Down an eerie red backlit staircase lies the Experience Music Project's (EMP) newest show: A horror exhibit perfect for Halloween.

You will find a creepy forest full of black holes, hidden alcoves, a wall of monsters and some of the same props used in your favorite horror movies. You might even confront the shadows of your own inner demons.

EMP invited top horror directors Roger Corman, John Landis and Eli Roth to curate much of the exhibit. The end result is "Can't Look Away: The Lure of Horror Films."

Jacob McMurray, EMP senior curator, described the exhibit as a look into the directors' "world of horror." He reported to KCPQ-TV that "audiences have always been fascinated with horror stories for centuries, but its presence in popular culture is now more pervasive than ever.

"This exhibition will examine how horror has evolved over the last century, why we as a culture are drawn to these macabre narratives, and how fear and horror are a vital component to our human identity."

The horror genre has been around for centuries—it is described in the exhibit as a form of rebellion as well as a way to experience our fears in an acceptable way.

Fear is not something most people are usually allowed to show in public sphere — but when they watch scary movies in the theater or with friends, one can allow that fear to show its face.

This exhibit allows for the public to take a deeper look at their fears. It is described by EMP as a way for "audiences [to] safely explore the spectrum of cinematic horror, from its inception at the turn of the 20th century to the present day."

Horror films play on this psychology of fear — one of the reasons they are so popular.

Also featured in the exhibit is a timeline of the top 100 monster movies ever made, as well as Philip Worthington's shadow monster installation. The installation is a play on shadow puppets where you turn yourself into the eerie monsters that haunt your dreams.

The public can explore this forest of horror movie fame and in its depth find what it is about these movies that make them experience fear. Directors share their movie-making tips and their knowledge of sound, music and cinematography to create films that really rattle our bones.

So come enter this forest of shadows and interactive displays. You will be beguiled by clips of the top horror films of all time, props from your favorite movies, a scream booth to capture your horrified faces as well as give a chance to let go and make some noise. Freddie Krueger's gloves, Jason's mask and Alien — only this time the beast isn't coming out of John Hurt's chest.

This exhibit will run at the EMP for three years, allowing plenty of time to check it out for a good scream or two after final exams.

Katie may be reached at kgilbert@su-spectator.com