Horror movies or other movies that contain scenes that are meant to trigger a feeling of anguish can be entertaining, but they aren't much fun if they terrify you to the point that they cause fear and nightmares even once the movie is over. Learn how to reduce or eliminate fear while watching a horror movie.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare to Watch the Movie
Step 1. Watch it with friends
Make sure you watch a scary movie with other people close to you. If you are watching it at home, invite other friends or family or maybe keep a pet next to you.
- Talk to them about the movie, perhaps asking if they think it will be scary. It can be helpful to know that most people get scared by watching a horror movie - whether they want to admit it or not - because that's the very purpose of this kind of movie.
- If you are watching the movie in the cinema, make sure, if possible, that you have people you know close by, that there are no empty seats or strangers or a corridor next to you, as you may feel less comfortable.
- You can also ask a friend if it is possible to shake his hand or get closer to him during the most distressing moments. Most people will be happy to help make you feel more comfortable!
Step 2. Look at it in a well-lit and comfortable place
If possible, watch the movie in a lighted room. Get comfortable on the sofa, chair or floor to feel safer.
- Avoid watching the movie while it is dark outside or if you need to go to sleep right after. Watch a DVD during the day or go to a theater matinee.
- Sit somewhere near the wall. It is best not to have the unpleasant feeling that there may be something behind you.
- You can also try watching the film in a room of the house where there are people doing other activities - it could help distract you and bring you back to reality during the film.
Step 3. Get a blanket or hoodie
Wear a comfortable hoodie or other item of clothing that makes you feel warm and protected. Wrap yourself in a blanket if you want, or hug a pillow to your chest.
- If you go to the movies, wear a sweatshirt - it's a great way to stay warm in a usually cold room, to feel comfortable and even to hide your face with a hood if you wish.
- Share a blanket with a friend to feel closer to someone and more warm. The warmth and comfort will help lessen the chills or the feeling of vulnerability you get when you're scared.
Step 4. Find out about the movie
Get information about the movie you want to watch before seeing it at the cinema or at a friend's house. Knowing in advance what will happen in the storyline will help you not to be caught off guard by the scariest parts.
- Watch the trailer and any other scenes available online. By doing this, you will already be prepared for the more impressive images that are often shown in trailers.
- You can also listen to the soundtrack in advance if it is available online. Engage in a simple and cheerful activity throughout the day as you listen to it and you will see that it will not seem fearful. Often the soundtrack makes certain parts of the film even more intense, but it won't be if you take this power away beforehand.
- In case you have already seen the movie, you can refresh your memory by reading or watching related content: just be aware that you will probably be less afraid of something you have already seen.
Method 2 of 3: Avoid Looking or Listening
Step 1. Close your eyes during scary moments
Don't look when you feel a scary scene is coming. You can simply close your eyes or cover them with your hand, hat, hood or a blanket.
- If you want to do this discreetly, try pretending to blink very slowly, so close your eyes for a few seconds each time. You can also cover part of your face with a hood or hat pulled down to make it appear that you are still looking when you are not.
- During the film, pay attention to the signs that a particularly frightening moment is coming, from "jumping in the chair". Listen when disturbing music plays or pay attention when the protagonist is alone or in the dark, seemingly safe.
Step 2. Cover your ears so as not to hear the soundtrack
Do not listen to music, so as to alleviate the effect of the images. It is often the music that makes a scene more scary than an unexpected event would.
- Plug your ears with your fingers when you anticipate a scary scene coming. Remember to try to capture the moment the music starts to get creepy, but stop listening the moment you predict a particularly scary scene is coming.
- If you don't want others to know that you are avoiding listening, try wearing earphones or earplugs throughout the movie. You can hide them with your hair, a hat or a hood. Just remember that this ploy can eliminate any sound around you, so you may not hear your friends if they try to talk to you.
Step 3. Exit the room when you can
Come up with a simple excuse to go out for a moment when you foresee a scary scene coming up, for example to go to the bathroom or to go get a snack.
- Make sure you don't use the same excuse multiple times during the movie, or stay away too long. Really bring a snack in case you said to go get one - do your best to make the excuse as plausible as possible.
- You can even check online databases to find out where in the movie a particularly scary moment (from "jumping in the chair") is, so you know exactly when to get out of the room.
Step 4. Eat something or look for a distraction
Eat a snack, have a drink, or chew gum to keep yourself busy and keep your jaws relaxed. You can fiddle with an object to keep your hands busy too.
- Try squeezing a stress ball, fiddling with a small object, or looking for something else to help you release excess tension while mostly staying still with the rest of your body.
- To further distract yourself, talk and joke with friends during the movie if they agree too. It can be especially helpful in recognizing the ridiculous and absurd parts of the film or simply reminding you that your friends are real, while the film is not.
Method 3 of 3: Thinking During the Movie
Step 1. Think about how the film was made
Imagine all the people and roles in the production of a film that are not visible on the screen; remember that this is an imaginary world and that it is only an elaborate construction by the cast and the insiders.
- Imagine the director shouting orders from behind the camera and all the lighting, sound and assembly staff on the set, as well as the actors who misspell and laugh during the shoot.
- Ask yourself questions like, "How did they do this trick?" or "Who knows how long it took to shoot this scene perfectly".
Step 2. Find something to laugh about
Pay attention to scenes or elements of a scene that make it clear that the film is a fictional product, that make it appear ridiculous or even of low quality. It can help you make scary moments fun.
- Try to identify the obvious use of special effects, such as blood of a too bright color, a bad make-up and computer graphics, or find any continuity errors or other mistakes on the part of the director, such as objects that appear in a frame but they suddenly disappear in the next one.
- Even if the film is of good quality you can always laugh at the use of discounted themes or ideas used in most horror films, such as the classic scenes where the protagonist enters a room where there is an enemy or a monster.
Step 3. Think about other things
Try to distract yourself with other thoughts or even talk to someone about topics other than the movie if possible. Keep your thoughts light and focused on the real world.
- Focus on simple things, like trying to remember what you ate for breakfast or counting numbers, or think back to other unimportant events disconnected from the topic of the movie.
- Think about what you will do later. You can think of how to reward yourself for making it to the end of the movie with something fun and enjoyable when it's done.
Advice
- If it's a romantic date, holding each other tighter can make you feel more comfortable while also creating some intimacy.
- Propose a comedy or other movie that you would love to see as an alternative to the horror movie.
