Horror film fans are just as cuddly as the rest of us

MANY of us like romantic movies, some prefer comedy, and yet others enjoy settling down to watch the gruesome exploits of a sadistic serial killer.

But assuming horror fans are a little coldhearted and cruel compared with other movie enthusiasts is, it seems, a blind alley.

For those who relish the bloodcurdling A Nightmare On Elm street films featuring Freddie Krueger or the gory scream franchise are just as kind and compassionate as everyone else, a study reveals.

Researchers asked 201 participants to view profiles on a person – including favourite film genre. They were then asked to judge how kind, empathetic and compassionate each person was. Results showed horror fans were seen more negatively than comedy, drama or action fans.

Next, researchers asked a different group of 244 people to rate how much they enjoyed five sub-genres of horror film – gore or splatter, monster, paranormal, psychological and slasher. They then completed empathy tests, to reveal how much they were able to understand what another person was feeling.

The study, from Aarhus University in Denmark, found those who said they enjoyed horror scored no lower on empathy or higher on coldheartedness. There Stuff of nightmares: Freddy Krueger were even a few instances where they seemed more compassionate.

Writing in the online journal PsyArXiv, researchers said their findings suggested the caricature of an anti-social, depraved horror fan was false.

But lead author Coltan scrivner added that more work was needed ‘to understand the personality and behaviour of those who enjoy horror entertainment’.

DR MOSLEY IS AWAY