Art critic for “Al-Youm”: Horror makeup elevates Saudi cinema to international standards

Art critic Wael Al-Otaibi revealed that Horror scenes stimulate the secretion of dopamine in the brain to generate pleasure. This strange contradiction between tension and happiness represents the secret of the great appeal of this genre to teenagers and young people.

He explained that the curiosity to discover the unknown and the love of excitement, in addition to the remarkable development in the Saudi film industry, have collectively contributed to turning watching horror films into a favorite social activity, especially when experiencing the experience collectively

Inside movie theaters.

He explained that young people tend to experience feelings of fear in a safe environment, which is known as the concept of “safe fear,” where the recipient lives the experience without a real threat.

He added that sharing these frightening experiences strengthens social ties between friends, opens a space for communication and shared emotion, and also helps individuals discover the limits of their psychological energy, and enhance self-confidence after overcoming moments of stress. And fear.

Reducing stress

Al-Otaibi stressed that artificial fear plays a positive psychological role, as it contributes to relieving tension and achieving a feeling of relief after the experience ends, noting that realizing the falsity of the threat enhances the general mood and pushes towards positive thinking.

In the same context, he explained that producing Saudi horror films with international standards contributed to consolidating the local audience’s connection to this genre, citing the film Cello, which was shown in September. 2023, which was adapted from the novel of the same name by consultant Turki Al-Sheikh, who also wrote the script, while it was directed by American director Darren Lynn Bousman, considering the work a turning point in the history of Saudi horror.

The development of horror makeup

Al-Otaibi pointed to the remarkable development in the Horror makeupand special effects (“SFX”) within the Kingdom, indicating that this sector is witnessing a professional female presence that has contributed to raising the level of visual mastery. He pointed out that these works appeared clearly in the Riyadh Season activities, specifically in locations such as Riyadh City Boulevard and Wonderland, where the “House of Horror” and “Horror Restaurant” experiences formed remarkable public attractions.

He explained that specialized Saudi teams, including Horror Dose, played an important role in spreading the culture of cinematic horror makeup among young people, by designing ghosts, dolls, and imaginary creatures that simulate reality using advanced techniques for wounds and burns. And scars, creating high-impact interactive experiences.

On the other hand, Al-Otaibi pointed out that this cinematic genre does not enjoy a popular consensus, as some individuals do not find pleasure in horror due to a difference in the brain’s response, as some secrete smaller amounts of dopamine during fear, which reduces their feeling of excitement and pleasure.

Al-Otaibi concluded his speech by emphasizing that horror films represent a contradictory human experience, allowing us to approach fear, experience it, and then recover from it in a short time, which is what It explains the audience’s attachment to it, whether as psychological pleasure or a means of deeper understanding of our feelings and self-limitations