What is required for someone watching a movie to fully experience the emotional impact intended by the filmmakers?

To fully experience the emotional impact intended by the filmmakers, psychological immersion is essential. This concept involves the viewer becoming deeply engaged with the film's narrative, characters, and emotional themes. When viewers are psychologically immersed, they suspend their disbelief and allow themselves to connect with the experiences and emotions portrayed on screen. This connection enhances the overall experience, allowing the audience to feel the intended emotions such as joy, sadness, tension, or catharsis that the filmmakers crafted into the story.

Cognitive realization, while important for understanding the plot and themes, does not encompass the emotional experience as fully as psychological immersion. Visual stimulation can certainly draw viewers into a film, but without emotional connection and engagement, the impact may be shallow. Vocal narration might provide insight or exposition, but it does not inherently facilitate the emotional depth that psychological immersion achieves. Therefore, psychological immersion is the key element that enables viewers to experience and resonate with the filmmakers' emotional intentions.