Can Watching Scary Movies Invite Bad Energy? The Truth Fans Ask Me Every Halloween

Every October, someone asks me the same question: “Matt, can watching a scary movie invite bad energy into my home?”

Maybe you’re watching a horror movie with friends, and afterward a floorboard creaks. A light flickers. You head upstairs and suddenly feel uneasy. Did I invite something in?

Let me reassure you: No, watching a scary movie does not invite bad energy. A movie is entertainment, not an invitation. The spirit world responds to intention, and you decide who is welcome in your energy and your home.

Don’t be scared. You’re allowed to enjoy a spooky story, turn off the TV, and go about your evening in peace.

A scary movie is not an open door

A frightening scene can stay on your mind after the credits roll. Your heart might beat faster, or an ordinary sound might make you jump. That’s a very human response to a story designed to surprise you. It does not mean you’ve opened a spiritual doorway.

The spirit world isn’t waiting for you to watch a movie so it can cross a line you never meant to draw. Your intention matters. If you’re watching a film for fun, you’re watching a film for fun.

And here’s something I want you to remember: love does not use fear to reach you. Your loved ones in Heaven would never take a frightening movie as permission to scare you or enter your space. Fear is not a doorway love uses.

You can decide what feels right for you, too. If a movie leaves you anxious, turn it off. You don’t need to prove anything by finishing it, and you don’t need to watch scary movies at all. Feeling unsettled by a film is reason enough to choose something gentler.

Simple ways to feel grounded and protected

You don’t need a complicated ritual to feel at ease. A few quiet moments can help you reset, especially if a movie has left you feeling jumpy.

1. Set your intention. Before you watch, or whenever you want to feel more comfortable, take a slow breath and say, “Only love and light are welcome here.” You’re reminding yourself that you choose what you welcome.
2. Picture a gentle light around you. Imagine a soft, warm glow surrounding your body and your home. Keep the image comforting, not dramatic. This simple visualization can help you feel calm and grounded.
3. Say who is welcome. You might say, “I welcome the loving presence of my family in Spirit. Nothing else is invited into my space.” You do not have to say it perfectly. The meaning behind your words is what matters.
4. Pray in a way that feels natural to you. If prayer is part of your life, ask God, your angels, or your guides to surround you with peace and protection. There is no one right prayer. Speak from your heart.
5. Come back to the present. Turn on a light, stretch, take a few sips of water, or put on a familiar song. Feel your feet on the floor and remind yourself: I’m home. I’m safe. The movie is over.

These are ways to settle your mind and reaffirm your boundaries. You don’t need to do all five, and you don’t have to do them because you’re in danger. They’re simply gentle tools for feeling more like yourself again.

I talk more about everyday ways to protect your peace in my post on simple rituals to protect your energy.

A little fear is not proof that something is wrong

I once spoke with a woman at a live event who told me she had watched a scary movie late at night. Afterward, she heard a small thump from the hallway and felt her whole body tense up. She worried that she had somehow invited something into her home.

As we talked, she remembered that her father used to make her laugh whenever she got spooked as a child. She told me that he would have teased her for checking every room twice. What comforted her was remembering that familiar love and humor, not treating the noise as proof that something was there.

A creak may be the house settling. A flicker may be a bulb. A shadow may be a coat hanging by the door. When you’re on edge, ordinary things can feel bigger than they are.

So start with the simple explanation, and give yourself a moment to breathe. You can acknowledge that a moment feels strange without deciding it means something frightening. This is not to be feared.

Halloween can be about love, too

Halloween has a spooky reputation, but it can also be a meaningful time to remember the people you love. In my experience as a medium, this season can feel especially close to the spirit world. I believe the veil is thinnest around Halloween, and that our loved ones in Heaven can feel closer.

That doesn’t mean you need to watch for something dramatic or be on alert all night. Connection can be gentle. It can arrive as a comforting memory, a familiar feeling, or a small detail that makes you smile.

You might notice:

• A vivid dream that leaves you feeling peaceful when you wake.
• A familiar scent, like your grandmother’s perfume or the coffee your dad always made.
• A song that brings someone to mind at just the right moment.
• A feather, cardinal, or repeating number that feels personally meaningful to you.
• A sudden sense of their presence, perhaps while looking at a photograph or telling a story about them.

Not every unusual moment has to be a sign, and you never have to force yourself to find one. But if something warmly reminds you of your loved one, you can pause and take comfort in it. Many families tell me these small moments help them feel connected to the love they still carry.

If you’d like to explore the ways people recognize these moments, you can read more about signs from Heaven. And if Halloween brings up grief for you, please be gentle with yourself. You can remember someone in your own way, or give yourself permission to focus on something else.

Join my mom and me for Halloween

This Halloween, my mom, Angela Fraser, and I are hosting our once-a-year dual mediumship event. We’ll be giving readings side by side for two hours, and you can join us from anywhere.

The event is Friday, October 30 at 8:00 PM EST. It’s almost sold out, so if you’d like to spend the evening with us and experience a live connection-focused event from home, reserve your spot here.

Whether you join us or have a quiet night at home, keep this close to your heart: a scary movie is a story, not an invitation. You decide who is welcome. And the love you share with those in Heaven is nothing to be afraid of.