Not so funny without blood

Our views on the genre of horror have evolved. After all, we fear the most that of which we can relate to, so it is understandable that more and more horror movies deal with themes and scenarios relatively plausible to happen. Yet one undeniable thing is the growing explicitness in horror films. It is such, that movies from 30 years ago do not have the same effect in the newer generations as they did when they first were released. Our desire for horror and fear keeps pushing boundaries that we have become immune to a degree of violence and horror. In Funny Games, director Micheal Haneke tries to prove such point. That we as spectators cheer for violence and horror, that they in fact are entertainment for us. That a scenario where 2 psychopaths capture hostage a "classic white suburban upper class" family, we find it dull without the violence, that though is not explicitly showed in many occasions, we assume it to happen in our minds in order for things to be entertaining.

In The Paradox of Horror we are asked the question "how can people be attracted by what is repulsive?" Indeed, why do we find pleasure or desire for horror? Why do we seek for that of which we fear, and wish to avoid? How can we answer the paradox of horror?

H. P. Lovecraft argues that our attraction for horror is based on an attraction for awe, "Humans, it appears, are born with a kind of fear of the unknown which verges on awe. Thus, the attraction of supernatural horror is that it provokes a sense of awe which confirms a deep-seated human conviction about the world, viz., that it contains vast unknown forces." Hume claims is "pleased in proportion as they are afflicted" Yet none of them answer the why we are attracted by what is repulsive. They both simply state that we find enjoyment or awe in horror.

Could it be possible that we are by nature violent beings, but by virtue of being conscious and intelligent beings, we deny this nature over our sense of morality, and thus we find this attractiveness in the gore and gruesome of horror? Of being able to experience that of which by our rules of coexistence we are unable to do so?
To me personally horror movies give me a reality check of what humans are capable of doing. That though in my reality have not existed, does not mean that cannot happen.