There are some movies that send shivers down our spines and yet we can’t take our eyes off them. Especially the characters who lack empathy and break the rules both disturb and fascinate us. In this article, through the character of Jack from The House That Jack Built, we explore why we are attracted to this kind of content, what personality traits it might be linked to, and what the scientific evidence tells us.
The Lure of Darkness
Most of us want to be entertained, relaxed or thrilled when we open a movie. But there are some movies where the subject matter is dark, the characters are disturbing, but we keep watching anyway. One part of us says, “This isn’t right,” while another part whispers, “Go on, what’s going to happen now?”
Take Jack for example. In The House That Jack Built, he is a ruthless man with a lack of empathy who sees his murders as an art form. For Jack, killing is a form of expression. Throughout the movie, he defends his system of “morality” and uses people as objects of art.
There is one scene in the movie in particular: Jack talks about the two shadows that form when we walk under a lamp. The shadow behind us represents the past, the impact of his crimes. This shadow shrinks and fades with time. The shadow in front of us represents the future, a new “masterpiece.” As Jack walks between these two shadows, his satisfaction reaches its peak at the moments when the shadow in front grows. Reaching that shadow means a new murder.
This metaphor is not only a visualization but also a door that opens the viewer to the character’s inner world. But at this point an important question arises: Why can’t we stop ourselves from watching such a person?
Personality Traits and Movie Preferences
This is where science comes in. A study published in 2018 by Bowes and colleagues shows that certain personality traits can influence interest in certain movie genres. In particular, individuals who are interested in “dark” content, such as crime, horror, and violence, show significant psychopathic tendencies.
According to the study:
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Individuals with traits such as fearlessness and self-confidence (Fearless Dominance) are attracted to action, war, thriller and documentary genres. These individuals do not hesitate to take risks and seek emotional intensity.
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Individuals showing impulsivity and self-centeredness (Self-Centered Impulsivity) are especially prone to rap music and violent movies. Unplanned behavior, sudden decisions and disregard for consequences are prominent in this profile.
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People with coldheartedness and lack of guilt avoid romantic, emotional and warm content. For them, emotional bonds are of secondary importance.
These findings suggest that there are important links between personality and audience preference. However, the Bowes study is not limited here. Kallias (2012) is another important study that addresses this area from a broader and different perspective. This study examined how movie preferences are shaped by both the classic Big Five and the Dark Four (psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, sadism). According to the results:
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Individuals with high levels of Openness are interested in artistic, creative and unconventional film genres. Experimental cinema, independent productions and symbolic narratives may be their favorites.
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Extraversion tends towards fun, fast-paced, action and comedy genres.
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Individuals with high Dark Quad traits, especially psychopathy and sadism tendencies, are more interested in horror, violence, and thrillers. These movies are not disturbing for them, but rather intriguing and stimulating.
The study also reveals that individuals with these personality traits often focus on seeking arousal rather than emotional connection in their entertainment preferences. In other words, their preferred content may be not only a pleasure, but also a manifestation of their personality.
The study also found that individuals with the so-called Dark Four personality traits (psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism and sadism) are more likely to be attracted to movies with violence, horror and suspense. For these individuals, such movies can be intriguing and mentally stimulating rather than disturbing. For them, violence may sometimes be perceived as an aesthetic or a game, rather than an element of horror.
Is it possible to say “It doesn’t affect me”?
So, based on this information, can we draw the following conclusion? “Everyone who likes this movie has psychopathic tendencies.”
No.
Movie preferences are not a diagnostic criterion. But it is true: What we are interested in is connected to our inner world. Some people want relaxing stories, while others are drawn to movies that push the limits mentally. This is all about personality, not diagnosis.
Trying to understand a character does not mean becoming like them. But why we look at that character so intently can tell us something about ourselves.
What Are We Really Watching?
In real life, people like Jack are few but not non-existent. They often appear much more “normal.” Their ability to manipulate, their lack of empathy and their use of others for their own benefit make them hard to recognize.
Jack’s story is more than a crime story, it is a mirror to the dark side of human beings. The sense of unease, excitement or admiration we experience throughout the movie reminds us that we need to look not only at the character but also at ourselves.
And maybe what we are really watching is not Jack’s house…
But the dark rooms of our own minds…