8 Horror Movie Monsters That Depict Real Mental Problems

University of Alberta (Canada) professor Jason Wallin believes that the great interest in horror films can serve as an indicator of the emotional state of society. Really?

Can horror movies be anything more than a simple source of strong emotions? Specialists believe so, and that this type of film is a reflection of our reality: each monster is a mirror of society’s problems and fears.

O awesome.club decided to investigate the evolution of the most popular monsters, trying to understand how the viewer’s emotional state and fears can be linked together.

It’s hard to imagine a monster more popular than a vampire. The story of the bloodthirsty Count Dracula is passed down from generation to generation, and his father is considered to be Bram Stoker, creator of the iconic bloodsuckers. But it was all ruined by Edward Cullen who appeared on movie theaters in 2008 as the main character of the movie Twilight🇧🇷 Unlike his ancestors in the movies and books, he and his family lead a very different life: they don’t drink human blood, they study at an ordinary school, they play sports and, instead of burning under the sun in terrible agony, they glow beautifully. Thanks to Twilight, we can see how life has changed since Count Dracula. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll see vampires that feed exclusively on blood made from organic soy?

Why do people watch vampire movies? A vampire is a symbol of permissiveness and luxury. They are not afraid of death and indulge in the most forbidden pleasures. Dracula is a reflection of the fear provoked by the people who hold power. On the other hand, Edward is the modern reflection of all current trends: humanism, family values ​​and love. But it is not simple human love, but an intense passion that consumes everything. In addition, there is also, as a contradiction in the hero’s character, moderation and vulnerability. Count Dracula would be very surprised at the behavior of his descendant. It seems that vampires have now become a variation on fairy tale princes: they are also rich and kind, but at the same time, immortal. And the most important advantage for modern day princesses is that they can give them eternal youth.

The werewolf is the vampire’s right hand and, at the very least, a cousin to him (remember the original vampires had the ability to transform into bats?). But these creatures surpass their bloodsucking kin in ferocity, for they not only like blood, but meat as well. However, over time, the image of a ferocious predator was transformed into that of an almost friendly puppy (remember Harry Potter’s godfather). Now, werewolves are seen as lonely people misunderstood by society. They have a huge heart, but prefer not to show their emotions and remain alone.

Why do people watch werewolf movies? This issue is linked to people’s distrust: you never know what someone can become, nor what beast each one hides inside. However, with the growing popularity of social networks, there has been a change not only in communication between people, but also in the perception of strangers. By observing a person’s timeline, it is possible to find out in seconds how they live. So the younger generation has no idea what mystery is, and the image of the werewolf has gone from a terrifying stranger to a character that can be characterized with a buzzword: “introvert.”

While the abilities of monsters, even the most popular ones, atrophy from movie to movie, zombies, on the contrary, evolve. They no longer walk clumsily on broken legs, but run a lot. They no longer exclusively seek the brain (why?), but are interested in the flesh of the whole body. What is the main strength of zombies? The fact that they attack in groups. The undead mob can do anything, even destroy people, who are smarter and faster.

Why do people watch zombie movies? Zombies are a reflection of the fears that arise in the face of the threat of viruses. Every year, we hear about new flu epidemics and realize that hiding from a virus is impossible: either you will be lucky or you will be among the infected. But the main idea of ​​films of this type is that the only way to survive among the slow mass of people with no purpose in life (except to feed themselves) is to pretend to be one of them, not to stand out. In fact, a zombie’s main objective is to make you look like him.

Mutants are never “moderate”: either they are absolute heroes (Spider-Man), or aggressive monsters. There’s also the Hulk who, while unhinged, remains a hero. But note that he is an exception.

Why do people watch movies about mutants? The more attempts humans make to play with nature and change it, the stronger the fear of mutants becomes. People realize that nature changes, and often not of its own free will. Furthermore, they note that the loss of control over the experiments made by humanity can lead to a mass catastrophe.

The dragon is a huge mythical creature with the incredible power to reduce an entire city to ash, or destroy it even without fire, simply by walking through it. Usually, whoever is in charge of fighting these huge monsters in the movies is an entire army of people.

Why do people watch movies about dragons? Mentally replace a dragon with modern military aircraft or tanks. The damage will be the same. Thus, it is possible to understand the main fear caused by the unstable political situation around the world. The dragon is the destructive force of war, in the face of which a person feels incredibly small and helpless. When showing the friendship between a person and a dragon, are the writers addressing the desire to compromise and learn to live in peace? We know that at the end of these movies, the hero and the dragon are forced to part ways, as only then can they both live their own lives, maintaining neutrality and protecting each other. With the release of the Game of Thrones series, the dragon began to embody the strength of militancy, the demonstration of strength and power. Daenerys Targaryen wouldn’t have gained so many fans if it weren’t for her “children”. Indeed, how else could an apparently fragile young woman enter the battle for the throne?

The question of the afterlife is one of Hollywood’s most philosophical and favorites. For screenwriters, ghosts are an inexhaustible source of inspiration, and thanks to them you can create both a masterpiece and a very clichéd horror movie.

Why do people watch ghost movies? In society, ghosts are a reflection of what is usually kept silent, hidden or simply forgotten. The main purpose of ghosts is to remember, explain and show what people have done, and how far their choices have taken them. All ghosts, good or bad, are very similar to the burden of conscience, from which it is impossible to hide.

Nobody likes ogres: they are mean, cruel, ugly and stink. Therefore, giants often do not even deserve the main role, being left in the background, where they appear as servants of more intelligent beings.

Why do people watch movies about giants? The one who best explained the unexplored soul of giants was the most famous ogre: “They condemn me before they know me, so it’s better to be alone.” Guess who it was? Of course, these are Shrek’s words. Thanks to him, people changed their attitude towards giants. The “giants” in real life are those who lead a very controlled lifestyle, caring about the environment. These are people who have found happiness in solitude, tired of human cruelty and stupidity.

It is surprising, but although movies about psychopaths are all alike and the viewer already knows what will happen, if you find yourself in the middle of a dark forest, separate yourself from the group or enter a strange house without an invitation, interest in this type of movie keeps growing.

Why do people watch movies about psychopaths? In the context of daily news, people are always convinced that there is no monster more terrible than the human being, and that he is capable of doing the scariest things. The main fear lies in the fact of understanding that it is practically impossible to eradicate this evil (it is not by chance that no movie hero managed to get rid of the psychopath on the first attempt). On the other hand, psychopaths often channel punishment for excessive naivety and debauchery. Often, in the movies, the victims of a psychopath are the ones who maintain a lifestyle that is thought to be wrong. Paradoxically, this is most evident in the parodies of horror films. Think, for example, of the movie Tucker and Dale Against Evil: people were responsible for their own misfortunes but continued to blame the 2 men who had nothing to do with human stupidity which in turn caused death of the characters.

The world around us is changing thanks to ourselves: we create environments and fashions based on our interests, which is why one generation doesn’t look like another. The viewers are the ones who create the audience rankings and encourage the creation of the products that are thrown to the masses. So most likely we deserve the movies and television shows we watch and the music we listen to, because, after all, they are the result of the majority’s choice.

What else do you think might reflect society? Leave your comment.