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Original poster

Do you let your kids watch scary movies ?

57 replies

butterflywingss · 04/05/2024 00:06

Me & DH keep getting in fights because I have told him numerous times I do not want my kids (under 10) watching scary movies that even I as an adult find scary. Another reason is I have strong Christian beliefs and I also believe that movies like that have bad spiritual energy attached and it makes people feel a certain way.

My oldest gets scared of the dark, and can't sleep alone. I am sure some of these have come from being exposed to things kids don't need to be exposed to.

OP posts:
Loubelle70 · 04/05/2024 00:08

Aside spiritual beliefs , your child , especially because she is scared of dark...and 10...shouldnt be watching scary movies.

Coshei · 04/05/2024 00:10

Apparently I do, but my daughter enjoys them and doesn’t seem bothered. We have had issues when a friend of hers stayed over and was scared so it might depend on the child.
I don’t think that fear of the dark is necessarily to inappropriate media, and that this is probably an easy cop out.

qwertyqwertyqwertyqwerty · 04/05/2024 00:11

It is abusive to expose children to things that frighten them before they are ready.

There is some pleasure in watching scary movies, humans have always told scary stories, but not too young and watching films can be quite intense.

Interested in this thread?

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Families
MonsteraMama · 04/05/2024 00:12

I've always been a horror junkie and so is my daughter. She's been allowed to watch scary movies since she was quite young because she's always enjoyed them (to a point, I'd always vet any movie first and I definitely said no to some - eg. Sleepy Hollow fine, Hostel absolutely not)

She's 16 now and hasn't been damaged by it, but it very much depends on the disposition of the child I think - like adults some really love horror movies and don't get scared by them, and some end up having nightmares for months.

novocaine4thesoul · 04/05/2024 00:14

Yeah, don't watch them. Nothing to do with either of your beliefs, There is a rating on them for a reason. My youngest son aged 8 (I have 4) once crept down to watch Ashes to Ashes that has a creepy clown behind the sofa when the older two were watching it (as 15 year olds) and could cope with it. Cue three weeks of nightmares and clown related drama.

Marblessolveeverything · 04/05/2024 00:15

Scary movies are fine depending on the child. I loved them as do my 10 and 16 year old, I am talking scary as in "jumping scary" not end up in therapy scary.

My 16 year old loves the Freddy Kruger films when he was 13 we watched them together. He has watched the more psychological ones now with me.

Never heard the religious aspect but I am atheist so that wouldn't be a factor.

Willweeverfindout · 04/05/2024 00:16

What sort of scary movies? She’s ten.

AcrossthePond55 · 04/05/2024 00:17

DS1 yes because he's always been pretty fearless, DS2 no because he's always been more sensitive (but he had no interest in them).

I'm a Christian too and I don't believe that a movie has any kind of 'spiritual energy', good or bad. It's just a movie.

Willweeverfindout · 04/05/2024 00:19

There’s a big difference between Ghostbusters and chainsaw massacre

Original poster
butterflywingss · 04/05/2024 01:01

I stopped watching horror movies all together tbh because I didn't feel good and have really affected me since I was young. However, the ones I definitely hate and refer to are the bad spiritual ones. I 100% believe those do carry bad things and the more exposed the more bad things attach without seeing (going by faith and my own fear here). My DD is 7 and had watched plenty of action movies with murders (not appropriate either) and what not but horror movies are terrifying and 9/10 once finished it sticks in your mind some way or another. My DH doesn't mind them and he knows how I feel about that stuff playing in the house but even worse having my young children there. My subconscious plenty of times puts me in fear mode when I remember things I've watched. As far as scary goes, the most ill watch is suspense.

OP posts:
Loubelle70 · 04/05/2024 01:18

My grandson age 12 is banned from watching them because he wont go upstairs alone or have light off. It affects him too deeply even if he's not aware at time.

TheFunHasGone · 04/05/2024 01:28

My 13 year old loves them, my older 2 never liked them and still don't as adults

MariaVT65 · 04/05/2024 02:09

The weird ‘spiritual energy’ stuff aside….

I probably wouldn’t let my kids watch scary films until secondary school, and even then it really depends on the film itself. I find the psychological ones scarier.

As an example, I watched my first scary film aged 12. It was Scream 2. I absolutely loved it and I am now a lifelong Scream fan.

Age 14 I watched the Ring and it still scares the shit out of me.

As an adult, i’ve watched the Saw films but occasionally have nightmares than I’m in a trap.

Original poster
butterflywingss · 04/05/2024 08:36

MariaVT65 · 04/05/2024 02:09

The weird ‘spiritual energy’ stuff aside….

I probably wouldn’t let my kids watch scary films until secondary school, and even then it really depends on the film itself. I find the psychological ones scarier.

As an example, I watched my first scary film aged 12. It was Scream 2. I absolutely loved it and I am now a lifelong Scream fan.

Age 14 I watched the Ring and it still scares the shit out of me.

As an adult, i’ve watched the Saw films but occasionally have nightmares than I’m in a trap.

That's my point, there are certain movies that definitely have an effect on you. I've watched scream but I wouldn't say it scares me tbh, but something like Saw I watched twice and never again. The spiritual ones I find very intense and very scary.

OP posts:
Testina · 04/05/2024 08:47

My oldest gets scared of the dark, and can't sleep alone. I am sure some of these have come from being exposed to things kids don't need to be exposed to.

Or could it have come from being exposed to a mother speaks oddly about “bad spiritual energy” to them? Not sarcasm. They may well be nervous and picking up fear from you.

All children are different. None should be exposed to anything inappropriate for them but you can’t put an exact age on things. Fear is part of a good story, as is the relief when it’s all OK. When I was 5, I was scared for Mary Lou in Mallory Towers when she went out to post a parcel and got caught in a storm. Not only was she OK, but it was part of a nice plot (for kids) that she was braver than she thought.

There’s a difference between a slasher 18 and an Enid Blyton school story, I know. But you’re not mentioning any films here and I’m getting the vibe from this “spiritual” stuff that maybe your husband just wants his 9yo to be able to watch Harry Potter without you deciding it damn their soul 🤷🏻‍♀️

frozendaisy · 04/05/2024 08:53

I would say your kids are a bit young

There are plenty of other films to watch first

But I think OP if H likes them your kids are not going to not see them eventually.

As for the devil leading people astray via Hollywood that's a completely different issue. I was informed whilst reading harry potter once from another grown adult Christian that it was evil because it promoted witchcraft. Which it did my eldest when he read them sighed once saying "I wish harry potter was real" my only honest response "oh baby we all have felt that" and just let the disappointment sit. But it's not real is it?

So yes I would say yes a bit young, but no you are not going to be able to control what they eventually do watch.

MariaVT65 · 04/05/2024 11:22

butterflywingss · 04/05/2024 08:36

That's my point, there are certain movies that definitely have an effect on you. I've watched scream but I wouldn't say it scares me tbh, but something like Saw I watched twice and never again. The spiritual ones I find very intense and very scary.

Show quote history

There you go, have a go with Scream 😂.

Original poster
butterflywingss · 04/05/2024 13:43

Testina · 04/05/2024 08:47

My oldest gets scared of the dark, and can't sleep alone. I am sure some of these have come from being exposed to things kids don't need to be exposed to.

Or could it have come from being exposed to a mother speaks oddly about “bad spiritual energy” to them? Not sarcasm. They may well be nervous and picking up fear from you.

All children are different. None should be exposed to anything inappropriate for them but you can’t put an exact age on things. Fear is part of a good story, as is the relief when it’s all OK. When I was 5, I was scared for Mary Lou in Mallory Towers when she went out to post a parcel and got caught in a storm. Not only was she OK, but it was part of a nice plot (for kids) that she was braver than she thought.

There’s a difference between a slasher 18 and an Enid Blyton school story, I know. But you’re not mentioning any films here and I’m getting the vibe from this “spiritual” stuff that maybe your husband just wants his 9yo to be able to watch Harry Potter without you deciding it damn their soul 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wouldn't call it oddly but that's your opinion. I also certainly don't speak with my children about that stuff. However, when I refer to spiritual I am talking about demonic movies that do carry bad spiritual energy because I know I feel a certain way after watching things like that, really messes with your head and mind.

I grew up watching scary movies and not soft scary but I can definitely confirm because I exposed myself to movies that my age group shouldn't be watching, I do have a fear of the dark and being alone as some examples. My DH put 'IT' briefly once and now she has a fear and she's scared so yes certain films definitely can add to fear and how you behave etc. However, the film in question to my post was 'The black phone' film.

OP posts:
Original poster
butterflywingss · 04/05/2024 13:46

frozendaisy · 04/05/2024 08:53

I would say your kids are a bit young

There are plenty of other films to watch first

But I think OP if H likes them your kids are not going to not see them eventually.

As for the devil leading people astray via Hollywood that's a completely different issue. I was informed whilst reading harry potter once from another grown adult Christian that it was evil because it promoted witchcraft. Which it did my eldest when he read them sighed once saying "I wish harry potter was real" my only honest response "oh baby we all have felt that" and just let the disappointment sit. But it's not real is it?

So yes I would say yes a bit young, but no you are not going to be able to control what they eventually do watch.

Hollywood for sure is demonic and many artists and actors are part of rituals (not a secret anymore). As a Christian, I 100% don't want to be exposed to hidden witchcraft they probably put in music and films. I am sure I will be called a lunatic but rather be cautious and protect my spirit and my kids. However, yes that's what I said to DH, he can watch them but kids while they are still young it's a parents job to protect them so that's all I am trying to do. When they grow up then they can choose to do what they wish but as a kid, heck no they should not be exposed to things that are not their age group. There are limits with everything

OP posts:
SnapdragonToadflax · 04/05/2024 13:50

Absolutely not, I think they're horrible and it's abusive to expose young children (certainly under teenage) to horror.

The Christian/demonic/witchcraft thing though - no 😂 I think you're conflating two things there OP, and perhaps need to stop consuming mad social media suggesting this is an issue.

Testina · 04/05/2024 13:56

As a Christian, I 100% don't want to be exposed to hidden witchcraft they probably put in music and films

And you wonder why your poor kid can’t sleep at night. They’re living with someone scary.

So, at what point are you going to say that yes, this is about your husband wanting a 9yo to watch Harry Potter, and not Saw?

Testina · 04/05/2024 13:58

“rather be cautious and protect my spirit”

I recommend tin foil hats for that.

frenchnoodle · 04/05/2024 13:58

My 8 year old has the 50's and 60's Dracula's and Frankenstein by Hammer. It really depends on the movie.

Beezknees · 04/05/2024 14:20

I adore horror movies and have done since childhood. The first one I saw was Halloween, I was about 11.

I didn't let my own DS watch that sort of thing at that age but he did watch silly horror like Jaws. He's 16 now and not hugely into horrors like I am.

It's your choice how you choose to parent at the end of the day. However all this "witchcraft" "demonic energy" stuff is nonsense.

Original poster
butterflywingss · 04/05/2024 14:35

Testina · 04/05/2024 13:56

As a Christian, I 100% don't want to be exposed to hidden witchcraft they probably put in music and films

And you wonder why your poor kid can’t sleep at night. They’re living with someone scary.

So, at what point are you going to say that yes, this is about your husband wanting a 9yo to watch Harry Potter, and not Saw?

Respectively this is the kind of response I would expect from someone who maybe has no beliefs and that's your decision. I don't mention those things to my kids but it's still good to protect them.

My kids have watched harry potter & that's not scary but nice that you're trying to downplay what I actually mean.

OP posts: