In the essay Why We Crave Horror Movies, Stephen King proposes the idea that we are all "mentally ill." Most people would not agree with this idea, but to some extent I agree. Because of our demand to indulge in scary, gory, and disturbing horror films, they satisfy us in the sense that we are watching something that a “normal” person wouldn't. King uses many different rhetorical devices to prove this point, which I think was very effective as it makes you start to wonder why we love horror films so much. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayKing begins his essay with an ethological approach, as he states that no human being is completely sane. Use this approach to let your mind wander thinking about the things we do in our own corners of our lives. The approach has an appeal because it talks about the things we do when we think no one is watching, such as “talking to ourselves, facial expressions and ultimately our deepest fears.” He also suggests that we go and see horror movies just to prove to the world, or to ourselves, that we can and are not afraid. Here too he uses an ethological approach, which almost shows us that it is true, we go to see horror films because then we can say we did it, no matter how scared or scared we are. Analogies are an important factor throughout this essay. King uses analogies to explain his ideas about why we feel an attraction to horror films. For example, he compares the fact that riding a roller coaster to watching horror movies ultimately gives us the same experience. Why does this make sense? Adrenaline. Through the use of this analogy, King's goal is to show us that horror films test our courage and allow us to experience fear in a safe and comfortable environment, as opposed to roller coasters that allow us to tests our limits and courage in not-so-comforting environments. King also uses a lot of pathos in this article. Almost everything he says creates an emotional appeal for the audience. It's about how horror films evoke certain parts of us that we wouldn't necessarily have in everyday life, like finding satisfaction in watching people get their heads cut off. This brings out the emotions in us because when we watch horror movies, we no longer see the world in a black and white sense. King suggests that “horror films can provide psychic relief,” which I actually agree with. If you think about it, horror movies allow us to tap into our "inner child" and find entertainment amidst all the craziness we're watching. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Overall, this essay was a journey to read. It gave me a near-full understanding of why I enjoy horror films so much. From a psychological point of view it almost scares me. King uses a lot of rhetorical devices in this article to explain why we are so drawn to horror films. This essay was rhetorically effective because King's diction was sarcastic yet serious. His tone of voice seemed anxious and funny about the facts of mental illnesses that reside within us and people who take pleasure in being scared. The ideas that King used throughout this were effectively described in a way that the audience could relate to.