with little interaction from the player). Also, if you're dreaming you're often not in a lot of control. It's not like I'm dumped into this dream and I can just go have fun with everything I want, unlike most video games. Lastly, video games are not storytelling as a film is. In the film, we are forced to watch something we simply have no control over, storytelling is an escape from our own lives. If i'm playing a videogame (say like Skyrim), i'm not being told a story, i'm making my own.

[@Kenneth-Allvn]

Dainius Obcarskas I agree video games are a great way to tell a story, but because of the constant change of technology many games of the past get lost and forgotten. Films last longer and are easier to archive in my opinion.

[@KHQMaster]

Video games will never have the prestige and appraisal that film, literature, music and other art forms receive. Video games are first and foremost created as a toy, treated as toy, and sold as a toy. The inherent fact that it is a "game" creates an audience who will reject anything that gets in the way of the game, and any attempt to push that boundary will need to be processed through a few commercial outlets (aka Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and such) that cannot sustain any true creative renaissance in the same vain as actual art. Thus, it is impossible for local communities to create any non-commercial art spaces that will showcase and support any artistic talent and culture that one might possible get from video games.

[@softsoundriver]

You definetly deserve more subscribers! Greetings from Berlin

[@thewiseman80]

love your videos john, really educational. you learn an awful lot in such a short space of time. Im a fellow filmmaker and film student, i am recommending your videos to others to watch. currently in pre production stage for a film noir movie i am writing directing and shooting for university, i am going to try some of the tools you have suggested. thanks and keep up the great work.

[@iTzMattz]

Fantastic video. The level of substance and depth earned you a subscriber and tons of referrals.

[@adamdonovan88]

Applause. This is amazing. I've followed this channel for a year or so, I'm disappointed I just discovered this one today.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Thank you so much Richard!

[@cpt_nordbart]

Like a rollercoaster. You won't die but anticipating the free fall is... uhm... enjoyable?

[@theroomnumber5210]

The video only covers the instant reaction audiences have while watching a horror movie. Few things to explore - What makes certain horror movies have a lingering effect? For instance, I easily forget horror movies that ends well, like God saves from Devil, bad guy is killed and so on. But I take home my fear when the movie doesn't have a disclosure (the ones where we relax knowing the evil thing was dead but comes back to life in the last scene). I think this lingering effect is a big part of what some makers want to achieve with the audience. Rosemary's baby is one good example - No gore, no scary scenes yet left you with an uncomfortable, eerie feeling that lasted for days.

[@gedq]

Is that the problem solving bit? Horror movies trigger the problem solving bit of your brain, if it doesn't deliver a solution, a resolution, it leaves that bit of you busy?

[@lavoie84qc]

Always happy to see a new video from you in my subscribe list. You are the best.

[@wedgewizard5429]

I recently tried to explain why watching horror movies were a good thing. I wish I watched this before I tried to do that. All I had was good horror movies are exciting, and that they help explore fight or flight response, like what would you do in this situation that you've never been in? Here's how they handled it, how would you have done it?

[@goku5469]

I love how he just told Scarlett Johansson is the woman of his dreams. Get in those DM's boyo!!!

[@Michael-hp2pe]

Thanks John, appreciate all the videos you've made. They're a pleasure to watch!

[@lifewithlani2637]

Let me preface this by admitting I am an old dude. The scariest thing I ever saw as a child was "Jason and the Argonauts". Particularly the scene where Jason and company were fighting the skeletons (greatest stop-motion ever by FX master Ray Harryhausen). That scene gave me nightmares for a while. For me, it was more horrifying than Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, The Shining, and everything else that came along. I am trapped in front of my PC, binge-watching your channel. Now, THAT is scary. LOL.

[@angelinamedina1060]

Life With Lani hey how did you get over your fears

[@lifewithlani2637]

@@angelinamedina1060 As I grew older the fears went away. But I still fear two things: small spaces and high places.

[@angelinamedina1060]

Life With Lani yeah because I seen a documentary about a movie that was based on a true story and ever since that I've been really scared. I feel that eveyting that happened to that girl would happen to me. It was the movie about Emily Rose. And now I'm really paranoid I just want to know if you ever find yourself feeling like that and if you ever find yourself really paranoid. What scares me is that it was based in true story. I want to know if you ever felt like that. If so please help because I'm really scared that I will get possessed. Most likely not. But I want to know if you ever felt like that. And help me plz. The have a great day

[@AntonisDimopoulos]

"...and as always: Thanks for watching"... :P

[@ShadowFungus]

I dunnno how or why But whenever i’m overthinking or having depression i always watch horror movies And it makes my mind calm. Actually.. the anxiety is replaced by fear.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

But in a horror film you control the fear

[@ThomasLuca]

Loved this one John, Thank You. FilmmakerIQ is awesome

[@FilmmakerIQ]

That Vsauce video is a good companion to this because they cover a lot of things about the "uncanny" that complete what we're talking about here.

[@CharlesTheClumsy]

You are clearly one of my favorite subscriptions. And I have almost 200 subscriptions.

[@hepsabaptron00]

This guy really is a terrific presenter and has some great ideas (assuming he wrote and researched the content too!). Definitely would go if he did a lecture tour

[@euansinclair5293]

Great video. I've just come up with an idea for a horror and am hoping to start working on my 1st film within the year. Keep 'em coming.

[@zoaadilli6505]

+Euan Sinclair i wish you luck & that you may achieve succes!

[@OD2C]

How has it gone

[@TRASHFilmfestival]

It´s always a pleasure to watch your Lessons. Very inspiring and motivating. Keep up the great work !

[@mariewelsh1487]

Schools vi Facebook vc já fez graça hj hj moaefrdqwe do Gugu bnvd não

[@Morphea_DarkLight]

Tension, Relevance, Unrealism = TRU - I would add an E on the end for EVIL Horror = Tension, Relevance, Unrealism, Evil = True.

[@dave1812]

Your Videos are so great! So well researched and well organized

[@josephgraham7753]

Adjacent to your example of a story’s value including catharsis (the horror and the pity) and learning how to change, I feel horror films & stories allow me an opportunity to experience not only the true uncanny, but to experience a sort of revelation - a chance to experience Awe and the terrifying Sublime. My favorite horror pictures do this for me, and it’s a question I pose to my students at CCA. Thanks for a great video!

[@FilmmakerIQ]

I had a strange ephany in the same regards to reality TV. It teaches how to spot personality types.

[@geekgroupie42]

Ahhhh! i just wanted to find something to watch before bed - now i have a million studies to look up!

[@austinduran-guitarcovers5325]

tension - created through mystery suspense gore terror or shock + straight forward elements of horror - the craft and technique of filmmaking

[@jonablob117]

I think for me personally, the reason why I like horror movies(particularly slasher movies like Halloween, Friday The 13th, etc.) is because of the adrenaline rush I get when I see something scary happen like a jumpscare or a brutal death. Another reason I like them is because of the characters of the movies, plots, and as hard as it is to admit, I think it appeals to the dark side of the human mind.

[@dbreardon]

I really enjoy these Filmmaker IQ videos. I've learned a lot. But the one thing I wish is that they would drop the constant clicking when the words appear...hint, hint :) But regardless....thanks for all the great information!

[@Netpobny]

smoothly put together, nice flow on effect and educational

[@RottenDoctorGonzo]

Great video. I'm not certain, however, that Aristotle's "catharsis" is in relation to pent-up or built-up negative feelings. Much of his work The Poetics was lost in a fire and even today scholars disagree on its intended meaning. Since the catharsis is experienced after the story has evoked pity and fear, it's possible that Aristotle's catharsis is a catharsis of those feelings - pity and fear - that the same story introduced in the first place. In other words "Here's a problem; stick around for the solution". As I say, there are differing views even among scholars. Again, great video.

[@PaulKretz]

13:48 - LOL :D Glad the ending followed the topic, haha.

[@AdlejandroP]

great video. you seem like a really chill guy

[@lifewithlani2637]

I am addicted to your channel.

[@lorenam4458]

Wow! You are amazing. I'm doing a research and this gave me some ideas about Spanish cinema. Thank you.

[@KellyManningNZ]

Great! Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos too :)

[@henrycohn5085]

I'm somewhere between a gore watcher and a problem watcher. I enjoyed American Psycho because I identified with Patrick Bateman and felt sorry for him at the end (and because I thought it was funny). I think that most horror films these days are targeted at the thrill watcher, and remember not having much of a reaction to Sinister, which was from the victim's point of view.

[@danieljakubik3428]

Intelligent explanation of the appeal of horror films.

[@rdecredico]

fantastic stuff here ... also curious about the psychology of those people that really have no affinity for the genre whatsoever ? ... i think your ideas/concepts in the last three minutes are worthy of deeper exploration and analysis (that films may exist/create a middle area between conscious and unconscious)

[@Russianbeardedman]

Loved the video. Great information. Thank you!

[@HunterHarpole]

you, my friend, deserve more subscribers!

[@Abdullahs_World]

well detailed explanation. You're my favorite movie maker all in one package guy.

[@Z00keeper54]

Dreaming of Scarlet Johansson was a nice touch. Good stuff.

[@000Gua000]

Don't look left. Look me in the eyes!

[@FilmmakerIQ]

***** But that's where Seamus the Clown sits. Just look left if you don't believe me.

[@altfox0]

Ur like a mix of vsause and film riot thats awesome!! Keep up the good work

[@anartismal]

lol the way he said "erotic" at 6:37

[@martintroy]

Thank you for these informative videos. You're a very good teacher,

[@Robin_Glader]

Says "Dracula". Shows Edward Cullen. LOL!

[@STOMPINon8]

You do amazing informative videos, i listen and watch all the time while at work. Check your spill suppressor though, those bits of green in your glasses should be easy to remove. Keep it up !!

[@glassjaw2007]

really great great analysis from varios academic sources! 12:19 you seem to love Scarlet ;) speakin of which what did you think of Under The Skin? i loved that movie and consider it a masterpiece, cheers!

[@ElOchentero]

The part of realism is interesting. I know a lot of Catholics who say they find most monster movies non-scary because monsters doesn't exist, but are terrified with The Exorcist or The Exorcism of Emily Rose because they think demon possession do exist and can happen in real life. Meanwhile some atheist friends are quite the opposite, they don't feel scare with exorcism movies because they don't think such thing happens, but are scare for things movies about like alien abductions because or slayer killers, again "that can happen". I personally found scary the humanoid monster. As much humanoid it is more scary I found it, like the ghosts in the JHorror movies like the Grudge or The Ring, or fresh zombies (the one not yet decompose) in movies like Night of the Living Death (especially the remake), or Michael Myres in Halloween.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

That's not what we mean by non-realism. Whether something _could_ happen doesn't matter, it's a recognition that the piece is a work made for entertainment which gives us the viewer _permission_ to enjoy it. For example people get very different reactions from watching a gory part of a horror film versus watching some gory footage of a real life car accident. Watching a person get hit as part of a show is very different then watching a person get hit in real life. This even extends to other acts - like people arguing or romance.

[@annapaulikonis2433]

El Ochentero u know whats really scary.The six o clock news

[@alexanderzurba7680]

Slasher movies or anything disturbing on television would cause certain people to be traumatized and would have to seek therapy from what was happening, weather it's fiction or based on a true story, something like that can automatically scar certain people for life.

[@DonaldSimsProduction]

Enjoyed your thesis. Thank you for sharing.

[@OtterLords]

I watched the nightmare on elm street and it scared me as hell I couldn’t go to sleep that night but i did thank god it was just a movie 🎥 popcorn 🍿

[@OtterLords]

Btw my dog helped my worrying and I am ok

[@karennorris7880]

Fascinating stuff. Thank you!

[@TheSaiyanKing]

that part put a really big smile on my face

[@JustinH]

Way to put work into your channel. I'm happy to be subscribed.

[@J0SHUAKANE]

Phisiology has much more to do with horror than psychology. Like John Goodman said in Matinee, The first cave painting was a horror movie.

[@daisyfitzgerald9157]

You should have way more views than this.

[@ChristopherJuul]

really great videos :)

[@mad1dk1]

Then upload them to Bibblio!!! Hehe

[@BoomRoomFive]

I avoided this video for a couple weeks while watching many others from Filmmaker IQ because I thought it would be uninteresting. Wow, I was so wrong!

[@jgregg1986]

Where can I find more info about or where did yours come from about Vietnam and the 60's zombies? Never heard that before. Great vid

[@FilmmakerIQ]

+john guhn Google Dr. Walters and Psychology of Horror which we gave us a lot of material for this episode.

[@LucasPreti]

Damn, I love you for making these videos. James Wan really should watch this hahaha

[@IferGanomer]

07:50 The best example of that can be seen in movies such as Get Out

[@eliut6855]

Fascinating stuff! Thank you. I have the theory that it is way easier to scare people (or make them cry) than to make them laugh.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Comedy is really governed a lot by culture. What one culture finds funny, may not translate into another. But what's scary is deeper - its instinctual. Even animals get scared - but not manly animals can laugh.

[@eliut6855]

Personally I think (probably feel) slapstick is not funny. Nevertheless family guy or south park makes me laugh (not lately). You should do an episode about comedy. When it works its great but when it doesn't its depressing or disturbing. Thanks for you videos BTW cheers Eliut

[@Macnavor]

Horror exist out of everyday existence of normal behaviour! Absolutely!

[@benj7483]

Wow. I was hoping for something like this to come along after that video on Vsauce about creepiness and then this happens. Best life ever.

[@RichWellner]

What tools are you using for the chalkboard animations?

[@luckyumbasa417]

"Horror exists outside of everyday existence of normal behavior." Maybe I would enjoy more horror if my first thought wasnt about the dearth of specific examples to the contrary of Carroll's idea. I find the fear inducing movies I enjoy to have a pull other than 'look at how depraved a person can be'.

[@lmalik1128]

Thank you for making us less scared - Aprecciated

[@ExoEarth]

Great stuff. Nicely done. thx.

[@MsRoshniAli]

Great Video. Thank you. Writing my first horror film...

[@choff01]

Excellent video sir, thank you.

[@HLLTAF]

Entertaining and informative!

[@joewizuber415]

definitely well explained thanks

[@NovaJake360]

I love you're channel! Do you mind if I use some of the information from your horror videos for my speech class?

[@FilmmakerIQ]

+Jack Torrance Go for it... as you always say, "All Work and No Play makes Jack a Dull Boy"

[@ErikDanielHernandezCantu]

This video is actually pretty encouraging

[@Waadee101]

Really Nice video. Thank You ! could you or would you do a similar lesson on Comedy Films.? Thanks again!