3 Reasons Why You May be Attracted to Horror Villains

Halloween is in the air… and so are bloody romances.

Have you ever wondered why some people find masked villains — like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Ghostface, and others — sexy?

Brianna McCabe, author of The Red Flags I’ve (Repeatedly) Ignored, outlines three psychological factors that may be at play in creating an attraction.

Bad Boy Syndrome

Some women feel attracted to men who are rebellious, mysterious, and harbor a blatant disregard for social norms due to the fact that it creates an alluring combination of danger-meets-thrill. This stems from a deep-rooted lust towards unpredictability, power, and the excitement of trying to “tame” someone who lives outside the rules. This fixation can tap into deep desires to attain escapism.

Complex Hidden Desires

In the context of horror movies, some viewers may project their deeper (often suppressed desires — such as the need for control or dominance) onto the masked villains. A difficult-to-voice, taboo-like attraction begins to develop, but in a way that makes viewers feel safe knowing that this is only a projection of a fantasy being expressed through fictional characters.

Mystery of the Unknown

Curious and inquisitive by nature, Humans are drawn to problem-solving. When presented in the form of an unknown masked villain, some may become fascinated by the concealment of their identity, emotions, and motivations. This complex, captivating obscurity can lead to imaginative thoughts that lead to psychological thrill and excitement, even in a lustily morbid fashion.

“As someone who writes, ‘I have a sexual kink for Michael Myers’ in my own book — and as a chapter opener no less — this topic genuinely fascinated me,” shares McCabe.

Stop getting slashed by what you think is love. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DATING DEAL BREAKERS AND RED FLAGS, GRAB A COPY OF BRIANNA MCCABE’S SELF-HELP DATING BOOK, THE RED FLAGS I'VE (REPEATEDLY) IGNORED.