Ellie Doe-Demosse
The Time I went to the movies alone for the first time was quite frightening, and I swear to you I almost threw up when I got to the theatre and realized I was actually doing this. 1) Because when I go out to the movies on a Friday night, it’s usually with a friend and 2) did I mention I feel anxious when I’m out in public…like a lot? But anyway, here’s how I even ended up at the movies by myself in the first place.
So as most of you know, Before I Fall just recently came out in theatres, and the movie is based off of a book with the same name. Now what you don’t know is that the book happens to be one of my all-time favourites, and so when I found out it was being turned into a movie, I already knew I was going to see it opening night. What I didn’t know, is that I’d be going to see it alone.
A couple days prior to the movie’s premiere, I started asking around in my barely tangible group of friends if anyone wanted to go with me. Long story short, no one did; not even my best friend. Safe to say that I literally have no friends, but that’s okay because I enjoyed myself anyway.
When I walked into the dark theatre, I literally almost shit my pants. I wanted to get the hell out of there as soon as humanly possible, but then I realized I did not waste a good chunk of my Cineplex gift card (that I got for Christmas), for nothing. So I set my root beer down in the drink holder, sat down in my seat, and made myself feel comfortable for the next two hours (It seemed like an eternity though).
As people slowly started to trickle into the theatre (not that many by the way), it was then I realized that everyone was in pairs and most of the pairs were couples. So basically it was me (the book nerd who wanted to spend her Friday night watching the movie adaptation of it), with a bunch of couples who decided to declare the movie a date movie.
Needless to say, I was not only anxious but uncomfortable too.
I got a few stares here and there before the movie started because everybody was with somebody, and I was by myself. But when the movie started, everyone’s attention took a detour to the screen and I was no longer in the spotlight.
What I thought was going to be a shitty Friday night by myself turned out to be amazing. Even though I was watching a movie alone in a theatre full of couples, I enjoyed it. It felt different and weird, but I found that I could actually enjoy the movie ten times more than I would have if I was with someone.
I was stressed that entire week, and watching that movie lifted so many weights off my shoulders. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more relaxed, besides the times that I decide to submerge my body in a tub full of steaming hot water and a Lush bath bomb.
Truthfully, I think that watching a movie by yourself is better than watching it with someone else, and I’ll tell you why: that’s all you’re doing; watching a movie. You’re less tempted to talk to the person who came with you, and more of your attention is focused on the actual movie. You don’t have to split or share any of your food, because of all it is yours if you’re alone. You’ll also find that like music, the world outside completely disappears when you’re tuned in; you stop caring about everything or everyone around you. You’ll probably discover a new side of yourself, or a new personality trait when you leave that theatre.
That’s what happened to me when I left the theatre. I discovered that even though I like to study with music blasting in my ear, and that I’m always listening to music wherever I go, I also like the quiet because it’s relaxing and I feel like I can breathe. I also have a new appreciation for the world and the things around me – nature, city lights and streets, people, society.
Going to the movies to watch a movie by yourself isn’t actually the most tragic thing in the world, like I thought it was going to be and it’s not weird at all. In fact, I found that some “me” time was actually needed.
I know it probably sounds like I had an epiphany or something, but all I really did was go watch a movie alone, and that changed how I look at life.
