Buzz
While horror movies and other films with frightening scenes can provide entertainment, they may not be enjoyable if they instill significant fear or lead to nightmares even after the movie is over. Discover techniques to reduce or eliminate your fear while watching a scary movie.
Key Steps
Preparing Yourself for the Movie
Enjoy with companions. Ensure you watch a scary movie with others nearby. Invite friends, family, or even pets if viewing at home.
- Discuss the movie with friends beforehand to gauge their fear levels. Knowing that most people experience fear during horror movies can be reassuring.
- In a theater, sit between people you know, avoiding empty seats, strangers, or an aisle which could diminish comfort.
- Ask a friend if you can hold their hand or move closer during intense scenes. Most are willing to provide support!
- Share the experience with your partner; scary movies often strengthen bonds.
Opt for a well-lit, cozy environment. Choose a setting with ample lighting, such as a room with lights on. Find comfort on a couch, chair, or floor to enhance feelings of safety.
- Avoid viewing the movie in darkness or just before bedtime. Opt for daytime viewing of DVDs or catch a matinee at the cinema.
- Select a seat next to a wall to avoid feeling vulnerable from behind.
- Consider watching in a room where other activities are happening to provide distractions and a reminder of reality.
Snuggle up with a blanket or hoodie. Wrap yourself in a cozy hoodie or other warm garment to induce feelings of comfort and security. Embrace a blanket or hug a pillow for added reassurance.
- Wear a hoodie at the cinema to stay warm, comfortable, and potentially shield your face if needed.
- Share a blanket with a friend to foster closeness and warmth, reducing the shivers induced by fear.
Research the movie beforehand. Familiarize yourself with the movie's plot before viewing, whether in a theater or at home. Prior knowledge can lessen surprise during scary scenes.
- Watch trailers and online clips to prepare for the visual scares commonly shown.
- Listen to the soundtrack earlier in the day during a cheerful activity to desensitize yourself to the music's fear-inducing effects.
- If you've seen the movie before, refresh your memory by revisiting related content.
Averting Visual and Auditory Stimulation
Shield your eyes when frightened. Block out scary visuals by closing or covering your eyes with a hand, hat, hood, or blanket.
- Opt for subtle eye closure techniques, like a slow blink or shielding with a low hood or hat.
- Pay attention to movie cues signaling impending jump scares, such as ominous music or moments of apparent safety for characters.
Block out the soundtrack. Muffle the movie's sound to lessen its scare factor. Often, it's the music that heightens the suspense of a scary scene.
- Cover your ears when you sense a frightening moment approaching. Stay alert for eerie music cues, but feel free to block out the sound once you anticipate a major scare.
- If you prefer discretion, use earbud headphones or earplugs throughout the movie. Conceal them with hair, a hat, or a hood. Keep in mind, though, this may dampen all surrounding noise, making it difficult to hear your companions.
Find an opportunity to leave. Excuse yourself from the room or theater when you sense a scary scene approaching. Take a bathroom break or fetch a snack, for instance.
- Vary your excuses during the movie and don't be absent for too long. If you say you're getting a snack, actually return with one to maintain credibility.
- Consult online databases for jump scare timings to plan your exits precisely.
Keep yourself occupied. Enjoy a snack, sip a drink, or chew gum to stay engaged and relaxed. Occupy your hands with a small toy or object.
- Try using a stress ball or playing with a small item to release nervous energy while staying relatively still.
- Engage in conversation and laughter with friends during the movie, if they're open to it. Finding humor in the film or reminding yourself of its fictional nature can be comforting.
Critical Reflections
Reflect on the movie's production. Imagine the behind-the-scenes effort involved in creating the film. Remember that the movie's world is fictional and meticulously crafted by its creators.
- Visualize the director giving instructions, the crew managing lights, sound, and props, and the actors sharing laughs between takes.
- Ponder questions like, “How was that makeup done?” or “I wonder how many attempts it took to nail that scene?”
Find humor in the movie. Identify aspects or moments within scenes that reveal the film's artificiality, absurdity, or poor craftsmanship. This shift in perspective can transform frightening scenes into comedic ones.
- Spot artificial effects, such as overly bright blood, unconvincing makeup, or CGI. Also, watch for continuity errors or filming mistakes, like objects appearing and disappearing inconsistently.
- Even in well-made movies, laugh at common horror tropes, such as predictable 'Don’t go in there!' moments.
Redirect your thoughts. Engage in distracting thoughts or conversations unrelated to the movie. Keep your mind occupied with positive, real-world topics.
- Focus on mundane matters, like remembering your breakfast or counting numbers, to disconnect from the movie's themes.
- Plan enjoyable activities for after the movie to reward yourself for enduring the scare.
User Videos
Suggestions
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If you're on a date, snuggling closer can offer comfort and intimacy.
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Propose watching a comedy or another preferred genre instead of a horror film.
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Laughing during scary scenes can reduce fear, as laughter has been scientifically proven to alleviate fear.
Important Reminders
- If watching a scary movie with friends makes you extremely uncomfortable and frightened, it's perfectly okay to decline. You should never feel obligated to engage in activities that cause distress or be criticized for your feelings towards something designed to induce fear.
