The Increase in "Grotesque" Drama Works... Why Do "Psychological Thrillers" Captivate People?—The Unchanging Fascination and Awe for Humanity Despite AI Advancements

1. Why is there an increase in "bizarre" content on video platforms in the late 2020s?

Looking at the top sections of various streaming services, crime and psychological thrillers consistently hold a steady spot. The Korean drama 'A Killer Paradox' quickly ranked high in Netflix's non-English TV category upon release and continued to chart for several weeks. It also ranked among the top K-dramas of 2025 in independent surveys, becoming a global driving force.WikipediaWhat's on Netflix

Additionally, HBO's 'True Detective: Night Country' reportedly achieved the highest viewership of the season, becoming the "most-watched" season in the series' history.Vanity Fair

In Japan, 'Gannibal,' which depicts the "darkness of the village," was developed up to season 2 as a Japan original on Disney+, and it was launched into the international market with a focus on the tension of closed society and psychology.Disney+Disney+

Furthermore, cross-sectional data from sources like FlixPatrol shows that thriller films consistently rank among the top annual views. As platforms invest in "growing" genres, a cycle emerges where increased supply makes demand more visible.FlixPatrol

2. Why are people drawn to "madness"? — An analysis from psychology and neuroscience

2-1. "Safe fear" balances learning and reward

The act of deliberately experiencing fear or anxiety (recreational fear) is shown to follow the "Goldilocks principle," where moderate intensity maximizes pleasure and learning efficiency. This is common in amusement parks, horror movies, and thriller viewing. Repeated control and recovery from fear may also contribute to coping with real-life stress.Vox

From a neuroscience perspective, fear content activates networks including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, training the brain's threat prediction and emotional control circuits. Recent reviews explain why some people strongly feel "scary yet fun," attributing it to individual differences such as thrill-seeking and morbid curiosity.The Scientist

Furthermore, the hypothesis that horror/thrillers function as "threat simulations" is supported, suggesting they hold adaptive value in human history as entertainment that allows for "virtual practice" in preparing for danger.sites.psu.edu

2-2. The "social brain" finds reward in stories and "the minds of others"

The core of a psychological thriller lies more in mind reading than in the scent of blood. When viewing or interpreting stories, people heavily utilize the default mode network (DMN) and theory of mind (ToM) networks. Narrative shifts in movies or long dramas systematically switch DMN brain states, and fMRI shows that belief inference about characters selectively involves the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).NaturePMC

In other words, when we chase the "mind of the perpetrator" or the "fear of the victim," the neural circuits that decode the human mind itself receive a reward. Thrillers strongly drive the pleasure of this uniquely human social cognition.Frontiers

2-3. Villains and "moral ambiguity" — Curiosity and bonds with the audience

Research shows that people are more curious about morally ambiguous/deviant characters, which increases viewer engagement. Even for villains or anti-heroes, the effect of parasocial favorability is amplified the moment a surprising "good deed" is seen.NatureDigitalCommons@UMaine

A comprehensive review since 2016 has consistently observed parasocial relationships not only with heroes but also with the "evil" side. In other words, psychological thrillers have a structure that allows viewers to peer into the gray areas of human understanding, strengthening psychological ties more than other genres.FrontiersPMC

3. The logic of supply: Why streaming services mass-produce psychological thrillers

Thrillers fit the KPIs of the streaming era because (1) they do not necessarily require expensive VFX, (2) the "suspension bridge effect" at the end of episodes promotes immediate return and binge-watching, and (3) they have low cultural translation costs and can easily cross borders. Both Netflix's official features and third-party aggregations show a consistent tendency for "thriller shelves" to be thick and fixed at the top. Mass production in multiple languages, such as Korean, Nordic, and Japanese, is also established with simultaneous global distribution in mind.Netflix+1FlixPatrol

Specific examples include the initial high ranking of Korea's 'A Killer Paradox,' the season-high viewership of the U.S.'s 'True Detective: Night Country,' and the serialization of Japan's 'Gannibal,' which have convinced production and programming sides that "if you increase it, it will be watched," leading to further investment.What's on NetflixVanity FairDisney+

4. Even in the AI era, people won't stray from "human stories"

While generative AI has been reported to receive evaluations comparable to or sometimes surpassing human writers in short stories, poetry, and summaries, the very knowledge that it was created by humans enhances the value of appreciation, known as the "authenticity premium." Particularly in artistic contexts, the meta-information of "human involvement" influences evaluations.PC GamerThe GuardianPMC

From a neuroscience perspective, storytelling is an activity that strongly uses ToM/DMN to infer the minds of others, and the more "real subjects" others are, the more naturally those circuits are driven. Even if AI advances explode the supply, the structure where we are drawn to the complexity of human beings remains unchanged.PMCNature

5. The ethical minefield: "Drawing the line" when dealing with real incidents

Behind the popularity, cases have repeatedly been pointed out by real victims' families as "re-traumatizing." Regarding 'Dahmer—Monster,' the parties criticized the work's design for "building profit on pain," making it a global agenda on how to ensure a "victim-centered" approach.Variety AustraliaForbes

The "No Notoriety/Don’t Name Them" proposed in both reporting and drama is a practical guide to suppress the naming and glorification of perpetrators and refocus on victims and communities. In the production and promotion of bizarre content, it should be a rule to avoid mythologizing the perpetrator and to ensure dialogue and supervision with victims and families, as well as transparency in representation.NO NOTORIETYDont Name Them

Production and Editing Checklist (For Practical Use)

• Victim-Centered: Keep records of perspectives, consent, and considerations of the parties involved.

• Name Suppression: Avoid repeated exposure of the perpetrator's name and photos (keep to a minimum).NO NOTORIETY##HTML_TAG_507