Horror Fandom is in the Genes?

by Erik Davis Aug 11th 2008 // 11:02AM

Ever wondered how some folks (like Cinematical's Scott Weinberg) can watch each and every little second of any horror film ever made with one hand in a tub of popcorn and a smile on their face, while some of the rest of us either stay far away or watch with our eyes half shut? Is it because those who love watching horror films are just one movie kill shy of becoming complete lunatics? Not according to a new study published in the scientific journal Behavioural Neuroscience (via the Telegraph), which claims a "particular variant of the 'COMT' gene affects a chemical in the brain that is linked to anxiety."

Yup, and it seems that people who have two copies of one version of this gene are the folks who "are more easily disturbed when viewing unpleasant pictures ..."(ie: wimps like myself who can't stand gory horror flicks). On the other hand, "those who had one copy of the gene and one copy of another version" found it much easier to keep their emotions under control (ie: hardcore like Weinberg). According to the Telegraph, 96 women participated in the study and were shown three different sets of photographs, with each progressively getting creepier.

So now when my friends make fun of me for not wanting to go see Saw V because of all the icky stuff, I'm blaming you mom and dad! How are you with horror? Love it, despite it, somewhere in the middle?

6 Comments

Tags: cinematical, featured, horror films, HorrorFilms, saw v, SawV

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-11-2008 @ 11:23AM

Scott Weinberg said...

My dad hates horror movies and my mom's too terrified to watch anything beyond Rosemary's Baby. OK, she loved The Hitcher.

8-11-2008 @ 11:36AM

ML said...

I'd say I'm a big fan of horror, but I'm not so much into the gore ... not so much because it creeps me out, but because it's a bit of a bore. Unless used with with unusual skill, gore too often serves as the crutch of the lazy filmmaker.

8-11-2008 @ 12:09PM

Eric Havens said...

So, instead of trying to defend myself to my horror hating friends; trying to explain why I would watch Shutter, I can just tell them I am genetically engineered to sit through 400 horrible horror movies to find one good one? "It's not my fault, my particular variant of the 'COMT' gene made me do it!"

8-11-2008 @ 1:42PM

Jennifer said...

My hubby, daughter (6) and I all love horror movies. My daughter's fav is the Jason movies (no sex and nudity for her; she covers her eyes quite well).

My hubby grew up on them so they don't bother him in the least.

I have a degree in forensics. Most of the time I sit thru horror movies that have blood and gore and say "that's not what it looks like when you do that." But sometimes it can be fairly realistic. (ex: when Tom Savini finally came out with spurting when a head is removed.)

My biggest problem with movies in general tho are when they kill/maim the poor innocent animal. There's no point. It's not scary, it's just sick. And not even really sick, considering, on the bad guys part. I can usually understand why they did it, but why'd the screenwriter put it in? Just let them kill someone else, not the animal. I realize that that's probably stupid, but that's what I don't like. I'll turn off a movie in a second just for that.

In most cases: horror = no problem.

8-12-2008 @ 2:33AM

Jason Warner said...

Side Note: Jennifer, I'd love to ask you a few forensics-related questions in relation to cinema... what's your e-mail address?

8-12-2008 @ 6:11PM

Holley said...

I like horror, but not torture porn. I'm more interested in being scared than in being grossed out, though I did watch Dead Alive this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed myself!