since we're talking horror movies, I've always wanted to get into horror films but I'm a huge scaredy cat (with paranoia issues on the side) and can only really watch bts stuff (still fun!). is there any way you'd recommend to ease myself into things a little?
Start with things that have a T or PG-13 rating. Look for things that are fun and spooky rather than bloody or jump-scary. Watch trailers and look up spoilers for anything you're curious about. (I love horror and I still look up spoilers for certain movies before I watch them, just to see if it's something I'm going to like.) You can also try classic movies from the black&white era of films, since those are scary but not really terrifying.
You might also like the Ruined! podcast, which features two friends - one who loves horror movies and one who is curious but too scared to watch. They discuss the plots of various movies (with full spoilers) and generally have a fun time with it. You can also check out the "Ending Explained" series made by FoundFlix on YouTube, which does basically the same thing but in video format. If you're looking for a stepping stone into scary movies, that might be a good option.
There's also the Emotional Support Monster trick. If something scares you, create or adopt an equally scary creature in your head to be your buddy / protector / cheerleader. I've done this in the past and it's gotten me through some bad times and made a lot of very scary things a little less daunting, and not just as it relates to horror movies.
Also, if you have problems with paranoia, try to avoid movies about curses, urban legends, and Japanese horror. The plots in these movies tend to revolve around things that could ostensibly affect the viewer (i.e. the cursed video from The Ring) and that won't be a good thing to have in your brain.
When you feel ready, I'd also recommend watching my personal favorite movie, Trick R Treat. It's an anthology film with a bunch of overlapping stories all taking place on a single suburban Halloween night. It's definitely scary and a little bit bloody, but it's also a lot of fun. If you can watch that all the way through, you can probably start dipping your toes into other movies. (And don't be afraid of Little Sam - he loves Halloween as much as you do.)
Here's the trailer:
And remember - if something is too scary for you or not your cup of tea, just turn it off. Like I said, I love horror movies, but there are some things that I've peaced out of or that I don't want to watch. It's okay to stick to lighter material if you want a little spooky for your season but don't want to actually be terrified. Scary movies are like rollercoasters - you don't have to get on anything you don't think you can handle.
Have fun!
