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Original poster

'Scary' movie suggestions for 13/14 year olds.

76 replies

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 01/10/2019 18:50

We're trying to think of something we can all watch at Halloween but don't want the young teens to be too terrified. Ideally the same sort of scare level as Jaws but scarier than Goosebumps.

OP posts:
Atalune · 01/10/2019 21:02

The Ring? But I found this super scary.

Scream is great!

DrMaryMalone · 01/10/2019 21:06

Sleepy Hollow, The Others, The Craft, Bram Stokers Dracula or Interview With a Vampire

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 01/10/2019 21:07

DS1 is 12 and we are watching the original Poltergeist as his first proper horror film this year.

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Opal71 · 01/10/2019 21:11

Mine enjoyed Arachnohobia and Sixth Sense at similar ages.

Onesailwait · 01/10/2019 21:19

My just turned 13 yr old watched the original IT and Annabelle last wknd at a friends she loved them both. We are going to have a Halloween marathon this weeking while my younger kids are away with dad. Cant wait

VaggieMight · 01/10/2019 21:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at poster's request.

Sharptic · 01/10/2019 21:24

My DS, 13 was proper spooked by Signs (the alien film with Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix)

Original poster
BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 01/10/2019 22:13

Wow thanks everyone! Great ideas. Some of these films terrified me as an adult but I am a total wuss Blush.
At least Halloween is in half term this year so if they are too terrified to sleep it won't matter too much Grin
I'll get dd to check out some trailers and decide.

OP posts:
IfeellikeaJoan · 01/10/2019 22:21

Nightmare on Elm Street? Or I Know What You Did Last Summer, slasher but not too scary.

user838383 · 01/10/2019 23:26

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WoahBodyforrrm · 01/10/2019 23:30

Blair Witch project? It’s more suspense then horror 🧙‍♀️

Fuma · 01/10/2019 23:38

In all honesty and sorry to be a killjoy but I wouldn't let a 13/14 yo watch a horror film. I think they're made for adult sensibilities.

For context, I am a massive horror fan and have watched hundreds of then including ones that are still banned. I love them and think they're an important genre and get a lot out of them. But I wouldn't be letting my mid teen kids watch them.

A lot of the ones mentioned (Nightmare on elm Street, it, scream etc) are only fleetingly horrific. But they are horrific, and those fleeting scenes are designed to get under your skin and mess with your mind. That's the point of them. An adult can get something out of the thrill of this but for a child it's a different, more stress based response.

Most of the rest (the others, the woman in black) are not horrific at all but are very emotionally resonant and demanding which again is fine for an adult but I'd hesitate for a child.

If you're after something like jaws, then you're really talking about an action movie, which is a different matter altogether. But horror? Nope.

Superzowie · 01/10/2019 23:40

Empty Rooms and Happy Death Day are ones my 13yo has enjoyed recently. Both on Netflix and, I think, rated 13+.

Personally, I think some of the 18s being suggested are too much. I allow mine to watch 15s if I'm familiar with them. Sleepy Hollow is a good one.

Dieu · 01/10/2019 23:41

Jaws, the Omen (original, as no sex or swearing), the Sixth Sense.

Dieu · 01/10/2019 23:43

A Quiet Place

Superzowie · 01/10/2019 23:43

I think it depends on the child, Fuma. I agree with what you say re the 18s. They're definitely not suitable.for that age but mine has watched 13+ and selected 15 horrors with no problems.

Interview With a Vampire, as someone suggested, is completely unsuitable.

Fuma · 01/10/2019 23:46

The Omen has bloody Donald stood on an altar with a bunch of knives at his son plus the journalist with his head sliced off (which you see) by a pane of glass and a priest impaled to the ground by a lightning conductor slicing through him. You really think that's ok for a 13 yo to watch?

Ispywithmycynicaleye · 01/10/2019 23:51

GRAVE ENCOUNTERS. I love horror films and was sceptical, but loved this film! If you like it there's Grave Encounters 2.

Fuma · 01/10/2019 23:52

That last comment was to Dieu.

Superzowie tbh I've not seen the 13 rated films on Netflix so you're probably right about those. But ime a fair few of non Netflix films that are rated 15 are only so because they're not graphic which doesn't mean they're not upsetting. I think most children in early adolescence would be quite distraught at the story of the woman in black, for eg.

pikapikachu · 01/10/2019 23:52

The Ring, The Grudge, Warm Bodies, Tge Shining?

There are a lot of films like Jaws- Lake Placid, Open Water...

pikapikachu · 01/10/2019 23:54

Woman in Black was a 12a at the cinema. It was the "in" movie to watch when my son was in y6.

What about Paranormal Activity?

Superzowie · 01/10/2019 23:56

Fuma completely agree.

Fuma · 02/10/2019 00:07

Thanks Superzowie. Thanks also for the heads up about the Netflix films. I have a 14 yo who would probably like them. No way am I going to be introducing him to my own personal horror favourites, that's for sure, but it would be nice if we could watch something of that type together.

Dieu · 02/10/2019 00:13

@Fuma

Well, clearly it depends on the 13 year old Hmm

Fuma · 02/10/2019 00:22

Yeah, you literally see the guy's decapitated head bouncing along the pane of glass with a puzzled expression on its face. Which 13 year olds were you thinking it would be ok to show that to?