“Okay, I’m Ready to Watch a Horror Movie. What Now?”

Abstract

If a nervous person wants to watch a horror movie, there are several pieces of science-based advice that may help make the experience as pleasant as possible, such as watching with others, watching at home, and keeping the sound at a reasonable level. Moreover, certain coping strategies can help to adjust psychological distance, thus decreasing immersion and fright response. At the same time, increasing psychological distance allows for an aesthetic form of engagement with horror, which comes with its own peculiar pleasure. The trick is to find a horror movie that hits the viewer’s sweet spot in terms of scariness, and to maximize the odds of having a fun and constructive experience.