Illustrated by Maggie O’Connor.

Watching a horror movie with friends doesn’t just give you a thrill — it’s actually good for you. 

Hillsdale students should watch horror movies because doing so forces them to evaluate the darkness of the world while drawing them closer to the people they’re with.

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all have a morbid curiosity about the unknown. By nature, people have a desire to know more about the circumstances around them, even if they are disturbing.

Horror movies satisfy this desire. Their grim and mysterious premises allow viewers to gratify their fascination from behind the protection of a screen. Horror movies also force viewers to confront the darkness of their sinful nature. It’s hard to understand the gravity of evil until you sit through a two-hour film about a lethal social experiment or a psychotic invader. Viewers are confronted with the fact that there is a spiritual battle for their souls and that they cannot let the side of human darkness win.  

Some argue that horror movies’ excessive gore, disturbing themes, and twisting of ordinary circumstances cause viewers unnecessary anxiety and distress. In contrast, proponents contend that experiencing fear in a safe situation distracts viewers from real-life burdens and trauma. 

Most people can agree upon one thing about horror movies: Watching them can feel like a challenge. It is one of the few activities where your brain is engaged and your heart rate spikes in response to a hypothetical situation. Whether you’re watching an old classic like “The Shining” or a modern psychological thriller like 2010’s “Get Out,” it is difficult to make it through a horror movie without getting jump-scared or squeamish. Even for horror movie enthusiasts, part of the joy of watching horror movies is the sense of personal accomplishment they feel after it’s over.

My roommate and I certainly felt accomplished by the end of “The Conjuring” this past weekend as we clutched our empty Dairy Queen cups and hugged our knees to our chests. 

The challenge of watching horror movies with friends is particularly valuable because it turns distressing moments into shared triumph. While the inevitable ghastly images and gloomy plot lines may result in feelings of despair and unease, the relief the movie’s conclusion brings gives viewers a sense of euphoria. This is caused by the release of oxytocin into the brain — a hormone that decreases preliminary stress and positively impacts social interactions. 

When people watch horror movies together, their brains force them to grow closer to each other. They know each other better because they see how the other person responds to what they’re afraid of. Horror movies fuel substantive conversations about the nature of mortal enemies, the danger of irrational sin, and what it truly means to survive something traumatic. And they make people grateful that their lives can’t be as bad as those who live in a demon-infested home or have a villain lurking in the local sewer.

And after seeing horror movies to the end, viewers have a feeling that is richer than the warm comfort after a romantic comedy. Instead, they have a deep joy that is independent of the circumstances which came before it. 

In watching horror movies, I have learned that being scared with a friend is better than being content alone. More often than not, it makes me feel a little more seen and helps me share in life’s occasional calamities with strength and surety. 

I don’t claim to be a horror movie enthusiast, but I do enjoy the adrenaline rush of a Jordan Peele film once in a while. I am reminded of the darkness that this world can hold, but I leave feeling closer to the friends I watched it with. People don’t form the strongest bonds when they remain content, but rather when they choose to go outside their comfort zone and take a risk. 

It’s OK if you get scared, or if you don’t want to watch the scenes that make your skin crawl. The next time you watch a horror movie, cover your eyes for the gory parts, but grab a blanket and look to the person sitting beside you, too.

You’ll leave with a closer friendship, an appreciation for how good your life is, and maybe a Dairy Queen stain on your comforter.

Rebecca Aponte is a freshman studying the liberal arts.