Sajila Nudrat | Health Editor
Featured Image: There are both physical and mental effects to what one views. | Courtesy of Pexels
With the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) well underway, eager moviegoers might be spending the next 11 days watching an array of films ranging from psychological thrillers to comedies. It’s a time when Hollywood Studios premiere their films, and excited fans get to watch some of the most anticipated films well before their official release. However, they should be warned that what they view can affect their mood and impact them in their day-to-day lives.
Films that heavily portray negative content tend to have negative effects on the viewer. Watching violent sequences can lead to physical responses such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, along with mental effects, such as increased anxiety.
Positive content can have positive effects, in that films that emphasize pro-social themes such as problem-solving or team building, can result in viewers adapting those skills in their day-to-day lives.
Researchers have found that watching a tragic movie can actually be beneficial for an individual’s happiness in the long run. They found that tragic films such as Atonement and Titanic encouraged people to reflect on
their own lives, and made them happier by focusing on positive aspects.
When talking about her favourite genre, Stacey Herrera, a third-year philosophy student, says she enjoys horror films because she loves the thrill and suspense they provide.
When asked in what ways her love for horror films has impacted her, she says: “It has definitely impacted my thinking. The realistic storylines, such as someone being stalked or kidnapped, have made me a more paranoid person in the sense that I’m constantly aware of my surroundings.
“I would be walking home, let’s say, and I would see a man walking behind me and all these scenarios would run through my head that would end up with me being harmed or even killed.”
However, she goes on to say that her paranoia has led to her partaking in more safety protocols and becoming a person who is more aware of her surroundings.
Researchers at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom found that watching Harry Potter films could make children more creative. The study found that the children who viewed clips that included magic scored higher in areas of creativity than children who did not.
Comedies were found to lower an individual’s blood pressure in the same way physical exercise does. When a person laughs, they dilate their blood vessels by 22 per cent, which makes room for increased blood flow.
Nonetheless, different types of films can also be helpful in terms of emotional wellbeing. Blockbusters such as Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians showcase the importance of representation in the film industry. Both films have been shown to have a positive effect on viewers, raising self-esteem.
A highly anticipated film to premiere at TIFF is Beautiful Boy starring Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet, in which Carell’s character watches his son (Chalamet) struggle with addiction. Based on a memoir, the film intends to showcase the struggle of addiction, and how it’s imperative to have the necessary support systems.
The film takes a different stance on substance abuse, as it’s shown from two perspectives. With innovative films like Beautiful Boy taking different routes to tell their stories, here’s to hoping that they are able to inspire their viewers.
Most of the time, people are unaware of the subtle ways in which what they view changes them as a person.
This can have both positive and negative effects.
Whether someone enjoys romantic comedies or is a horror movie enthusiast, like most things in life, everything should be done in moderation.
