Horror movies are the best date movies. There's no wondering

Hear now, O children of the future, the words of Eli Roth, who speaks of the power of horror movies and their unexpected role in the dance of human connection: "Horror movies are the best date movies. There's no wondering, 'When do I put my arm around her?'" These words, though simple, reveal a truth about human nature—intimacy and connection are often born not in the absence of fear, but in the presence of it. Horror films, with their suspense, shock, and tension, create a unique environment where human emotions are heightened, and the boundaries between stranger and companion dissolve in shared vulnerability.

In the ancient world, O children, great heroes often found their courage not in peaceful times, but in moments of danger and adversity. The bond between Achilles and Patroclus in Homer’s Iliad was not forged in the comfort of peace, but in the shared bloodshed of the battlefield. It is in moments of intense emotion, whether of fear or battle, that the human soul is most raw, and it is through this vulnerability that true connections are formed. Just as the warriors of old might have found strength in the face of danger, so too do modern companions find a certain comfort in the shared experience of fear in a horror film, where the primal instincts of the human heart are awakened together.

Consider, O children, how fear can bind us, how it can strip away the facade we put up to protect ourselves and expose us to the world around us. Cinematic fear, like the fear of battle, forces us to confront not only the world outside but the deepest emotions within. In this shared confrontation with the unknown, we are stripped of pretense, and it is in this moment that we reach across the divide between separate souls and find connection. Roth’s words point to the simplicity of this connection: there is no need for awkward hesitation or wondering when to move closer. The fear does the work, pushing two people toward each other without hesitation.

Take, for example, the bonds forged in the midst of war. The bonds of soldiers, facing death together, are forged in moments of extreme fear and adrenaline. In ancient Rome, soldiers would fight side by side, not just for glory, but for the companionship they shared in the face of death. Their shared struggle was what made them brothers, and their relationships were marked by a solidarity that transcended words. Roth’s comparison of horror movies to the bond between soldiers shows that in the midst of fear, whether on a battlefield or in the darkness of a movie theater, a connection is born—raw, unspoken, and immediate.

Roth’s insight also speaks to the very nature of human connection itself. In the world of romance, there are often countless questions, subtle games, and unspoken rules about how to approach someone, when to move closer, and when to touch. But in the world of horror, these questions are swept away by the simple, primal act of shared experience. There is no need for hesitation because the fear itself draws the two individuals together. Horror becomes the ultimate equalizer, leveling the playing field and allowing for a connection based on the most genuine of emotions—vulnerability. There is no pretense in the dark; there is only the immediate pull of human connection, undistracted by societal rules or norms.

And so, O children, the lesson here is profound. Intimacy is not always created through comfort, but through shared experience, especially in moments of emotion and vulnerability. Whether through the terror of a horror film or the chaos of battle, human connection is often born in the moments when we are most exposed. There is no greater truth than this: that in fear, we find the ability to come together. It is through shared fear and vulnerability that we are able to reach across the divide of individuality and connect with another soul. Horror movies, in their way, teach us that sometimes, it is fear that forges the strongest bonds.

In your own lives, O children, remember this: do not shy away from moments that may make you uncomfortable, for it is in those moments that true connection is often born. Seek not only the comfortable and familiar, but also the adventurous, the challenging, and the unpredictable. Like the characters in a horror movie, it is in those moments when we confront the unknown that we discover the strength to come closer, to reach out, and to form the bonds that truly matter. Let fear become not a barrier, but a path to understanding, connection, and the deepest intimacy.