Sudbury author Nina Nesseth fueled by fear in latest book

Sudbury author Nina Nesseth says she's always been fascinated by fear. 

But as a scientist, Nesseth was also drawn to the reasons people get goose bumps watching the newest thriller, or why we're even drawn to horror flicks in the first place.

Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films delves into the fear impulse, why horror films get under our skin, and why we return for more.

For example, Nesseth researched the excitation transfer theory, and how it applies to a crowded movie theatre.

Think back the last horror film you saw in the theatre, Nesseth said, where the audience reacts to a jump scare, then immediately settles into a relieved laugh.

"If you think about that adrenaline rush, that's a form of arousal, it's an excitation," Nesseth said. 

"A lot of that action is outside of your thinking brain, outside of cognitive processing."

"But as soon as you start to think about it and realize that the threat isn't there, then we have this wonderful opportunity to transfer that energy – that excitation – to another feeling."

"That's what excitation transfer theory is, that your excitation response to one stimulus can be amplified or can amplify your response to something else."

Nesseth also reached out to score composers and directors about their own theories for contributing to a good jump scare in the movies.

"Every one of them brought up the idea of empathy and compassion being a huge element that drives their work," Nesseth said. 

"It makes sense, because if you are able to understand dread and anxiety and tension and fear – and not only your own fears but being able to put yourself in the space of the characters on screen and in the audiences who will be consuming it, then you will be able to craft a more compelling and effective scare."

Nightmare Fuel isn't Nesseth's first foray into the science of pop culture.

In 2017, Nesseth co-authored The Science of Orphan Black: The Official Companion.