for decades people have been enjoying the thrill of scaring themselves reading, watching or playing scary books, movies and games. Even as films first began to become popular, horror movies have been one of the most popular genres of film. Cinemas across the world were filled with terror when films such as the Exorcist were released, and thanks to the major advancements in the level of production and realism of horror films, the love of fear shows no sign of decreasing.
As modern technological advancements took hold, some of the terror moved from the cinema into the home, as movies became available to be seen on television, video and DVD. With the spread of the internet, terrifying thrills are now available on demand 24/7. People have also enjoyed the chance to become part of the action, enjoying the chance to play gruesome video games. The quality and realism of the games has increased massively in recent years, and it is exciting to think about the possibilities for the future, and how realistic it is possible for games to become. Perhaps before too long it will be difficult to distinguish between games and reality.
TV programmes with a spooky theme also prove popular – documentaries and other programmes where ghosts are hunted or attempts to contact dead relatives are displayed all have high viewing figures, and the numbers are always growing. Scary online videos are also increasingly popular, and even scary music is well-loved, as horror movie soundtrack CDs fly off the shelves.
Another area where the horror genre has remained popular for hundreds of years, is fiction. Even some of the earliest novels had a scary theme, with gruesome and fantastical plots. Ancient storytellers would enjoy giving their audience a fright, and playwrights such as Shakespeare incorporated aspects of horror into their plays. The trend has continued, and today horror writers still enjoy enormous success, as people buy their novels by the millions as a form of escape from everyday life. Even if they cannot become a famous writer, many people enjoy telling scary stories at home, or around campfires, and with the growth of the internet people still use their storytelling skills sending spooky emails to scare their friends.
Horror novels often appear in series by one author, where readers can follow a particular character or theme throughout numerous books. This is something that has been continued in the movie business as sequels and prequels keep viewers coming back for more, sending box office figures, and DVD purchases soaring.
It's an interesting phenomenon, and living in the technological age that we do, we can look forward to even more innovative and creative developments to keep paranormal entertainment involved in our lives in some form.