Do you watch horror movies with the lights on or off?
Are horror movies just as scary with the
lights on?
I watched The Ring for the first
time, around daybreak.
It was about six or seven in the morning
and very light. Not dark at all!
And, I was still freaked out by that
dead girl!
I guess it was the knowledge of how she died
that made the movie so scary for me.
I'd be eternally mad after something like that, too.
Another time, I watched Steven King's The Night Flyer
with the lights out (in the house alone) and got so
creeped out, that I checked behind the couch and in the
closet to make sure there were no psycho vampire killers
waiting to attack.
I was scared!
From then on, I kept the lights on during horror flicks.
[question posted by beautyqueen26]
responses and comments:
Watching horror movies with lights out is really scary. It intensifies the horror effect. But when I am watching the movie with a lot of friends and the lights are off, I don't get that much scared. If a movie still scares you even with lights out, it should be a very good horror movie. But what scares me most is watching a horror movie alone, either lights on or off. Have a nice day!happy [richiem]
Yeah, it's the best way to get freaked out. [beautyqueen26]
If I'm watching horror movies in the daytime, it's okay. If it's at night, whether it's with the lights on or off, I still get the frights! At night, I've to watch these shows with my hubby; else I would seem to 'hear' every single sound in the house, or start seeing 'shadows'. (active imagination at work! lol) The Ring is not so bad; try the Grudge or any of these Japanese/Korean movies - they really made my skin tingle! [lazeebee]
The Grudge made my spine crawl! Very creepy. Loved it. [beautyqueen26]
At first i start to watch the movie with lights off, but later on when the scene is really scary, i turn on all the lights, and sometimes i turned the tv, and run to my bedroom and had nightmares, usually i don't watch horror movie alone, i see to it that my friends or cousin around me, and oh, sometimes i scream. sometimes my cousin make laugh at me when i scream. [jonastabuena]
But, at least you are surrounded by people you know. Rest assured if the boogey man comes out of the TV screen to get you, he'll take them too. wink [beautyqueen26]
wow, you're that scared, huh? well, same thing here my friend. if i watch in the dark, i won't be able to look at the screen. i'd just rely on the music and audio. trick for me is to watch scary movies in broad daylight. i'll watch the whole thing if that's the case. =) i attempted to watch the exorcism of emily rose one night, but i was such a chicken that i just turned off the player and watched sesame street online. hehe. [goddessjes]
Oh MAN! I went to a friend's house and he put that on since I told him I'm a wuss about scary movies. I seriously started crying during the part where she's all contorted on the floor. TERRIFYING movie. It wasn't the usual predictable formula that I've come to expect lol. [masquedxangel]
i hate horror movies... period...happy lol... was never allowed to watch they when i was young, and now i still cannot watch juno... *shudder* but... if i will... i will want to be in an all dark room, with a loved one to cuddle during all the scary parts... oh...and earplugs as well... lol..lollol [raclie]
That's the remedy! [beautyqueen26]
I am, possibly, the biggest baby on the planet Earth. I'm PETRIFIED of scary movies and I have been known to just burst into tears lol. I prefer to have the lights on, it feels safer (even though I love the dark go figure)... but no one I watch movies with prefers it that way which means I'm stuck enjoying my scary movies in the dark. It's a natural prey instinct - if you can't see, you can't escape whatever is coming for you, and with your adrenaline all hyped up from a good scary movie it's common to find scary movies terrifying in the dark but less so in the light. [masquedxangel]
Good explanation! Hadn't thought about that. [beautyqueen26]
I think when the lights are off it is more scary than the lights on. [koolkate]
Horror movies don't really scare me since I know that it's all fake anyway. I can generally watch them with the lights off, especially if it's in a movie theatre. Honestly I think American remakes of Asian horror movies aren't that great and it's not even remotely as scary as the original. I still like watching horror movies though, it's fun sometimes! [nhangel2468]
wow..for me, having the lights turned off add creeps and shivers to whatever movie you were watching..me, even watching ordinary film, i have to turned off the lights so there would be an added effect while watching..i have also watched "ring" around 12 midnight, and guess what?! i just cant get off from where i have sitted, and eventually dozed off from the same place, and added that i am very afraid to turn off the television thinking that there would be someone to knocked me off my feet, that to me would be the effect of having the lights off, haha.. [kleynie]
hi beautyqueen26 :D i don't think it really matters if the lights are on or off. for me, it pretty much depends on the movie. but a scary movie can be more scary with the lights out because of the dark surrounding and the illusion that you're somehow part of the scare because it's dark. i really like watching scary movies, especially those with good plot. and i believe that the more you get scared by it, the more you appreciate it in the end. that's why when i watch a horror movie, i make it a point to scare myself more by watching it alone and, ok yes, with the lights out :D sometimes i even watch it while drinking. it makes my imagination more active :) [X3NN379]
They are to me, but they are less scary when I turn the volume off or if I wear earplug so it's the sound, music and screaming etc that makes it scary the images themselves strangely don't scare me much although I find them too bloody sometimes [LittleMel]
Lights on, always! If i'm feeling brave, i turn the lights off:D I stil end up screaming for the most part lmao. [kels16x]
Wither the lights on or not horror movies are still scary. I watch the ring movie during daytime too and it freak me out. All i did is scream the whole time im watching that movie.It is the sound effect and the scary look of the dead girl that makes my heart beat so fast. [belk89]
Hello beautyqueen :) I prefer to watch horror movies in the dark. I think it does make it a bit spookier. [Transdisc]
Most definitely! Thanks for your comments. [beautyqueen26]
I actually prefer having the lights off when watching a horror movie. Why? It's much more scary to me. The only movie I won't watch with the lights off is The Exorcist. The first time I watched it, the lights were off and I was alone. In the movie, the bed shakes. So, when the movie ended, I did not want to get off of the bed.... that's how scared I was. LOL [IrishRose23]
Oh! That must have been a weird experience. Can't wait to watch that movie again. I get scared every time! [beautyqueen26]
Oh no, I could not watch a horror film in the day or with the lights on, I mean they are tradition to be watched in the dark. I have not watched a horror flick for years, I used to be addicted to them and would watch them all the time. I reckon if I watched one in the house I am in now it would totally freak me out because we get quite a lot of strange noises anyway without adding horror films into the mix! [gemini_rose]
***Creaks*** "Uh! Hello, is anyone there?"confused "Just us monsters!" cry lol [beautyqueen26]
Actually I watch Horror movies only at night and without lights on because with lights on or in day time the horror movies don't remains scary.Infact at night also I don't get scared by horror movies because there is no such horror elements in most of the movies and they seem sometimes very funny.I have seen many horror movies like Bloody marry,draculla,The Ring, Wrong Turn,Final Destination(all parts),evil dead all in night time.I liked only a few of them.Actually I think that the horror element is inside a person itself and that makes you scare. [nakulsharma86]
I think that there's a certain thrill to watching scary movies with the lights out. I probably wouldn't be able to enjoy it if the lights were turned on. I guess it's not as scary when the lights are turned on because you can see your surroundings so the element of "danger" is not so obvious. Lol. [rosedust82]
watching horror films with light off builds up fear in my heart.. =) so i prefer watching it with hubby and of course with the lights on.. haha. [gracie04]
I myself like to cuddle up to my fiance if I do watch a horror movie so that if it gets to scary I can retreat to the comfort of his armpit and whisper "Tell me when this part is over." Although I think twice if I am with our friends doing this, as they are all guys and as guys are "this movie doesn't scare me" type people! lol! I remember watching the movie about the tooth fairy... a scary one, I can't remember the name of the movie but know it was the name of a town. I watched this before I met my fiance, and remember staying up all night looking at the corner of the room before I finally fell asleep. My room just happened to be the darkest with black trash bags covering the windows. Now if it's a movie that I've watched a thousand times, such as the Jason movies, neh, I could watch that with the lights out... providing no one tried to scare me! [SomeCowgirl]
Darkness Falls? That was a really scary movie! [beautyqueen26]
I think it depends on the movie. Some movies are just scary period. It's just the way the movie was done. The Grudge freaked me out and I saw it in the dark theatre first and then watched it with my partner later on during the day and it still made me jumpy. But some movies just don't bother me at all with the lights on or off. [highflyingxangel]
I watch horror movies with lights on when I am alone. If I watch with my friends or family, then we watch without lights on. I am not brave enough to watch alone in the dark. I will imagine a lot things that will scare me. If I think the movie is really scary then I won't watch alone. [ravinder18]
Personally, I doN't find a lot of differences while watching horror movies with lights on, or off. However, I usually keep the lights on while watching movies because otherwise, the light of the screen will tire my eyes more quickly and it will cause a headache which I would never like to have. For this reason, most of the times I watch movies with lights on, not only horror movies but all genres. When it comes to horror movies, I don't feel any difference, I mean if you are really concentrated on the movie,then you will definetely be very scared in the scenes, whenever I feel very scared, I just look at the floor one second, or just try to lose my concentration a little. When you achieve that, or when you think it is only a movie and people probably laughed a lot while shooting those scenes on set, then you will not feel scared anymore and you can continue watching :) [the_ruler]
You know, I was very disappointed in The Ring. I thought it would be really scary, but it wasn't, at least to me. And I watched it in the dark. I don't know why, but horror movies don't usually freak me out. Unless of course they are based on true events. Then I get a little weirded out. I watched Scream with my sister years ago, and she insisted we finish it with the lights on, and them made me walk her to her car. And her car was in the driveway! Like 12 feet from the front door! I can get that girl scared easily! lol [AmbiePam]
Hello beautyqueen26, It won't be as scary as watching it with the lights off or on daylight. So if you want to watch a really scary movies, it's good to do it with daylight or the light on. At least you will be able to finish the movie without any heart attack or what have you. That's really scary, watching horror movie alone. I have not tried that, I love to watched scary movies but not alone in the house. My mind will run in wild imagination and I will froze to death. Keep on watching and enjoy. Regards. ninjaninjaninja [robert19ph]
I like watching all movies with the lights off since we have a big screen tv it makes it seem like we are at the movies. We try and stay away from scary movies since my littles ones are always around I don't want them seeing that kind of stuff but I think its scary like the movie saw b/c that crap can really happen. They have crazy enough people out there. Hopefully no one gets any ideas from it. [mflower2053]
They don't make horror movies like they used to. I don't get scared by these movies anymore like I used to. I haven't seen a good scary movie since Freddy Kruger or Hellraiser. It doesn't matter if I watch during the day or at night without lights although at night without lights, one little thing may seem a little creepy but overall there isn't a difference to me. The weird thing is, I am more creeped out with video games like Silent Hill. Now that creeps me out and I can not watch someone play that in the dark and still hard to watch during the day and it's a video game! I am still afraid of Freddy though and I think I always will be! [dustinnikki]
I do watch horror movies either lights of or on,it does not make a difference to me the thing is i dont get scARED AT ALL BECAUSE I KNOW its just make believe so it does not bother me watching such movies at any time of the day [BYOLA2871]
I think the darkness does much to set the atmosphere for a horror movie. [DaddyOfTheRose]
Depends on the movie. Carrie, the Exorcist and Amityville Horror and scary with or without the lights. Some are so stupid, they are almost comedies. The Final Destination movies are better with the lights out. Will have to check out the Night Flyer one, hadn't seen that one yet. [catdla1]
I turn the lights off to get the full experience. I think I watched The Ring and right after my phone rang, I had to peel myself off the ceiling before I answered it. You should find a dingy basement and watch a horror flick that way, or have somebody lead you blind folded to an unknown location so after its over your mind can play tricks on you, now thats a real horror experiment. Boooooooo! [gitfiddleplayer]
LOL! "you had to peel of the ceiling I really loved that, that was so funny. And these horror experiments are good too. After i saw the blanket scene on "the grudge" I caught a cold because i needed days to get my courage back to cover myself again. Still I love how you described it "had to peel off the ceiling" now that really made my day thanks, it's been a week since i had a good laugh. Seeing the Ring got me scared too so my cousin used this opportunity to play some pranks and he placed on my phone screen an evil eye...thank God for the bed otherwise my cellphone would have become one with the wall. :)) [sunchild2000]
Late night, loneliness and total silence and darkness are the ingredients that makes a horror movie enjoyable for me.happy [balasri]
Wah it's really dangerous. I watch horror movies but I don't watch these type of movies alone. More over I always keep my lights on. Darkness increases the intensity of fear. After watching such type of movie, sometimes it becomes difficult to move outside alone. [aminul8427]
Horror movies are scary whether the lights are on or off. I need to have somethign to hide behind or I tend to watch them during the day so that by the time I go to bed I wont have nightmares. Im a big wuss when it comes to horror movies. [cinderella2007]
well, try watching The Ring with the sound turned off. i guarantee you that you won't be afraid anymore. the sound effect is fantastically scary. i caught that show in the theatre and i was afraid for three months. when i watch it on tv again, i switched off the sound and found myself laughing when Sadako crawled out of the tv. lol... [applefreak]
Haha that is what I just said too! In fact, sometimes I turn off the sound and just laugh at how silly the movie is when you fill in the dialogue yourself. [loved1]
I think scary movies are less frightening with the lights on...usually. Some movies are just disturbing no matter when or how you watch them. However, I find that these same scary movies are not nearly as scary with the volume turned way down. It is the suspenseful creepy music that makes us freak out. Give it a try and you will find I am right! [loved1]
Let me tell you how I was before I got freaked out. When i was little i used to watch all horrors movies that i could, mostly i was alone and in the dark but I wasn't scared at all. Maybe in those days the movies weren't so scary, still at that age it is something. So time passes and i keep watching like this, but I was getting disappointed because the movies were getting lame and boring. I watched the Ring too at night and day and it didn't scare me (though the girl's eyes were creepy), but I loved it. A few years later "The Grudge" was released i was so excited to watch it. My cousin downloaded for me, i was so happy but I was going to watch it alone because he and his sister fell asleep before we even started to watch so I turned off the lights (it was night, very late) and I watched it with great joy. In all my life "The Grudge" was the first movie who ever scared me like hell. That movie (the american version) took away 5 years of my life and I was so frightened that I even crouched and closed my eyes and some themes (ironic my moves were too slow and i still ended up seeing the scary scences). I watched it all, it took me three nights to get used to my bed sheet and 1 week to get used to the darkness. It as the first time i ever got that chicken. Thank God I didn't had any nightmares. Now I'm still watching horror movies but i make sure to not be alone of to watch it at day light, I simply not get scared because of the last movie, of course only the best horror movies now can freeze my blood, the lame ones no. You get scared if you watch the movies at night alone. To reduce their scaryness you have to make these choices: you can watch it at daytime this will even let you watch it very close to the screen or you can watch it at night time with lights on but still being alone and at nightfall you will prefer to watch it on the coach. Another choice is to watch it at night, with lights off BUT with somebody (a relative or a friend) this way you can still fully enjoy the movie but you have less heart attacks. By the way I' searching for someone who wants to watch with mew the movie "Quarantine" (it trailers really scared me). Oh and there's another thing horror movies with serial killers who are just humans don't scare me at all. Seeing people being killed in the most brutal and sadistic way by a normal person (well not normal mentally) aren't scary at all. I'm also "immune" to horror movies with zombies and vampires (well maybe there are some good ones which might change this idea, but I haven't seen them yet) [sunchild2000]
We always watch them with the lights out. I've always liked horror movies though even when I was a kid. I would watch them at home when I was by myself. I still get scared but I like them. LOL I just think they are better and more scarier with the lights out so that's why we don't turn the lights on. [sweetgirl_k1]
I don't like horror movies since my childhood days, when I used to scared after watching these movies. For me, they are scary with lights on and scariest after lights are off. [suruchi86]