How Mental Health Has Become the Heart of Modern Horror Movies

by Adrian Johansen

The horror movie genre has grown and matured since its inception. Since the beginning, trauma and mental illness have been cornerstone themes of the genre. Today, directors and producers are incorporating these themes into horror movies more prominently than ever before.

Mental health has become the heart of modern horror movies. This is also likely to remain the case in the foreseeable future. To understand why, let's look at the history of mental health in horror movies and its rise to prominence in these films.

A Closer Look at the History of Mental Health in Horror Movies

Early 20th-century horror movies influenced people's views of mental health. For example, consider "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," a horror film released in 1920.

"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" has a plot that centers around a protagonist's struggle with a seemingly megalomaniac psychiatrist. As the movie's plot progresses, viewers start to realize the protagonist's mental health issues cloud this individual's point of view. Ultimately, it becomes clear that the movie is a horror story about the protagonist's struggle with an ordinary psychiatrist. The protagonist's mental health issues hamper this individual's ability to cope with this struggle and find the best way to address it.

Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," released in 1960, delivered a new look at mental health in the horror movie genre. In the movie, the protagonist struggles with dissociative identity disorder (DID).

The protagonist in "Psycho" copes with multiple separate personalities. Yet, most movie-goers likely had no idea the protagonist was dealing with DID.

One researcher indicates many movie-goers interpreted the protagonist in "Psycho" as schizophrenic. This led to misunderstandings of DID and schizophrenia and the symptoms associated with them. Also, it caused some people to have a negative perception of psychiatric patients.

The 1975 movie, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," painted a grim picture of mental health treatments. In the movie, the protagonist pretends to be mentally insane and is placed in a mental institution. The protagonist engages other patients and tries to make the most of their experience in the institution. However, Nurse Ratched, the movie's antagonist, sees this individual as a threat. Nurse Ratched tries to intimidate patients to maintain her authority over them. She also uses electroconvulsive therapy to torture the protagonist and any other patients who stand up to her.

To date, directors and producers have explored a variety of mental health issues. Their depictions of such issues are not always accurate. Instead, these depictions are used to entertain audiences. They have helped the horror genre grow and thrive and continue to do so.  

Modern Horror Movies Explore the Complexities of Mental Health

Mental health is complicated. Over the years, several horror movies have examined the complex nuances of mental health.

"The Shining" is a prime example of alcohol and its impact on mental health. In the movie, the protagonist is a recovering alcoholic who constantly thinks about drinking. The protagonist has a family history of alcoholism. In addition, the protagonist once broke his son's arm while in a drunken rage.

When the protagonist is asked to become the caretaker at an isolated hotel, he begins to have hallucinations. At one point, a ghostly bartender convinces the protagonist to drink once again. This drives the protagonist to become a homicidal maniac.

More recently, intergenerational trauma has become a mental health theme in horror movies. Research into this form of trauma is ongoing. Thus far, research has shown those with a family history of mental health issues may be more prone than others to experience the same problems.

The movie, "Hereditary," explores intergenerational trauma from a horror perspective. It focuses on a family with a history of trauma caused by a demon that gets passed on from generation to generation.

Modern Horror Movies Provide a Unique View of Mental Health Issues

Horror movies and mental health will remain intertwined in the months and years to come. Movie directors and producers are always on the lookout for innovative characters and plots. As such, they may consider mental health issues and how they impact people. From here, they may create horror movie characters and plots with a strong focus on mental health.

Of course, it is important to note that horror movies are fictional. The movies are created exclusively for entertainment purposes. Most directors and producers may have a basic understanding of certain mental health conditions. To produce entertaining horror movies, they may exaggerate the symptoms of these conditions.

Horror movies can be works of art that can bring light to mental health issues. For example, you can watch a horror movie in which the protagonist struggles with a mental health issue. If you identify with the protagonist's mental health struggles, you may be more inclined to seek help from a doctor or mental health counselor.

The bottom line: treat horror movies for what they are. If a horror movie emphasizes a mental health issue, do not use the film as the sole source of truth about the problem. At this time, it can be beneficial to learn more about mental health issues. Next, you can get the help you need to determine if you or someone you know may be dealing with this issue.