To think that this level of horror was unacceptable at a children's Halloween event?

[FlamingoBingo]

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.

[moogstera1]

So it was a halloweem event? With spooky, gory halloween stuff?
Bit confused as to what you expected? Fluffy bunnies?

[ShatnersBassoon]

The corpse does sound too horrific for a children's treasure hunt. I think it would upset lots of children rather than thrill or spook them.

[Bubblemoon]

Nobody wants to look at a corpse covered in blood lying in a bath do they?

[RollerCola]

There's one on a farm near me (supposedly family-friendly) where you go on a tractor ride only to be chased by a mad chainsaw-wielding maniac

I don't take mine to anything on Halloween, I'm they're too scared.

[ENormaSnob]

It sounds good IMO

Perhaps not suitable for younger children though.

[FlamingoBingo]

Moogstera1 - I expected a few ghosts, witches, spider-webs etc. on something marketed at children of all ages. I didn't expect violent gore. There are ways of scaring children appropriately, without really upsetting them.

I am honestly not a mollycoddling parent, I promise! I censor very little, but I would draw the line at watching horror films, and I would have drawn the line at this for the same reasons, had I known.

[FlamingoBingo]

ENormaSnob - it was good. It was fab, and I would have enjoyed it. There's an even scarier event there that they do in the evenings which I would be too wimpy for but I know my DH would enjoy.

[BrianCoxIsEatingBrains]

Not suitable for younger children IMHO - they need to put an advisory notice up. I am sure some children would find it brilliantly gory, my DD (8) would be horrified and probably traumatized!

I am wondering if I live nearby RollerCola....I went on a haunted hay ride (the evening version) and screamed like a big girl's blouse all the way round

We then went into the haunted house (it was a barn I think) and a 'ghost' cornered me and wouldn't let me move - I knew it was a student in a costume, it still freaked me out as he kept growling at me. I had nightmares FFS!

Then Freddie Kruger chased us into a hay-bale maze and I may have had a slight erm incontinence issue

I am not cut out for scary stuff

[Flimflammery]

YANBU. To me, Halloween is about the spirit world and magic, ghosts and witches, maybe zombies at a stretch. It's NOT about horror and violence. I would definitely complain. NOT because it was a bit too scary, but because it was about horror and violence. Can people not tell the difference?

[Startailoforangeandgold]

YANBU
Blood and gore are not for under 12's

I would have assumed that a treasure hunt that didn't charge for adults was cheesy ghost train humour. More ASDA seasonal aisle than horror film.

[shesariver]

Where is it? My boys would love to go!

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

YANBU

[worldgonecrazy]

YANBU - there should at least have been some sort of warning sign up letting parents know that some of the exhibits may only be suitable for older children.

Though I agree, bodies in baths is probably a bit much for a Halloween thing aimed at children. I'd have been expecting spider webs, rubber bogeyman hands, etc.

[ObiWan]

It sounds way over the top for a childrens version.

Did you speak to the venue before you left? You didn't wander into the evening set by mistake or anything?

There is a similar sounding thing out here I liked the look of (but can't get anyone to come with me).

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

I had a bit of a "complain" at an actor who jumped out at me and my two outside the London Dungeon when they were about 4 and 6. Scary wanker

[Inaflap]

I had two hard as nails lads that i teach go to the one at tulleys farm last year. They were terrified and told me on no account was I to take my youngest. Its big business this now and they hire actors and students to scare but perhaps it is going over the top. I think the corpse sounds pretty horrible. The bats, ghosts and ghouls are all obviously make believe but when it starts getting more human then I think its more difficult to explain.

[SoleSource]

Yanbu needs to be age restricted.

[bottleofbeer]

Is it Farmageddon/Farmer Ted's?

[FlamingoBingo]

It's Over Farm Market, Frightmare, in Gloucestershire.

Have enough confidence I'm not being precious to name and shame them now!

[Dotty342kids]

ooh, I was going to take my two there on Friday - aged 9 and 7. Did it really freak yours out and how old are they Flamingo?

[Sidge]

Crikey, to me Halloween is about ghosts, cobwebs, bats, pumpkins, creaky gravestones, witches and broomsticks, fake eyeballs and fangs, stuff like that.

Your event sounds more like Seasonal Saw, the Experience!

[FlamingoBingo]

I have a 7 and a 9 year old, Dotty. The 7 year old loves scary films, but was crying and saying 'I don't like this, Mummy' even before we got to the corpse. The 9 year old says she wasn't freaked out, but as soon as I saw the corpse I hurried them through the rest of it. They weren't exactly shivering with horror, but I am mostly pissed off that my children even saw the gore for the same reason I wouldn't let them see 18 rated films! So I guess it's more about what you're happy with your children being exposed to at what age than about whether they'd be freaked out or not. I rushed my 9yo past the corpse, but I think I'd be a bit worried if she was OK seeing it. She was fine with the rest of it, though. The corpse is near the end.

[Notquite]

I guess if it's a private, small-scale, temporary thing you're bound to be subjected to the owner's judgment as to what's suitable. It won't be subject to any sort of certification or scrutiny presumably. Sounds far too scary for to me.

[freddiefrog]

YANBU

Suitable for kids, to me, would be a bats, ghosts, skeletons, spiders, witches, pumpkins.

Not blood and gore.

We went on an adults only Halloween Ghost hunt last year and it scared the living shit out of me. I knew it was people dressed up, but the bloke who runs it is such a good story teller that you get sucked in and he gets you every time (I may have embarrassed myself by screaming myself hoarse when his son dressed as a headless monk tapped me on the shoulder )