Audience Pleasures of watching Horror films-

There are many different pleasures that are created when watching a horror film and examples of this include the audience theories. Audience theories put the public into different groups or sections that identify how a horror film effects them. One example of a audience theory would be the uses and gratifications theory. This theory is the idea that the audience actively watch certain films and seek specific gratifications from them. The audience that is usually associated with this theory are known as the active audience. For example, audience watch slasher horror films at home or at the cinema for their own enjoyment as it is their choice, because they are the active audience. This audience choses to watch a slasher film for their own enjoyment as well as for the adrenaline rush that is included whilst watch a horror film. There is a sense of escapism whist watching a horror film because the events that usually happen during a horror film are not relatable to the majority of the audience watching, therefore the audience that watches it are trying to escape to another world, and want to experience something they may never happen in their normal lives as much as possible, therefore they watch a film. An audience member that comes under the active audience have the chance to reject, use or play with what they are watching due to the fact they challenge what they are watching. An active audience form opinions on what they are watching as well as chose what they want to watch.

Another type audience theory is the two step-flow theory. This theory is the idea that the audience of the film forms their opinions revolving around the opinion of an opinion leader which are influenced by the mass media. Audience go to watch films that have been given a review by influential people explaining the pleasures that the film gives. This audience is seen as very passive therefore if they were to read a bad review on a horror film, or a review that was written by a person that does not like horror films then the reader will not watch that certain film. This type audience doesn't really experience  pleasures from watching the film due to the fact that they are passive therefore they can make their own decisions on whether to watch the film or not. Also they wouldn't watch a film for a reason such as escapism because they would inly be watching the film because of other's opinions.