Written By: Tan Shi Qing, Han Yichou Cho, Aairah Maryam, Ch’ng Si Qi Shermaine, Miriam Victoria Wei Jia Qi
Amidst the candy and costumes, crowds will be splurging on Singapore’s most anticipated horror experiences this month.
Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) has returned for its 12th annual edition at Universal Studios Singapore, promising unparalleled hours of horror across several uniquely themed attractions. Over at The Battlebox in Fort Canning, Underground: The Summoning, blends the haunted house and escape room experience, offering nights of immersive and scintillating scares.
But with tickets for HHN and Underground starting at $80 and $53 respectively, what drives people to pay such eye-watering prices for a single night of frights – and why are they so eager to do so?
While fear is a primal and intense emotion that is often avoided, attractions like HHN and horror escape rooms are embraced by many — strange, isn’t it? The psychology behind this fear rightfully answers this intriguing paradox. According to Dr. Olubunmi Olatunji, a psychology professor at Vanderbilt University, the thrill of being scared is rooted in “the physical and emotional release that comes with scary situations.” To put it into context, the fear we experience from scare actors and spine-chilling ambience triggers an adrenaline rush: a hormone released to help aid stressful or dangerous situations. This spike of adrenaline turns on our survival mode, also known as a fight, flight, or freeze response towards the “threat”. Interestingly, this adrenaline rush does not come alone. Dr. Olatunji also added that the ‘feel-good’ happy hormone, dopamine, is released during situations of thrill and scare.
This electrifying combination of fear and excitement amplifies the thrill of the experience, making it enjoyable for many. One of them would be Zaara Kocak, an 18-year-old student from Republic Polytechnic. A self-proclaimed horror geek, Zaara has attended HHN twice and regularly indulges in horror movies, games and even podcasts.
“The uncanny and unnatural environment of HHN always appealed to me! Out of fear of the unsettling HHN ambience, I started laughing non-stop. I heard it’s like our body’s way of handling scary situations. Despite my increased heart rate, this experience was definitely a joyful and unforgettable one.”
Fulfilling your Crave
So why exactly do people repeatedly subject themselves to such spine-chilling experiences? Simply put, as we brave through scary situations, our brains would recognise it as an achievement through conquering our fears. This bizarre combination of the anticipation of fear and immediate relief makes for a surprisingly addictive feeling. It is no wonder we are so driven to constantly crave dopamine-releasing experiences, Dr. Olatunji explained.
You could also say people are exploiting the natural fight, flight or freeze response in frightening scenarios and choosing to find the fun in it instead, making sure that fear doesn’t call the shots!
“Personally, I really want to go for the HHN again as the themes there change yearly. One of the haunted houses is Sweet Home themed and I’ve been a fan of it since I read the webtoon. Experiencing the HHN this year would be like colliding my 2 worlds together — my favourite webtoon and my closest friends,” Zaara added.
Strengthening Bonds with Your Loved Ones
Aside from the neurological point of view — some people enjoy horror attractions as it strengthens relationships! Dr. Ciaran O’Keefle, an English psychologist, highlights that having a fright fest with friends can spark a sense of togetherness from the shared experience. The fear, coupled with the adrenaline rush also fosters shared vulnerability, creating opportunities to bond. On top of the buzz we feel out of a good scare, a sense of trust is built and relationships are cemented as we brave through our fears with others. Shareen Angela, a 22-year-old escape room enthusiast, experienced exactly this.
“The combination of thrill from the scare actors, the time constraint to solve the riddles, the havoc of being trapped in a room with my friends made this scary experience a fun one. The escape room experience wouldn’t be fun without them,” said Shareen.
How a Safe Environment Contributes to the Thrill
Above all, scare entertainment is done in a safe and controlled environment. According to psychologist Chivonna Childs, we are able to differentiate good fear from bad, and the good side of fear is exactly what these spooky sources of recreation offer.
“We know that it’s for fun and there’s an end to these experiences, we feel happy because we know we’re safe,” Childs explained. At the end of the day, going for horror attractions is a conscious decision we choose to make, and a sense of control over the situation helps us better deal with the impending fright.
On the contrary, there are still some people who raise their eyebrows when it comes to paying money to be frightened. Ticket prices do not come cheap, and such attractions can break the bank for an average student. For instance, the cheapest tickets at Halloween Horror Nights are priced at $80 – enough for air tickets to some nearby countries.
Ho Yueling, an 18-year-old student from Singapore Polytechnic, has qualms about attending horror attractions: “I don’t think it’s worth the money to pay at all. I think you can use the money for something else (that is) much better, like to treat yourself to a good meal, or buy something that you really love.”
Despite the high prices, Yueling also feels that the horror experience of the attractions does live up to the hype, especially for people who crave the thrill of being scared.
She explained: “My dad said he wanted to try the horror attraction because he wanted to see if ghosts can scare him, since he hasn’t come across any yet. So by going for these attractions, maybe it’s to test out, ‘Oh, how brave am I?’ After all, horror attractions could also be a test of bravery. “
So whether you are a daredevil seeking thrills, or someone who gets spooked out by the slightest touch, horror attractions have the all-encompassing ability to brew cherished memories for everyone.
After all, horror and humour are often two sides of the same coin. Wouldn’t it be interesting to experience both of these at the same time? These attractions might just provide you the ultimate joy, while triumphing over the fears you once avoided.
