Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis, and whom is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and the mechanism of repression. He argued that traumatic memories can be hidden, buried deep in the unconscious mind. The repressed contents are out of the subjects control and are deemed as primitive instincts. He believes that repressed memories can explain numerous phenomena, being driven by an unconscious desire seeking to return to conscious awareness. He described his theory of 'the return of the repressed' as an explanation to why we often have horrific nightmares, or "Freudian slips" (slips of the tongue). Freud taught how we don't necessarily know what a repressed action could be, as we may unconsciously react to a situation because a certain bad memory that's been blocked, and hidden in the unconscious mind.
What's interesting however is how the genre of horror has taken this theory and used it to explain the reasoning behind a serial killer in a movie. 'Halloween (1978)' is a prime example of this where Mike Myers returns to his childhood neighbourhood to kill innocent victims, based on the repressed memories of his traumatic killing of his sister as a child. This type of killer is depicted in many horror movie's, and by understanding Freud's theory, audiences can begin to understand how the mind of the movie killer works.
Although the narrative of a horror film can be explained using Freud's theories, another issue is raised. Why would an audience be willing to pay to scare themselves watching a horror film?
Freud suggested some ideas that could help explain this. His first idea toyed with the idea that throughout our adult lives, our repressed anger will try to escape and 'wreak havoc' in society. He suggested that by deliberately scaring ourselves, we are are in essence 'letting off steam' that has been building as this repressed anger tries to escape. Another idea he had said that our minds can relate to the fantasy world created in horror because similar feelings are trapped deep in our sub-conscious. We are drawn to the themes portrayed in horror at a primitive level.
Although the narrative of a horror film can be explained using Freud's theories, another issue is raised. Why would an audience be willing to pay to scare themselves watching a horror film?
Freud suggested some ideas that could help explain this. His first idea toyed with the idea that throughout our adult lives, our repressed anger will try to escape and 'wreak havoc' in society. He suggested that by deliberately scaring ourselves, we are are in essence 'letting off steam' that has been building as this repressed anger tries to escape. Another idea he had said that our minds can relate to the fantasy world created in horror because similar feelings are trapped deep in our sub-conscious. We are drawn to the themes portrayed in horror at a primitive level.
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| In 'The Shining', Jack also appears to show a return of his repressed anger as he becomes insane |
How might these ideas also help us to understand the pleasures the genre has for its audience?
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