Fear of The Unexplained

In Primer, Limbo, and the War of the Worlds podcast, we find a common theme in fear of that which is not understood. In Primer, thought the film is classified as science fiction, we are struck with fear of the time travel we do not completely understand. This fear is propagated when we come to know that the time travel has caused some unknown damage, presumably in the minds of the main characters. Limbo represents more a fear of the unknown as the game is set in limbo, the state between life and death. With hardly any proof to the existence of this state, both the state of existence and the game may be classified as fiction/horror. This classification, however, does not detract from the fact that Limbo preys on humanity's fear of death and what waits beyond. Since we have no facts to offer concrete proof of what waits beyond death's veil, death and what lies beyond is constantly used to frighten audiences of all forms of entertainment. The War of the Worlds podcast also preyed on the human fear of the unexplained. With no concrete proof of intelligent alien life, people like H. G. Wells may only speculate what would occur should foreign entities attempt to invade. These fears of unexplained concepts, (time travel, alien invasion, what happens after death) are common to science fiction and provide audiences with not only a thrill, but possible explanations for that which cannot be explained. It is for that reason that science fiction has become so popular in recent years; everyone is looking for answers to unsolved questions in science fiction media.