In this week’s episode of The Feelings Lab, we discuss the emotion of horror with Fred Armisen, guest Emmy-award nominated actor, writer, producer and musician, who joins our recurring hosts Dr. Alan Cowen, Dr. Dacher Keltner, Danielle Krettek-Cobb and Matt Forte.

“The call is coming from inside the house!” Wherein we discuss the unifying nature of the experience of horror in social groups, the aesthetic and cultural representation of the emotion throughout history, and how watching alien invasion films and “The Blair Witch Project” can make you more resilient.

Begin by hearing Dr. Dacher Keltner discuss the powerful, magical force that is culture, in which art—even the horrifying kind—gives us moments of clarity and adds color to our emotional landscape.

Next, hear guest star Fred Armisen discuss the universal language of horror and how, when mixed with comedy, it can become a unifying force for audiences around the world.

Then hear Danielle Krettek-Cobb discuss a recent study in which people who watched alien invasion, zombie, or apocalyptic themed films were found to be more emotionally resilient.

Fred Armisen also draws a connection between the soft-spoken, gentle, and empathetic dispositions of horror fans⁠—and metalheads.

Hear Fred his fear of forests—they don’t have lights, they lack orientation, and they seem to go on forever!

All this and more can be found in our full episode, available on Apple and Spotify

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