PopHorror Let's Get Scared
You might be thinking that VR – also known as Virtual Reality – is a gimmick, that it’s too expensive, or that you’re not a gamer so there’s no reason to care. Maybe you’ve tried it in the early days and weren’t impressed. I’m here to tell you it’s time to rethink that.
The reason why VR and horror are perfect for each other, is because it puts you right there. You’re not an outsider looking in… you’re part of the action. Does VR have lower resolution? Yes. But honestly, seeing yourself drowning in the bloodshed is still scarier and more immersive than any 4K TV. Watching videos of others using it does the experience no justice because you aren’t getting the immersion. You aren’t getting the 360 audio. Watching someone else get it just doesn’t do the whole thing justice.
For those of you that have tried early VR, it’s come leaps in bounds in a very short amount of time, and will only keep improving. In 2018 alone, the quality of content has improved dramatically.
If you’re not a gamer, there are tons of Virtual Reality streaming content, and you don’t need an expensive headset to access it. In fact, your phone and Google Cardboard may be all you need.
There are also multiple apps with dedicated VR content, including Hulu and YouTube. Most of it is free, and there is a good selection of horror titles. Some of the most successful recent horror films even have VR tie-ins, such as 2017’s It, The Nun, and Annabelle. Most of these are quite short, but imagine being toyed with by Pennywise, or taking the perspective of a Chestburster in the Alien: Covenant tie-in. The possibilities are endless.
On Steam VR and Playstation VR, there is something called Theater Mode that allows you to watch 2D movies and play 2D games as if you’re in your own personal movie theater. The screen size is adjustable, and it really does trick you into thinking you are playing or watching on a screen that size. On Playstation VR, you can also watch 3D Blu-rays in this way to full effect. In Theater Mode, you don’t have to face your TV. You can fully recline your couch and face the ceiling, and the screen will still be in front of you. So pop some popcorn, lay back and enjoy your favorite horror movies in your own theater, in any position that you want.
Horror also is one of the largest genres in VR gaming. Resident Evil 7 was the most hyped, but it is far from the only quality Virtual Reality horror game available. In fact, it’s not even my favorite. You’ll need a more expensive headset for gaming, but the prices have been dropping. The VR games themselves, however, are usually half the cost or less than most games released for flat screens, so there’s that.
Not only has the quality of the content gone up, but so has the comfort in terms of motion sickness. Not everyone gets it, but for those who do, developers are finding more and more ways to minimize it. This means you can let almost anyone try your favorite horror title, and you can watch them freak out!
So stop viewing horror from the outside. Take a chance. Step inside. Be a part of it.
