Horror movies or other movies that feature scenes made to be scary can be entertaining, but they're not as fun if they scare you a lot, causing you to have fear or nightmares even after they're done. Learn to reduce or eliminate your fear while watching a spooky movie.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare to Watch the Movie
Step 1. Watch it with your friends
Make sure to watch a spooky movie with other people near you. Invite your friends, family, or even pets to watch the movie if you watch it at home.
- Talk to your friends about the movie and whether or not they think they will freak out. It can help to know that most people freak out at horror movies, whether they admit it or not, because that's the whole point of spooky movies!
- If you're in a movie theater, make sure you have people you know by your side, if possible, without empty seats, strangers, or an aisle next to you, which could make you feel less comfortable.
- You could even ask a friend if it's okay with you squeezing his hand or approaching him during the spooky parts. Most people will be happy to help you feel at ease!
Step 2. Look at her in a comfortable, well-lit place
Watch a movie in a place with the lights on, if possible. Settle into a sofa, chair, or the floor to feel more secure.
- Avoid seeing her while it's dark outside or when you have to go to sleep right after. Watch a DVD during the day or attend a matinee at the movies.
- You can even encourage yourself to watch a movie in a place in your house where other things happen around you. This may distract you and remind you of reality during the movie.
Step 3. Have a blanket or sweatshirt
Wear a comfortable sweatshirt or other clothing item that makes you feel warm and secure. Wrap yourself in a blanket if you want, or hug a pillow at chest level.
- Wear a sweatshirt to a movie theater as a way to stay warm in this typically cold place, stay comfortable, and even hide your face with the hood if you want.
- Share a blanket with a friend to feel close to someone and be very warm. The warmth and comfort will help the chills or the feeling of vulnerability that you feel when you are scared.
Step 4. Read about it
Familiarize yourself with the movie you will see before seeing it at the theater or at someone's home. Knowing more about what will happen in the plot will help you be less surprised by the spooky parts.
- Watch the trailer and other scenes from the movie that you may find available online. You'll be ready for the spooky visuals that often appear in trailers if you watch them beforehand.
- You can even listen to the soundtrack beforehand if it's available online. Do a simple, joyful activity during the day while listening to it, and it won't seem threatening to you. The soundtrack usually makes the spooky parts of the movie creepier, but it won't be if you take away the scary part of the music in advance.
- If you've already seen the movie, you can refresh your memory by reading or watching related content, or just know that you may be less scared by something you've already seen.
Method 2 of 3: Avoid watching or listening to the movie
Step 1. Close your eyes during the spooky parts
Only block the visual parts of the movie when you anticipate a spooky part will appear. You can close your eyes or cover them with your hand, a hat, a hood, or a blanket.
- If you want to be subtle, try simulating a slow blink where you will close your eyes for a few seconds at a time. Similarly, you can block them with a low hood or hat to make it look like you're still watching the movie, when you aren't actually.
- Pay attention to the prompts the movie gives you to indicate that a big scare is coming, called a scare jump. Check out the threatening music or notice when a protagonist is alone in the dark, seemingly safe for the moment.
Step 2. Cover your ears to block out the soundtrack
Block the sound from the soundtrack to make the visual parts of the movie less creepy. Music is usually what makes a spooky scene more surprising and impressive.
- Cover your ears with your fingers the moment you anticipate a spooky part will appear. Remember to notice the moment when the music starts to get scary, but you can block out the sound when you anticipate it starting to increase to give a great scare.
- If you don't want people around you to know you're blocking sound, try wearing earplugs or headphones during the movie. You can hide them with your hair, a hat or a hood. Just remember that this can block out all the sound around you and that you may not hear your friends if they try to talk to you.
Step 3. Get out when you can
Give your friends or family a simple excuse to leave the venue or movie theater when you anticipate a spooky part will appear. Get up to use the bathroom or go for a snack.
- Make sure you don't use the same excuse many times during the movie or walk away for a long time every time you go out. Really bring a sandwich if you say you'll go for one; strive to make it realistic.
- You can even search online databases that tell you where a scare jump appears in the movie so you know exactly when to get out.
Step 4. Eat something or have something to distract yourself
Have a snack, drink, or gum to keep you busy and relax your jaw. Play with something small in your hands to keep them busy.
- You can try squeezing a stress ball, playing with a toy or small item, or something else that helps you release some of your nervousness while still being mostly still.
- Get more distracted by talking and laughing with your friends during the movie if they have no problem doing so. It may help to notice silly or ridiculous parts of the movie, or just remind yourself that your friends are real, while the movie is a lie.
Method 3 of 3: Think During the Movie
Step 1. Think about how it was done
Imagine all the people and parts that are required to make the movie that cannot be seen on the screen. Remind yourself that the entire world of the film is not real and that it is an elaboration made by the cast of actors and the recording team.
- Imagine the director giving the orders behind the camera, the people controlling the lights, sound and accessories on set, and the actors messing up and laughing between takes.
- Ask yourself some questions, like "How was the makeup done?" or "How long did it take you to do that scene?"
Step 2. Find items to laugh at
Pay attention to moments or elements in a scene that make it apparent that the movie is fake, ridiculous, or even poorly made. This can help make spooky moments fun.
- Look out for effects that are clearly fake, such as very shiny blood, bad makeup, and computer-generated graphics. Likewise, notice continual errors or other mistakes in the recording, such as when something appears in one take, but suddenly disappears in the next.
- Even if the movie is well done, you can laugh at the very common themes or ideas that appear in most horror movies, such as the "Don't go there!" Scenes. when a protagonist always enters a room where the enemy or monster is.
Step 3. Think of other things
Distract yourself with other thoughts or even talk to someone about something other than the movie if you can. Make your thoughts pleasant and focused on the real world.
- Focus on simple things, like remembering what you ate for breakfast, counting numbers, or thinking of another sequence that was insignificant and unrelated to the themes of the movie.
- Think about what you will do after the movie. You can plan to reward yourself for watching the entire spooky movie with something fun and enjoyable.
Advice
- If you're on a date, getting closer to your partner can help you feel more comfortable, as well as create some intimacy.
- Suggest a comedy or other movie that you really want to see as an alternative to the horror movie.