What makes scary movies scary?

I’d never really considered this question before. I’m a huge fan of cinema and have often marveled at the enormous evocative power of movies. For me movies, and all media to some extent, but movies in particular, are an escape. Stepping into a darkened theater and an engrossing plot is also stepping out of whatever it is in the real world that I might be trying to avoid or simply take brief relief from. And what’s amazing it that, time after time, film after film, it works. I’m taken from my place and time to another world. Even more noteworthy is that the emotions that are evoked carry forth even after the lights go up and life goes on. It seems too obvious to acknowledge that sad movies make us sad and uplifting movies make us feel uplifted but what’s remarkable, upon further review, is that they do. The fact that stories told by other people about people other than ourselves can have such a lasting effect on us is a testament to the power of storytelling and of media.

And as for what makes a scary movie scary? What makes media so powerful? I don’t know for sure, but I’ll tell you this, I’ve got the nightlight on.