It’s Halloween season, and as the days get shorter, you might be looking forward to spending the night in and enjoying the thrill of a scary film.
Whether it’s masked killers, ghosts, or supernatural monsters, scary films can give you an exciting adrenaline rush, but have you considered the financial lessons you might learn from them?
The common tropes and character archetypes in popular horror film franchises could give you valuable insight into the ways you manage your wealth.
1. A slow build-up leads to a greater payoff
The best horror films take time to build tension throughout, before finally revealing the villain for maximum impact.
In the early scenes, you might see hints that put you on edge. For example, a character alone in an empty house hears a noise; tensions rise, then fall when they realise it’s just the cat. Instances like this snowball and the terror gradually creeps up on you until it builds to a crescendo.
This slow build-up is used to great effect in many classic horror movies.
For example, the audience likely went into Alien expecting to see extraterrestrial creatures from the outset. However, the titular alien doesn’t appear until well over an hour into the film. In The Blair Witch Project, we never see the witch at all.
Despite this, these films are incredibly frightening, and the slow build-up makes the payoff much greater.
The same is true when investing your wealth.
You might see investments that promise large returns overnight, and this immediate payoff could be tempting. However, you may adopt significant risk or fall victim to a scam, meaning you could lose a large portion of your wealth.
Conversely, if you invest regularly and benefit from compound growth over the course of decades, you will steadily build wealth, just as horror films build tension. When you access your wealth in later years, you’ll find that this slower approach can yield a significantly greater payoff.
2. You don’t need to invest large sums to benefit from growth
Despite never showing its antagonist, The Blair Witch Project remains one of the most profitable horror films of all time.
Filmed by a small crew using basic cameras, the production cost between $35,000 and $60,000, Wrap Book reports. Despite this modest budget, the film went on to earn $248 million at the box office.
This demonstrates an important lesson about building wealth – you don’t need to save or invest large sums to benefit from remarkable returns.
If you invest a small amount each month and make sensible decisions with your portfolio, you can see significant returns over time because of compound growth.
3. It’s important to adapt to a changing environment
The first instalment of the Scream franchise came out in 1996. The film parodied horror tropes, and the characters frequently discussed the “rules” of horror movies in a clever, self-referential take on the genre.
The film became a surprise hit and sparked a long-running franchise.
The sixth instalment was released in 2023 and a seventh is in production, set to be in cinemas in February 2026.
The fact that this franchise has lasted so long provides a valuable lesson about the importance of adapting to a changing environment in financial planning.
The modern Scream films don’t reference the same horror tropes and clichés that the original did because the genre has moved on over the past 30 years.
Instead, to stay relevant, the later instalments play on current trends such as the prevalence of horror sequels and reboots, and the distinct set of “rules” that those films play by. They also introduce new characters alongside old fan favourites.
As such, by adapting to the changing culture, the franchise remains successful. You may want to take the same approach to your financial plan.
As market conditions affect your investments or tax legislation changes, you need to adjust your financial plan accordingly. Your personal priorities and goals might shift too.
By constantly reviewing your financial plan, you can ensure it’s always relevant to your personal situation and the current political and economic climate.
4. Always prepare for an unexpected twist
Some of the most iconic horror films are famous for their twist endings. The reveal that the protagonist was a ghost all along in The Sixth Sense – or that Norman Bates’ mother was never alive in Psycho – caught audiences by surprise.
When watching a film, a twist ending can be particularly satisfying, giving you the thrill of not knowing what’s coming next.
In life, that feeling is less exciting, and in some cases, surprises could significantly disrupt your finances. For example, unexpected damage to your home could leave you with a large bill to pay. Losing your job could mean your income disappears overnight.
It’s important that you prepare for these twists.
You may want to build an emergency fund to pay for surprise bills. Investing in income protection and life insurance ensures your family remains financially secure if you’re unable to work for a period or pass away.
5. Never go it alone
The slasher film is a stalwart of the horror genre that typically sees a group of characters hunted down by a masked killer. As parodied in the Scream franchise, there are many tropes that appear regularly in these types of films.
Normally, after the attacks begin, there is one character who makes the fatal mistake of splitting away from the group and wandering off on their own, never to be seen again.
It’s worth remembering this when planning your financial future.
Going it alone could expose you to unnecessary risk and make it more difficult to protect yourself from financial shocks. You might also miss opportunities to build wealth for the future.
Conversely, if you have the support of a financial planner, you will thrive, just like the horror characters that stick together and never go it alone.
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Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
Note that life insurance and financial protection plans typically have no cash in value at any time and cover will cease at the end of the term. If premiums stop, then cover will lapse.
Cover is subject to terms and conditions and may have exclusions. Definitions of illnesses vary from product provider and will be explained within the policy documentation.