LIFE

It's a canon event in every girl's life. 

You're at a sleepover with your BFFs, and the late-night entertainment of choice? A horror movie. You are absolutely *not* a fan of scary movies, but you can't tell them that—your friends are already chattering away about how they love a good scare. 

So what's a girl (who def prefers feel-good flicks over frights) to do? 

Luckily, there are answers that don't involve ditching your friends for a safer, scary-movie-free environment. We've got all the tips you need to make it through even the spookiest of spooky movies. Consider this your scary movie sleepover survival guide. 

Grab a security blanket or pillow

@styledbysands

The OG scary movie weapon. Grab yourself the softest blanket or the fluffiest pillow (or both!) to shield yourself from any scenes you don't want to see. If you're on the couch, there's probably a good selection of shields (er—blankets and pillows) to choose from. Pick your fave and protect yourself from anything spooky. 

Keep the lights on

@lenasaibel

When surrounded by pitch black, you never know who (or what...) can be lurking in the closet. But rest assured, by turning on a light, those shadow monsters will be kept at bay and you'll feel *way* more calm during intense scenes. Looking to create the ultimate movie night vibe with your squad? Candles and fairy lights are totally the way to go. 

Have a code word to pause the movie if needed

@_chloechloee

Before starting the movie, make sure you talk to your friends about your feelings towards scary movies. Odds are, they'll get it—some of them are probs just as nervous as you are! To make everybody's evening a bit less stressful, establish a "code word" for girls to say if the movie is making them seriously uncomfortable. If the code word is said, everyone must agree to pause the movie and reassess whether they should continue watching. We recommend it's something out of the box like "waffle!" or "cricket!" to grab your friends' attention. 

Snack on some popcorn 

@mealsformytwo

With your fave comfort snack in hand, you now have something to satisfy your cravings, relieve stress *and* distract from the horror. Plus, who doesn't love munching on some popcorn and candy while watching a movie?

Don't be afraid to laugh 

@ava.wagner

When watching a spooky film, remember that it's *okay* to laugh through the jump scares and tension—that's what makes it fun! Realize that most of these movies are fiction and not real, so by viewing it through a comedic lens, you'll soon see that there is not as much to fear as you originally thought.

The GL-approved list of ~mildly scary~ movies 

@clairepatersonmccrossin

Are your friends still deciding on a scary movie to watch? Hit them with recs straight from this list. They're def a little spooky but aren't obnoxiously suspenseful or violent. 

- Hocus Pocus (1993)
- Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) (ft. GL cover star Lilia Buckingham!) 
- Coraline (2009) 
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Practical Magic (1998)
- Ghostbusters (1984)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) 
- Hubie Halloween (2020)

Have any other ~mildly scary~ movies we missed? 
Let us know on Threads @girlslifemag!

Want some top-tier movie recs that *aren't* horror? Check these out:
💘 5 summery movies that definitely deserve a rewatch
💘 The iconic movies you didn't know were adaptations of classic literature
💘 The best sisterhood movies to watch with your BFFs

Slider image: @clairepatersonmccrossin
Top image: @elena_wuest

by Laila Mayfield and Madison Yee | 10/6/2023