Movies are like mirrors of reality. It's a reflection, not really reality itself. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Halloween turned out to be something more than just homage to frightening kids out of their socks?



Horror movies & Halloween

Cultural artifacts are often complementary. Many cultural artifacts develop alongside each other, often complimenting and supporting the survival of each other. It is this particular nature of culture that has allowed the movie industry to slowly define what 'horror' is to the public.

By going deeply into the public imagination, movies are able to record on film the unconscious drives, desires and fears of the larger public. Not only because it creates profit for the producers, but also because it serves to remind the public of the real Other: the enemies of liberty, free expression and equitability.

Seventies

It was in the 1970s that horror movies really took off and became associated with the celebration of Halloween. The stock images of scary scarecrows and Jack-O-Lanterns were integrated and given a new life.

Originally, this imagery was associated with more mellow references, like the harvest itself. When the images were revitalized to fit the bill of what was Hollywood-scary, the pumpkin suddenly became a maniacal demonic creature. The scarecrow wielded a scythe and suddenly became possessed.

In short, Halloween was the time of the year where even the cutest chipmunks can become rabid rodents out for blood. It was a way for people to scare themselves silly and come back out alive.

Rollercoaster of emotions

Yes, people don't like being frightened. However, what makes horror movies like Wait until Dark palatable to the public? It was the idea that something so scary could be packaged to become less frightening and controllable.

You see, real tragedies and unfortunate human events are often beyond the control of people. This is the reason why people often recoil from real life events because it would be painful to watch and not be able to do something.

Now, when something frightening had been re-formed to be consumed while sitting comfortably in a movie theater or in the comfort of your living room, it becomes less frightening. It becomes less hostile and more controllable even for kids.

For the kids

This is the reason why many adults still want to celebrate Halloween. Without a celebration with death and the unknown as its main motifs, how can an adult teach a child about fear, horror and death without cringing?

How do you make something as horrible as death less intimidating? You use Halloween, masks and parties. Parades are good, too. By dressing up the unknown, a message is being communicated.

The message is this: no matter how horrible real life may seem, there's always a chance that we will be able to control it. The way seems to be muddled at the moment, but let's enjoy ourselves while we seek it.