Child actors in horror films - it must affect them???

[EinsteinaGogo]

I've just rewatched Interview with a Vampire (1994, still brilliant, IMHO).

Kirsten Dunst plays one of lead characters who is turned into a vampire and all that murk that follows. As an actor, she was 11 at the time.

As a horror film, it's pretty tame to be honest, but it got me thinking - what sort of effect does acting in horror movies have on young minds? Is it damaging? Do they have nightmares?

As a parent, would you be happy to have your child involved?

Am I overthinking?!!

I think it must depend on the child. I would imagine with all the lights / equipment and knowing the actors off screen it’s probably fun for a lot of children, particularly slightly older ones. My 9 year old would love it….! Might be different for smaller children I suppose.

For modern films with the amount of effects etc that are done in post-production it is unlikely they would be aware of anything upsetting. Particularly for psychological horror, paranormal etc. Child actors’ time on set is so limited, they’re rarely hanging around unless they’re the focus.

I’ve seen some behind the scenes of the filming of IT. After the intense scenes of Pennywise talking to one of the kids, they cut and then the PW actor straight away starts asking the kid if they’re ok and making sure they weren’t scared or anything, v sweet so I think doing that during filming helps, especially as at first for a kid to look at pennywise in full costume must be terrifying

Kristen Dunst has spoken about her time on Interview with a vampire, she is more bothered and unhappy about the kissing scene and how anyone thought that was appropriate for an 11 year old than anything else.

Kids in horror films get involved in spreading the fake blood, getting to know the actors in and out of costume and understanding that it is all very fake and of course aren't on set that much anyway. Along with a lot of things being added post filming.

I’ve not seen that specific film but generally I imagine that on set without all the editing and sound effects etc that get added later, it’s much less scary than it would look on screen when finished. Plus I’d guess that if you see the actor(s) playing a scary part off set, in regular clothes without any special make up and they chat away to you, if they’re then dressed as a monster it’s less scary.
And then I’d assume they use camera tricks and cgi to make it so the child isn’t actually there for the really scary stuff.
Ive read that the boy in The Shining didn’t know it was a scary film while filming it, they used a dummy for him in one scene where he’s been carried, kept him off set for other parts etc
www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/27/danny-lloyd-the-kid-in-the-shining-i-was-promised-that-tricycle-after-filming-but-it-never-came

The girl in the original exorcist movie wasn't allowed to. Watch it or really know what was going on

A family friend's child was an actor in a particularly gruesome Netflix drama.

The children are not on set unless they're actually shooting, so they don't see any of the other scenes. If there is anything in their own scenes that could be upsetting, it's explained to them in an age appropriate way, there is also a child psychologist on staff who checks in with the children throughout.

Mainly though, because they know for a fact that it's all acting, props and special effects it isn't as shocking as it looks in the finished production.

Even though, the child in question has not been allowed by their parents to watch the series in full (just the scenes they're in) , and understands they will have to be a bit older before that happens

The actual set is a tiny part of the room they are in. It's full of people - director, camera men, chaperones, make up people etc. there's no scary music/sound effects etc so it's much less scary that it seems. Plus any scary things will have been shown how they are created.
Also if they are professional actors they'll have been on sets before. I imagine hard if they are very tiny. Apparently in labyrinth they had to replace the child actor as the original was too scared. In the end they used one of the puppeteers kids who was used to seeing all the puppets in their house so less scared.
Also some actors have been through legal battles to do their work but mostly about inappropriate storylines- child sex workers etc. rather than horror.

I probably am overthinking it!

Just trying to imagine me with my child at that age - "Come along sweetheart, you're getting your blood sucked out today' 😂😂😂

As someone said upthread I am more concerned with children in scenes with sexual content or "real" violence.

Yes, @CheddarGorgeous , I should have probably titled my post 'Disturbing films'.

It's often filmed multiple times and in brief snatches. They don't get the whole building tension and suspense that we experience. It's probably more like the moments children tell ghost stories around a camp fire, shining a torch under their chin, interspersed with giggles and farts and 'I'm telling on you' whines!