The benefits of the horror genre: Why I love Five Nights At Freddy's and youtube horror

When you are hurting, in my experience there is no better way to process trauma and your anger at the world than through fiction.

Fiction gives us a framework through which we can explore and experience a whole spectrum of emotions and topics. Even the trickiest and darkest of topics can be placed in the spotlight and processed in a healthy way.

Perhaps some content may trigger you - gosh darn, it does me! - however, the fact that it is fiction allows the reader/viewer to experience difficult concepts and ideas safely. With fiction, you can take learning and expanding your thoughts gently, taking or leaving it as you need. It's far less impactful than factual retellings or news stories because you know it's not real. Characters may be relatable but ultimately, they are not you. They're just actors in a story. They can't hurt you, only make you feel. Feelings may be tough to handle but ultimately, they are just thoughts to process.

In other words, here's some modified lyrics to one of my favourite Steven Universe songs (my modifications bolded).

Here comes a thought that might alarm you

Something you read, and how it scared you

Something you saw that startled your mind

Touching your soul and clouding your sight

And, oh, you're losing sight, you're losing touch

All these little things seem to matter so much

That they confuse you

That you might lose you

Take a moment, remind yourself

To take a moment and find yourself

Take a moment to ask yourself

If this is how you fall apart

But it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay

You've got nothing, got nothing, got nothing, got nothing to fear

I'm here, I'm here, I'm here

This song is one of the best and simplest ways to describe grounding yourself that I've seen anywhere. Sometimes you just need to pause, remember where you are and that - whatever thoughts or memories are triggered in your mind - you are not in danger and you are emotionally safe.

Horror is, consequently, a far more palatable way to tackle issues and fears held culturally by our society today. It's also a safer and easier way to break down big topics into a way kids can understand.

This is where some parents and caregivers will recoil at the concept. Kids, consume horror?! Of course not!

I understand this instinct. However, while we like to pretend otherwise, kids are constantly dealing with difficult concepts, phobias, fears and a sense of powerlessness. Through horror content, they can face and process these and gain a sense of catharsis (emotional release) and control. (Just as long as they are taught how to process those feelings.)

Plainly put, horror provides a playground in which kids can dance with their fears in a safe way that can teach them how to survive monsters and be powerful, too.

Speaking as a child who was rarely exposed to horror content before my teenage years and was 'wrapped up in cotton wool', I wish I had consumed more kids horror content. I was an anxious child and facing some of those fears in fiction may well have given me a better handle on the world.

Personally, I think this is why shows like Doctor Who and books like Goosebumps have persisted. They are excellent examples of the genre done right.

And, I'd put the video game Five Nights at Freddy's in that category as well. If you aren't familiar with the series, in short imagine a horror version of Chuck E Cheese. The series contains no gore and only implied violence, with much of the horror being more psychological than visual. Animatronics just come at you and you must fend them off by shining a light on them, closing doors or redirecting them, depending on the game.

For anyone new to the series, its practically unintelligible. The games have little plot on first reading, with just some mini-games and a little dialogue to go off. And there are seemingly endless iterations of the characters, with each entry adding yet more into the mix. And yet, if you put many hours of analysis and thought into the game...

Well, the popular channel Game Theory has 60 videos of painstakingly researched content, with no conclusive answers.

It was the first of a wave of obtuse, hard to decipher games (which also inspired videos) which made understanding the story as much of a game as the game itself.

And if there is one thing I like, it's puzzles.

So, as you can imagine, the franchise drew me in and wouldn't let me go. And you know what? As part of "owning my cringe" I've decided to embrace it and share my thoughts. I have a theory that the games are more metaphorical than we thought, dealing with themes of trauma, manipulation, commercialism and generational trauma, all concepts that are very pertinent to today. In fact, they are even more unavoidable since the invasion of Ukraine and other geopolitical struggles.

I think this is why the genre is thriving on youtube right now through "let's plays" of horror games and youtube horror series. The beauty of many of these is that they hinge on psychological horror, praying on subtle and human fears and phobias rather than shock value.

Some of my other favourites are:

The Mandela Catalogue

The Backrooms

Gemini Home Entertainment

Poppy Playtime

Happy Meat Farms

I hope you'll indulge me as I explore the genre and analyse what they can teach us about psychology and philosophy. I think the genre has great value, whether you like it or not.