Sigmund Freud uses the term 'the return of the repressed' to explain the existence of neurotic symptoms. His theory explains that an unconscious thought or feeling will occur but will not be accepted into the ego of the person. From this point, the thought or feeling is stored as an emotion. The mind will then constantly try to prevent the emotion from being shown but then the emotion will become a symptom.
Freud's idea of the return of the repressed states that humans have a direct mind and an unconscious mind. The unconscious mind stores our emotions. This is because you don't consciously make a decision of your emotion, e.g. you would not think you are now going to become angry, it just happens. The return of the repressed says that these thoughts/feelings which are turned into emotions will eventually be let out.
Horror movies allow us as an audience to feel fear and feel being scared whilst being in a perfectly safe environment. Watching a horror movie is therefore a way of letting these thoughts/feelings come out.
Freud thought we all have to repress some of our most primitive desires and emotions in order to take our place in society. So infant rages etc are repressed (we cannot recall our early childhood). Does horror allow us to experience these things again, in a safe context?
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