Author: Zlatna Nedeva
You probably remember when we were kids we would sit in a circle and tell each other scary stories. The most shocking ones were most popular, as well as those with open ends that allow for our own reading of the follow up events. Despite the fact that these plots no longer seem interesting, adrenalin rush and curiosity are still relevant. We are not children anymore, we don’t tell each other scary stories, but we are on all sorts of streaming channels so that we can watch films, or listen to podcasts, based on real life crimes and mysteries. The enormous popularity of the so-called true crime productions proves it. In-depth documentaries of real crime cases, detailed in all aspects of the story, with special effects and authentic reels keep attracting worldwide audiences.
It is curious that there are crime podcasts in Bulgarian charts, but they are not in Bulgarian language or by Bulgarian authors. Actually, the first Bulgarian crime podcast called “Blood and Lipstick” came out just a month ago, and behind it are two women – Vladi Fidanova and Bella Robinson.
On a global scale the genre is so popular that the TV series “Making a Murderer” became the most binge-watched show. Spotify made a section especially for crime stories, while YouTube crime channels keep growing as we speak.
What makes these violent and horrifying true stories of murderers appealing to so many people? Another important question is can the obsession with the genre harm our mental health? After this stressful year filled with so much uncertainty, opting for entertainment of this sort could add more stress to our nervous system. According to experts we like these types of shows so much because the human mind gets hypnotized when given the chance to look into the brains of people who violated the most fundamental taboo. Or they just gave in to their most basic human urge – to kill. Mysteries keep feeding viewers’ curiosity: Why would anybody do this? How did they do it? What made them do it? One of the main reasons why these documentary productions are becoming more and more popular is because people want to understand the dark side of human consciousness.
Some research shows that the biggest fans of crime shows are women. They see the storylines as educational tools that help them understand abusers’ behaviour and therefore be able to avoid potentially dangerous situations. Of course, there is nothing wrong in watching documentary films to learn something new, or to get your daily portion of mystery thrill. However, if you suffer depression, paranoia or anxiety, then you should definitely reconsider your entertainment options.
According to new research data, excessive binging on true crime stories, be it podcasts, TV, or documentary series, is a factor in increased levels of anxiety. Obsessing over details of the crimes gives a feeling of constant threat which is unrelated to the actual crime level. Some participants in the study share that the true crime craze makes them believe there are serial killers all over the place. On the other hand the mysteries revealed in the series hardly represent the real picture in our country. The fact that the crime stories detailed in the shows are about murders that took place in the USA or Russia proves that. In these countries the number of serial killers is significantly higher than here. A crosscheck shows only a handful have been registered in Bulgaria, and their victims are not more than 4-5.
This is precisely why excessive binging in TV series with such terrible storylines, especially before bed, could affect your subconsciousness and result in nightmares or insomnia. Even people with healthy minds are not safe.
Watching mystery murders or true crime shows is not that bad but it has got to be in moderation. It is only human to be interested in delving into crime details and stories of serial killers. But make sure to add comedy or regular reality shows in the mix.