We have just returned from what is marketed as:
an event that is "...perfect for the whole family" with an "undercover, interactive [treasure] hunt" that "children will love exploring".
There is an evening thing at this place, which specifies that it is too frightening for under twelves, but the daytime is for EVERYONE, as they state in every bit of marketing material they create.
We wandered into the treasure hunt with our four children aged between 4 and 9, with no one suggesting it might be a bit too scary for the youngest ones (hell, even the oldest ones!). We were waved in cheerily in fact. And the sign outside proclaimed that it was £1.50 per child, adults free. Maybe I'm being naive but that suggests to me that this whole treasure hunt is aimed at children - would you think that too?
In that case, am I being peculiarly precious to be absolutely fucking horrified at (along with the expected spooky skeletons, witches and ghosts and some other too vile things that I can't remember right now):
- A toilet block with old, spider-webby toilets, dripping with blood - and I mean dripping. I am not exaggerating.
- a corpse covered in blood lying in a bath
Yes, it was very well done, but this is not, IMO, OK for children to be exposed to. Films with this stuff in are rated 18, and this was scarier, IMO, as it was more real. In fact, forget the scare factor, this was what I would describe as violent horror with graphic gore. This was very, very well done. I was spooked by it!
But to adults nowadays really think it's OK for children to see things like this? I hardly wrap my children up in cotton wool, but I am really angry my children have seen this. My 7 year old, who is normally really brave, and loves scary films (that are aimed at under 12s), started crying and saying 'I don't like this', even before we got to the corpse.
So, AIBU? I want to check before I write stinking reviews all over the place.