Consuming fear as entertainment: horror movies, youth culture, and the social production of fear in contemporary media contexts

This study explores how fear is generated, experienced, and normalized as a form of entertainment within contemporary media culture, particularly among adolescents. Focusing on horror cinema, the research investigates how emotional experiences, cultural contexts, and social interactions shape audience engagement. A qualitative approach was used, and data were collected through an open-ended questionnaire with 28 Indonesian university students, which were then analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that fear is not just an individual emotional response but rather a socially constructed and culturally influenced experience. Three interrelated dimensions emerged from the analysis: affective stimulation (fear is experienced as excitement and adrenaline), social interaction (collective viewing enhances emotional engagement), and cultural resonance (local beliefs, mysticism, and Islamic frameworks influence interpretation). These elements contribute to the social production of fear, transforming it into a pleasurable and normalized aspect of media consumption. This study offers new insights into how emotions are shaped by the interplay of media, culture, and society.