This study explores the cultural evolution of fear as depicted in horror movies within the framework of the sociology of emotions. By analyzing horror movies as collective narratives of fear, the research aims to trace changes in societal anxieties over time. Using keywords associated with horror films from the IMDb, the study identifies shifts in the portrayal of fears and monsters in cinema, reflecting broader social dynamics and cultural transformations. The study employs multivariate analysis techniques to identify distinctive keywords and interpret the implicit meanings embedded within them. Grounded in a multidimensional approach, it acknowledges the complex interplay between individual psychological processes, social environments, and larger cultural trends in shaping emotions and societal responses to fear. The findings reveal four distinct periods in horror cinema, each linked to different cultural milieus and shaped by the societal anxieties of their respective eras.
Sarti et al. (2026) studied this question.