School Liable for Student's Psychosis From Horror Film Screening

A school in Hengzhou in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has been found partially liable after a student developed acute psychosis following a horror movie screening during a self-study class in October 2023, a local court has said.

The case involves a female student identified as Zihan. The incident occurred when the subject teacher had taken the day off, and the class was left to study independently. With the approval of the homeroom teacher and the rest of the class, they decided to watch a horror film, according to Hengzhou City People's Court.

Zihan began to exhibit concerning symptoms hours after viewing the horror film, including incoherent speech during a conversation with her mother on WeChat. A few days later, her parents took her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with acute transient psychotic disorder.

Zihan's family believed that the onset of her condition was directly linked to the movie screening, arguing that the school's decision to show the film was a mistake. They sought compensation for medical expenses and other related costs, totaling more than 30,000 yuan (US$4,200).

In its defense, the school argued that Zihan's mental health issues were likely caused by her own physical condition or an underlying, undiagnosed disorder, rather than the movie. The school also pointed out that it had mental health programs in place and should only bear a small portion of the responsibility for the incident.

The insurance company, which had liability coverage for the students, echoed this defense, suggesting that Zihan's personal health factors played a more significant role.

After reviewing medical records and expert testimony, the court concluded that Zihan's symptoms were directly linked to the movie viewing. However, the court also acknowledged that Zihan's own health played a contributing role. The school was held 30 percent responsible for the incident, and the insurance company was ordered to pay 9,182 yuan in compensation.