Should you get on the Scream team?

Scream 4 saw hordes of excited fans queue up the world over to sit inside dark movie theatres to be spooked, last Friday. Active! asks the experts to dissect this peculiar phenomenon to find out whether you're better off jumping out of your skin or sitting at home

With the fourth installment of the Scream franchise opening internationally over the April 15 weekend, one thing is clear: Everyone loves a good scare. Well, almost. If US box office earnings are anything to go by, the slasher film raked in a cool $19 million during its opening weekend, second only to the animated film Rio, despite it being almost 15 years since the release of the first film in the series.

This is not surprising, according to psychologist Anjali Chhabria. "The feeling of forgetting everything for the duration of the film, getting completely absorbed in the plot and finding relief at the end of the movie is exhilarating," she says.

Not all reactions to scary movies are the same, though. And genetics might hold the key. According to a study, which was published in the scientific journal Behavioral Neuroscience, it was found that variants of a single gene linked to feelings of anxiety might explain different reactions to the horror genre. Or why some people screamed and even fainted during the infamous "shaking-bed" scene from The Exorcist.

Scientists discovered that a particular variant of the COMT (Catechol-O-methyl transferase) gene affects a chemical in the brain that's linked to anxiety. People who have two copies of one version of the gene are more easily disturbed when viewing unpleasant pictures, while those who had one copy of the gene and one copy of another version were able to keep their emotions in check far more easily.

Watching horror films, therefore, might not be for everyone. "Those with a weak heart, an impressionable mind and a history of blood pressure problems will be better off without watching these films," says Dr Pradip Shah, General Physician.

This is because "unpredictability" has a big role to play in the genre, believes Dr Shah. "In a thriller or an action movie, the audience knows that the hero will triumph over the villain, but in horror movies the outcome is less predictable; audiences are at the edge of their seats, which gives rise to tension, anxiety and blood pressure. It may even trigger chest pains and other complications," says Dr Shah.

Fight or flight?
The fight or flight response is the natural response of the body when it perceives danger or a threat. "In such situations, hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released, which increases heartbeat, reduces digestive powers, increases blood flow to certain muscles and provides a sudden burst of energy. This either makes us stay and 'fight' or run from the scene," explains Dr Chhabria, adding, "A similar feeling occurs after watching a horror film."

Depending on the age and gender of the viewer, the reaction may further vary. "Studies suggest that movies dealing with animals like snakes, spiders, and a lot of bloodshed scare women more than men. However, while men do get scared as well, few will admit to it," says Dr Chhabria.

Dr Shah recounts extreme cases where viewers might lose sleep after watching a horror film. "Viewers, especially children and the elderly, might be reminded of certain scenes when they see something similar in real life. One usually returns to normal over time, as one gets busy with one's life, but if symptoms persist, then medication to soothe the nerves or help the individual sleep become necessary," he says.

Culture vulture
Culture is also an important factor when it comes to viewing horror films and its effect on health. The Japanese, considered masters of the horror genre, inspiring movies like The Ring, The Grudge and The Shutter, accept ghosts and spirits as an integral part of their culture, as the soul is seen as being eternal. The premise of The Grudge lies in the ancient Japanese belief that those who have died in a fit of rage will leave behind a curse that will destroy all who come in contact with it.

Indians, however, believe in the triumph of good over evil, hence most Indian horror movies end on a 'happy note', with the evil spirit being banished or defeated. In Bhoot, the 'evil' spirit is vanquished once she is allowed to take revenge on those responsible for her death. Balance is restored at the end of the film, which is why these films are deemed less traumatic than those that are left open-ended, a common ploy employed by studios to leave room for sequels.

PG strongly advised
"The point of a horror film is to inspire terror and make the viewer feel scared or disgusted. Most adults are able to bear the negative thoughts and scenes. A child's mind is not as strong and would not able to separate fiction from reality," says Dr Chabbria.

She adds that the graphic images in horror films can cause disturbances and create mental images, which the child might find difficult to cope with until he or she learns to separate fiction from reality. "Otherwise, this could lead to phobias in adulthood, as well. Individuals who have phobias of insects, reptiles, fire, flood, water, blood, injections, or height and enclosed spaces should avoid watching horror movies." Others should be careful not to spill their popcorn and drink on the person sitting next to them.

Screaming through the ages
In the 1920s, horror films drew on the folklore and legends of Europe, and interpreted monsters into physical form. Darkness and shadows were impossible to show on the film stock available at the time, so the scenes are likely to seem almost comic now.

The 1930s were ruled by growling monsters, namely, Frankenstein, King Kong, The Mummy and The Bride of Frankenstein, as sound was added to the movies. Horror on screen became a popular way to escape the real-life horrors of war and depression.

The 1940s and 50s, saw the ban of horror films in Britain, because of the war in Europe, but were still cranked out by Hollywood solely to amuse domestic audiences. The studios stuck with tried and tested formulas, as they were wary of taking risks. In the '50s, with the advent of television, the focus shifted to creatures like wasps, wolves, lizards and mutants as a scare tactic. This was also the era of Godzilla. The 1950s also introduced Hollywood to the concept of aliens and body snatchers.

Alfred Hitchcock revolutionized the horror genre with movies like Psycho and The Birds in the 1960s and 70s. Zombies also made their appearance in The Night of the Living Dead, while Rosemary's Baby introduced the concept of the Antichrist entering the soul of a child to the horror world, which was followed by The Omen and
The Exorcist.

Jaws wowed moviegoers with its special effects and soon the music was enough to send a shiver down people's spines. Some of the best horror flicks were produced in the '70s, thanks to big budgets. With make up and prosthetics reaching new levels, werewolves and aliens made an appearance in the 1980s. Movies like Child's Play, The Shining, Nightmare on Elm Street and Hellraiser were from this decade.

The 1990s played on crime and psychology to bring horror inside people's homes with movies like Scream, Se7en, Silence of the Lambs, The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project. The 2000s saw a lot of Japanese remakes with The Ring, The Grudge and Shutter making profits at the box office. This-can-happen-to-you was the mantra with movies of misfortune and people trying to outrun death in movies, including 28 days later, Final Destination and The Hostel catching popular imagination.

The 5 scariest movie monsters

Norman Bates, Psycho (1960)
Hitchcock's classic made everyone think twice about stepping into the shower or staying over at a motel, thanks to the schizophrenic owner of Bate's Motel. Needless to say, it inspired several slasher and psychological thrillers that to date can't match up to the surprise factor of the film.

Jason, Friday the 13th series (1980s)
If the thought of summer camps wasn't dreadful enough for children who would rather laze at home, the image of the masked Jason Voorheese is enough to send a shiver down one's spine. However brave you might be, this movie is sure to make you avoid camping at a sight where someone's drowned before.

Chucky, Child's play (1988)
Who could have thought that a doll could be so evil? The image of a crazed, knife-wielding Chucky was enough to scare children and adults alike, let alone make adults think twice before tucking in their children with a stuffed doll at night.

Samara, The Ring (2002)
Trying to unravel a case of a murderous videotape, a journalist learns about a young girl under treatment for abuse. Just when you begin to sympathize with the seemingly innocent girl, all hell breaks loose. Samara definitely goes down history as one of the most evil villains, who brings misery and death to all around her.

Manjeet Khosla, Bhootu00a0 (2003)
RGV proved his mettle in the horror genre with the tale about the spirit of Manjeet, who possesses Swati (Urmila Matondkar) to take revenge on those responsible for her death. Seen alternately from Manjeet and Swati's perspective, the movie terrified audiences.