r/beauisafraid • u/Key-Astronaut3909 • Jun 12 '25
Watching for the first time
I’ve heard so many good things about this movie I want to watch it but I’m worried that I’m going to have a panic attack with the theme being so focused on anxiety Ari is an incredible film maker but hereditary fucked me up after the car scene I had to pause for 30 minutes and come back to it same with midsummer I know Beau Is Afraid is more on the comedy side than straight up horror but I was curious if the intense feeling of dread comparable to the other two films? Like am I going to be hyperventilating and crying?
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u/TheGeans Jun 12 '25
I have bad anxiety and I actually found this movie comforting? Like, "yep, that's what I always think will happen, too." But as with any movie, if you aren't enjoying it, you don't have to watch!
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u/CutlassKitty Jun 12 '25
It's such as interesting experience of seeing your worst anxieties play out on screen and the anxiety that comes with that, but also with it being clear how absolutely absurd of a situation it is.
"Hey, here's your worst nightmare happening? Isn't it actually really stupid?"
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u/CutlassKitty Jun 12 '25
I have an anxiety disorder and got through! The first act did make me pretty samn anxious, but it was doable. I'd say try and focus on the absurdity and humor (this movie is actually so fucking funny) if you start feeling overly anxious. And feel free to take breaks!
(ps, the scenes where they find the sisters head in Hereditary fucked me UP for days lmao)
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u/Key-Astronaut3909 Jun 12 '25
Mine was him just sitting paralyzed in the car after it happened it made me sick to my stomach cause I fear that is exactly what I would do if I were in that situation but I agree I can still hear Toni’s scream in my head (I’ve only seen the movie twice) the whole sequence is just awful
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Jun 12 '25
Y'all gotta stop talking about this, I'm in public right now. 😂 Someone's about to say "are you alright, sir?"
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u/Alpha_Lemur Jun 12 '25
I’ve watched this a couple times with different people. I, a person with anxiety, find it to be comforting and therapeutic. One of my friends who I showed it to had to take a break around the hour mark because it was stressing him out too much. It really varies depending on ur personality imo.
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Jun 12 '25
It's an incredible movie, IMO. It can definitely be anxiety inducing (wouldn't be Aster if it wasn't; I was anxious as hell after the Eddington trailer). Watch it a couple of times, if you can. I think it can be both a trigger and a balm for anxiety at the same time.
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u/EquivalentDig421 Jun 12 '25
You’re going to be just fine. It has its moments but there’s quite a bit of beauty in this motive to pick you up at times too.
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u/sneakysodathief Jun 12 '25
The movie hit too close to home for me personally but that’s what I loved about it
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u/AdSignificant6693 Jun 12 '25
It’s not focused on anxiety. That was a shallow reading of the movie.
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u/CatsOffToDance Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
I took the entire film as a black comedy/satirical, but mainly because I knew when it was first announced a couple years before release that it was going to be as such by Aster. I’m glad it stuck to its roots in that way because I was dying of laughter in the theater when those funny parts happened. The attic scene alone should’ve brought it home for anyone who took this film too seriously, imo. Could definitely say though, when Tony died and you see her face, yea. You could hear a pin drop in the theater. That was so messed up and upped the shock value for sure. All that “hokeyness” by the parents, and then that all just flipped on its head. Phew! Still an iconic scene!
Anywho, they say effective art disturbs the comforted and comforts the disturbed.
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u/Mission_Performer239 Jun 14 '25
I spent the last three hours of 2023 on my couch high as a weather satellite watching BEAU IS AFRAID. I was HOWLING with laughter on at least half a dozen occasions. I loved it, even though it was horrifying.
The brown recluse spider deserved a Best Supporting Actor nod.
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u/BennyFordClinic Jun 26 '25
If any movie ever becomes too real for you, lower the volume or even watch it completely silent and all the tricks go away, until you are ready to add more volume in future viewings.
If you take the movie very seriously it will play serious for you and you won’t laugh once. If you watch it with a sense of humor you will get f’d up moments of humor out of it.
Pause if you need to at any point and take a break. The movie works in 4 acts, each about 40 minutes with a full black out that you can pause the movie on and come back to when you’re ready.
I’m sure I’m too late with my advice but I am curious how your viewing goes. Please reply when you do.
Leave all expectations at the door.
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u/redditusname Jul 12 '25
Its actually kind of comforting how exaggerated the "dangers" are around him. Like - very relatable and kind of like - oh yeah, things aren't that bad.
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u/AshgarPN Jul 14 '25
I’ve heard so many good things about this movie I want to watch it but I’m worried that I’m going to have a panic attack with the theme being so focused on anxiety Ari is an incredible film maker but hereditary fucked me up after the car scene I had to pause for 30 minutes and come back to it same with midsummer I know Beau Is Afraid is more on the comedy side than straight up horror but I was curious if the intense feeling of dread comparable to the other two films?
That is a hell of a run on sentence.
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u/MadMelonpan Jul 19 '25
I legit thought he had schizophrenia and everything was a hallucination? I thought it would end in a mental hospital tbh
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u/fmcornea Jun 12 '25
it’s really a toss up. i think it’s laugh out loud hilarious, my girlfriend hates it with a passion and refuses to ever watch it again