Why Do I Love What Scares the Hell Out of Me?

It’s a fair question.

I watched scary movies way too young. Halloween and Jaws terrified me. I’m talking cover-your-eyes, can’t-sleep, every-shadow-is-suspicious terrified.

Naturally… they became my favorites.

I watched the sequels, went to the theaters, and willingly signed myself up for nightmares more than once. Fast forward to today, and not much has changed.

I still love the scary movie, the suspenseful series, the murder mystery book, the creepy podcast, the documentary I absolutely should not start at 9:30 at night.

And I still pay for it later.

Sleepless nights. Strange noises suddenly mattering. Looking twice down dark hallways. Wondering if that creak in the house has always been there.

So why do I keep coming back?

Because it was never really about the murder.

It’s the puzzle.

It’s the psychology.

It’s trying to understand what motivates people to do the unthinkable. It’s the clues hidden in plain sight. The person no one suspected. The instinct someone ignored.

I’m endlessly fascinated by why people do what they do—good or bad. But especially the bad, because I truly cannot fathom what would make someone harm another person, let alone enjoy it.

Maybe that’s the draw.

We explore darkness from the safety of the couch.

We test our instincts.

We watch truth slowly rise to the surface.

Even if it costs a little sleep.

Be honest… have you ever watched something scary and then regretted it at bedtime?