IMPACT OF HORROR MOVIE VIEWERSHIP ON THE REAL-LIFE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF VIEWERS

Abstract

This study aims at finding out the impact of the horror genre on Pakistani young viewers in their personal ‘real world’ routine experiences. This study uses the ‘hypodermic needle theory’ and the ‘protective frame theory’ to develop a theoretical framework for ascertaining the type of impact on horror movie viewers. It uses mixed method approach: survey and in-depth interviews to answer the research questions. The researchers collected data from 300 movie goers in Lahore through the survey questionnaire and conducted in-depth interviews of twelve horror movie fans residing in Lahore, Pakistan. The results of quantitative survey revealed that the Pakistani movie viewers do not like to watch horror movies. While the interview based qualitative study revealed that horror movies leave deep impact on the real-lives and personal experiences of the Pakistani horror movie viewers. Horror film industry is at an evolutionary stage in Pakistan; the ‘movie makers’, students of ‘film studies’ can benefit from this study as they can steer their knowledge to create the content which is not harmful for the audience by keeping in mind the existing content and its impacts.