Horror films are good for your health.
Psychologists have suggested that scary movies such as ‘The Shining’ and ‘The Exorcist’ are actually beneficial for a person’s well-being as they promote both stress and pain relief through the release of endorphins and dopamine – the reward hormone.
Films that feature lots of ‘jump-scare’ moments are the most effective at burning calories as they have a significant effect on a person’s heart rate.
Dr. Kristen Knowles, a neuropsychologist at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, told The Herald newspaper: “Researchers have found that watching horror can improve pain tolerance due to endorphin production. Distraction from pain is also a likely explanation, since attention and energy resources are diverted towards threat evaluation and away from other bodily functions.”
Dr. Knowles’ comments validate a 2012 study conducted by the University of Westminster that found watching a 90-minute horror film burned roughly the same amount of calories as a short walk.
