How Old Were You....?
 

I wasn't sure where to put this thread (Mod's feel free to move it:) )
I'm the proud mother of a 7 year old daughter, who is expressing an interest in horror.
She currently watches 12 certificates, but is asking more and more to watch other films, ie, 15 and 18 certificates.
I know I was only about 5 when I watched Evil Dead, Friday 13th etc...
I just don't know if this is normal, (I mean my experience) or if I should wait until she is older.
All views are appreciated....
Do I let her watch 15/18 movies or not?
P.S I'm in the UK (if that helps with the age ratings)

American ratings are different.
But if I understand correctly, she would be exposed to cuss words and maybe a higher level of violence?
It really depends if she can watch something and process it without any negative side-effects, i.e. nightmares.
And realize this is just a movie, not real.

One of my daughters is 7 and I don't allow her to see any type of horror movies except Goosebumps.
My other daughter is almost 9 and I will let her watch things like Gremlins and some of the B-movie horror as long as it doesn't have alot of sexual content.

I was 6 when I saw my first horror movie...Jaws:)

I watched the more popular horror movies (Halloween, Evil Dead, Amityville, Texas Chainsaw) around 3. Except Child's Play, scared the fuck out of me.

My daughter watched Gremilns (Uk rating 12/15) when she was 6.
She isn't stupid, she knows that what is on TV stays on TV ( apart from High School Musical!! GAH!!)
She has also watched Van Helsing, a little of Jaws..All the Pirates of the Caribbean (sp)
I guess I'm in here to scare the living bejeezus out of her without actually scaring the bejeezus out of her.
You know, when you were niave and Ghostbusters frightened you...??:p
I guess we are looking for a very soft 18...:o

Hey there now, Ghostbusters had some scary stuff in it!

Try some Poltergeist. No, maybe that's too much.

In the very beginning, the library ghost was badass.

My boys (10 & 4) love horror. They usually don't like to watch it at night, but in the afternoons, it's something they really love. They adore Evil Dead and Halloween and The Thing and Frankenstein and An American Werewolf in London. They both found The Exorcist to be booooooring (they're kids) and think Dead Silence is the scariest thing they've ever seen...again, they're kids - possessed dolls - do the math.)

If your kid is a little scared, well that's the fun of a scary movie, right? If it's too scary, the kid won't want to see it again. It's all up to your child and how clearly you communicate the subjects of sex, death and fear.

I answer every question they ask about everything we watch (and there have been a few tricky ones regarding nasty slang and deviant sexual behavior) no matter how distasteful. As a result, the kids trust me as an absolute authority - so if they want to watch somethings that offends my taste...they'll have to sneak it.

And that's an essential part of growing up too, right?

WOW!!
I loved that...It's all a part of growing up!!
I just don't want to take that away from her...
She's only 7 but I'm on the borderline of letting her watch 18 rated films (she's already hooked on Angel the series which is rated 18 for some of the episodes)
She keeps asking about the discs lying around the house, wondering where the blood comes from...yada yada yada..
All she really wants is for me to sit down, late at night and watch an 'adult' film with her...
So?
Any ideas?

She watched Ghostbusters
1 and 2
She didnt' even flinch when the ghost apperared in the library...:eek:
After that all ghosts were 'funny'
Need help!!

:eek: Poltegiest sent her to her bed almost an hour early??!!

Army of Darkness

very bloody, but filled with slapstick (or rather gorestick) humor and it's none too serious.

If she digs that and wants more, then An American Werewolf in London...yeah it's funny, but it's also scary as hell in places.

i was 5 when i watched polterguist for the first time over at grandma's house, and i have loved horror ever since.
it is my own personal view, that as long as it does not have a lot of sex in it, let them watch. but watch it with them, as it seems you do. that way, if she has any questions, you are there to answer them.

I've never understood this mentality.

In what possible way is sex worse than murder and mayhem? Sex is great. Sex can be wonderful. It can also be comical, awkward, dispassionate, injurious, etc.

It's such a part of life that I could never keep it from my kids. If they have a question about it (and I mean ANY question) I answer it. My eldest used to love Six Feet Under, primarily for the often comedic deaths in the intros...but he had quite a few questions about gay sex and oral sex in particular. So I answered all questions and it opened up a great line of communication.

As a result, my sons are not upset or embarrassed speaking directly about sex (or drugs - they get the same truth on that one as well) with me.

They have also been taught that sex is something that makes many people uncomfortable, so they are never to push their views on others and they are always to approach the subject with honesty and respect.

They'll make some young girls (or boys) very happy someday.

I started watching horror when i was maybe 7-8 years old. I saw among others Braindead and The Fly and they scared the shit out of me then, but looking back now i wish movies still could scare me like that. I miss those times in the basement, holding a pillow to cover my eyes. I don't think i'm damaged in any way because i saw them (maybe somebody else should rate my sanity, crazy ppl seldom know theyr crazy right :D )

I say let them watch. I think Britney Spears can do more damage to their heads that a little horror :D

I watched my first horror movie (Nightmare on Elm Street) at 5.

My daughters were 6 when they watched their first horror movie (Land of the Dead). They have since watched Gremlins, Army of Darkness, and Evil Dead 2.

I think it all depends on the child and the movie. I dont think Dead Alive is proper for a child but Army of Darknes is. Just need to know your child and their understanding of reality compared to movies.

When I babysit my cousins who are both 8, they go through dvd's and ask me if they can watch them, when ever they pick a totally unsuitable movie I tell them that they can watch it as long as they don't ask me any questions about anything they see. :cool:

A lot of times I'll try to find a super scary movie, they'll never get another chance to be horrified because of movies. I don't have to deal with their nightmares so whatever. ;)

I've always wondered why people thought that too.

I agree.
Makes sense that my mom always answered our questions, even when we were considered 'too young', but she's awfully christian, so she wouldn't let us see too many movies with sex in it.
We're perfectly comfortable talking to her about it, but we know not to tell her we're sexually active for fear of breaking her heart and making her feel that we were raised wrong.
Kids are going to do what they feel is right wrong, and only tell you what they feel you will be comfortable knowing.









I watched Army of Darkness scince I was 3.
Perfect movie for kids.
Dark Comedys always are.
It tends to open their minds to horror through comedy.
Helps alot if you have a kid who has nightmares.
If you start with dark comedys and work your way up, they'll eventually watch horror for fun, and the fear won't kill them.

I suggest that you let your child watch the milder movies until you're sure they can handle the worse ones.
If you put on too scary of a movie at too young of a maturity level, then you may turn them off to horror all together.
Experiment with what is too much for them.

You can't really ask if your kid is too young.
Age doesn't matter, maturity does.
We cannot tell you if your kid is not mature enough.
You'll have to decide that on your own.

Most of us have watched horror early on for the simple fact that intruiged us.
If you kid is intruiged, you have a truly awesome child.
:p

Kids are empty vessels - fill 'em with whatever you want, it's like a life-long science experiment.:D

mmm barbeque sauce

Unless it's hardcore porn or something, I agree with the "who cares about sexual content" mentality.


Personally, I watched Halloween when I was five, but didn't get outright into horror until I was 7 or so.

my baptism of fire was the exorcist at age 10. prior to that the scariest stuff i'd seen was old bela lugosi and lon chaney jr. movies and a little bit of hammer stuff. maybe the classic horrors would be a good start for your kid.

I watched a lot of horrors (Childsplay, a Nightmare on Elm street, Maximum Overdrive, Critters, The Gate, etc) when I was very young because my older sister was a fan of them. She used to watch them while she was babysitting me, so I kinda had to watch them too. Although they scared the living shit outta me back then, I beleive that being exposed to them at such a young age gave birth to the horror addict that I bacame during my teenage years.

i watched them since i can remember... they were always explained to me about actors and effects like i watched documentary's on them as well so i knew who robert englund was when i watched noes... my mum was careful more with other films that took violence more seriously... like how life isn't considered in action films and loads of people die randomly with no thought, at least in horrors emphasis and meaning was placed on it... all ideology i suppose

My 1st horror movie was Halloween when I was 5. And I was fine

My kid however is completely different in that aspect. I thought stuff like that was awesome. But Gremlins scared my kid bad. He couldn't even go to sleep. Then 1 night, he was on the other side of the room as I watched Masters of horror. (it was the 1 with a pregnant chick) He came over just in time to see her belly moving around & grab something. Freaked the shit out of him. For days after that he was real clingy & periodically would grab his stomach. Yea he don't do horror so well. Yet anyway. Oh & he's 5.

if you ask me, the one things children aren't getting enough of is psychological torture.

I was 9 when I had my first Horror experience @ the theater. I saw Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter in 1984.
I always enjoyed being scared as a kid. ;)

My first horror movie was puppetmaster when i was 4.

yeah, i still remember my first horror movie...Childs play 3.
it scared me a little when he jumped in for the surprise of the audience but parts like when he ripped the neck of the hair cutter and all that stuff, it didn't scared me.
i saw it when i was 5 and in that moment, i became a horror lover.
i also think that letting the kids watch movies from little scary to hardcore porn movies is fine, meanwhile the kid dont takes it so really.
.like for example, if the kid is less than 10 and he is watching a strong violence movie, you have to get convinced that he isnt the type of children that when they enter a forest, they are afraid of trevor moorhouse, you unerstand me.
then, you got to watch the movie with him and answer all the questions possible like for exmple if the kid asks you... why does he takd the man's guts out, you may tell him that the man is crazy, and violence is not a good part of live.
if the kid asks you something like... why do the man is penetrating the woman, you tell them that it's a part of life and pleasure.
after all if there wouldn't be sex, there we wouldn't exist.
i also do not understand why people say that sex is something dangerous to watch, if sex, is a part of life and it doesnt harms anyone.
i still like horror movies ana im a fan of them.:)

uhhhh.........hmmmm.


oookay

Ok.
I have her alone this afternoon.
And I am seriously considering letting her watch Army of Darkness (thanks to all who recommended it)
I really need her to understand horror like I/we do
That it is something to be watched and appreciated.
Not something to run and hide from.
It's not that scary is it?
:confused:

re:
 

army of darkness is a great movie. a cult classic for sure, and bruce campbell does not disappoint.
actually, it sounds like an almost perfect movie to get children to understand horror, because of the mix of horror and comedy.

first rate choice.

nice name - will you now start using monkey images in all your posts?


sheesh

ok
 

a little cranky today?

i have been using the name zero for about 10 years now.
so pardon me for finding this site after you, but i am not going to change my own persona just to satisfy someone who isn't even worth my time.

as far as using monkeys, its not very likely.
monkeys aren't my thing.

suuure - don't want to take up that VALUABLE time. i can only imagine the important things you must do. . .

picking out lint hairs

making a list of people you will soon become friends with - just as soon as they see the real you

contemplating the odd fact that people start to snicker as soon as you walk away

and, coming up with new ways to ignore basic notions of web-etiquette; like parrotting a well-established member's name

you'd better get back to work




ass

I dunno, with kids it depends on what would scare them I guess. When I was a kid, IT scared me to death but Halloween and Mimic were like... my favorites and weren't scary at all

You just spent time talking to him, you're wasteful.

nice one MM - if he's so damn busy what's he doin here in the first damn place!!!

It's only a waste of time when he thinks it will help in his favor.

put him in the movie as the gimp from pulp fiction - and keep the zipper mask zipped tight!