By Maya Salam
The October tradition of watching horror films leading up to Halloween can be quite exhilarating. Unless, of course, you can’t handle the bloody and brutal, or even the eerie and spine-chilling.
This was once my situation until I made a deliberate decision to confront my fears. It required some time, but now I view myself as a horror fan, enjoying the thrill, suspense and trials of a genre that can amusingly engage with dark subjects, like “Shaun of the Dead,” or be utterly unrelenting, like “Hereditary.”
If you’re someone who wishes to participate in the season but fears jump scares and blood-soaked scenes, here are five suggestions that could assist even the biggest timid ones among us in gradually exploring the realm of horror.
Embrace the spoiler
The initial and most effective strategy is to read the plot beforehand. If you’re feeling courageous, go for just a brief overview, but there’s no obligation to be a hero. I often read an entire plot summary in detail before viewing, particularly for films that are sure to target my soft underbelly: movies featuring demonic possession. Unlike other genres, being aware of what is going to unfold in horror doesn’t typically lessen the viewing experience. Your heart will most likely still race. You may still jump. And the visuals and audio are likely still to astonish. Knowing what to expect might just help manage the anxiety and unpredictability.
The smaller, the better
Nothing against the cinematic experience, but opting for a smaller format, such as watching on your phone or a tablet, can be beneficial. Not only will you possess a sense of control that a packed theater with overwhelming sound effects cannot offer, but you’ll also have the ability to make adjustments. If the volume or chaos becomes too intense, lower the sound. If it becomes too visually frightening, reduce the brightness or flip the device down. Sometimes during the most intense moments, it’s preferable to just hear the movie instead of seeing it, or to watch silently.
Make a horror-inured friend
I could hardly count how many times I’ve been the test subject for my spouse or friends: Yes, I will watch it first, so you can join me later. Having a reliable companion who knows the film’s ups and downs can be an excellent strategy to help you through it later. This person can alert you to what’s coming next, or even describe a scene while you look away.
Step away from the screen
The 30-minute segment is most closely associated with television comedies. However, when it involves intense films, breaking them into manageable segments can provide your nervous system with a break and shift dread into excitement for the next segment. Knowing you won’t be stuck with an unsettling feeling for an extended period can bring considerable relief.
Hold a personal post-mortem
Perhaps the most unsettling result of viewing something disturbing is the mental images that can return to haunt our thoughts. Even after fifteen years, my late-night trips to the bathroom are often still haunted by flashes from “Paranormal Activity.” Still, I have mostly managed to dodge this effect by allowing myself even just ten minutes for a post-viewing journal entry in my phone’s Notes app or a quick note on the nearest piece of paper. Swiftly jotting down what frightened you the most and how those moments affected you can assist in demystifying the most disturbing aspects and liberate your future thoughts.
10 movies to get started (From least to most frightening, give or take.)
— “Little Shop of Horrors”: for man-eating puppets and catchy tunes.
— “M3gan”: for deadly AI and TikTok choreography.
— “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale”: for a frightening, skinny Santa Claus.
— “Cloverfield”: for a found-footage monster feature.
— “Jaws”: for a classic now that beach season has passed.
— “Bodies Bodies Bodies”: for a bloody Generation Z satire.
— “The Cabin in the Woods”: for all the monsters in a clever parody.
— “Misery”: for humor, hobbling, and an Oscar-winning performance.
— “Get Out”: for a living nightmare.
— “Psycho”: for the pinnacle of Hitchcocktober.
