Seriously, where is my common sense? The boyfriend wanted to see Paranormal Activity, and I kind of wanted to see it too, but instead of sensibly saying “No, you know I can’t deal with that!” I went and paid fucktons of money to see a movie in the theaters and then not sleep at night. Grr. (And it was only an okay movie anyway.)
It’s not like it’s a surprise. I am the one person on the face of the planet over age 8 who had nightmares after seeing Jason vs. Freddy. I’m not even kidding. I saw The Ring and woke up frightened in the middle of the night for a month! I had serious problems with the Pale Man in Pan’s Labrynth, although I wouldn’t have missed that one.
I read scary books even though they seriously bother my sleep too - I don’t know why I can handle a truly terrifying book better than a mediocre horror movie, but there it is. Although I slept with the light on for six months after The Shining in seventh grade and still open shower curtains in strange houses before I lock the bathroom door.
On the other hand, I know it’s a cliche but in the future if I’m going to a horror movie we’re going back to the black movie theater. It makes it a lot easier when other people are yelling the same thing I’m thinking, only funnier and more scared. “Oh, bitch, you better not!” “Like maybe go to sleep in the church or some shit?” “Oh shit, she gonna have a threesome with the demon!” Y’all was awesome.
Does anybody else have this stupid-ass problem, where you know better but you do it anyway and you’re up all night? My brain didn’t even produce nightmares about the movie, it made its own bad horror movie nightmares which were equally scary. Around 2:30 I laid in bed sure that if I woke my boyfriend up I’d see that he had the face of the thing in my nightmare, but if I didn’t wake him up I’d never get back to sleep. He was pissed when I finally did.
I get scared when I’m in them, but for stupid reasons. Like loud noises or something leaping out at me. And I jump because it’s such an easy scare! But it doesn’t usually stay with me for that long. Unless it’s truly scary, and then I kind of enjoy that. Psychological vs. gross out, I mean.
Do you think it’s scarier to see a horror movie in theatre vs. at home? I think it’s a little scarier at home because you’re alone and then you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and something evil might be in the shower. Not that I ever get scared, mind you.
When I was a kid, I used to watch Doctor Who from behind a couch.
People often like being scared if they know there isn’t really any danger (roller coasters etc)
I find that I cope really well if I turn the sound down on horror movies and rely on subtitles.
Hush now, Zsofia. It’s alright. Just go to sleep. Forget about your movie monsters. They’re only make believe. Just go to sleep. That way, we can get you in your dreams, make you hollow like us. Don’t fight it. Just go to sleep.
A better question might be, “Why do I go to horror movies when I know they’re going to suck?” Seriously, checking out the reviews of new horror films, or any genre of film, before plunking your money down, is a good idea. Only a minority of new horror films are worth a darn. Most are just horrible films, not worth the time or the anxiety. If you find one that is well reviewed (Let the Right One In, The Orphanage, [REC], The Descent and Drag Me to Hell are recent good quality choices) then maybe the fear factor will be worth it to you. If you’re going to experience the fear, despite your qualms, you might as well be getting it from a good movie.
Well, Paranormal Activity got good reviews, and even the mixed ones made me want to see it. And it wasn’t not-good, but it could have been a lot better. I’m glad I saw it to talk about it, just not glad I didn’t sleep last night.
Lucifer: Little Zsofia. How I loved listening to your sweet prayers every night. And then you’d jump in your bed, so afraid I was under there. And I was!
I have discovered something that works WONDERS for me. I too get scared of horror movies & books. The way to deal with it is to not let it take root in your mind. That is, after you read the book, pick up a book like Calvin & Hobbes, or something completely funny and light-hearted, and read it for a few moments. After you watch a horror flick, throw in one of the Pixar shorts or something funny.
That way your mind seems to deal with it better and not dwell so much on the scary. It works for me, anyway.
“Oh, bitch, you better not!” “Like maybe go to sleep in the church or some shit?” “Oh shit, she gonna have a threesome with the demon!” Y’all was awesome.