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.

(For some reason, Eddie Grundy springs to mind.)

Yanbu. I would be very uncomfortable at exposing a 4 yr old to what you have described.

Jamie - I would probably have punched him.

Seriously. I am irrationally terrified of people in masks/people jumping out after an unfortunate masked-devil incident while queuing for a devil-themed ride at a themepark, aged 10, and an even more unfortunate chased-by-a-leprous-monk-through-the-streets-of-Edinburgh-while-not-actually-being-part-of-the-ghostwalk incident aged 18.

Despite this I rather stupidly agreed to go to the London Dungeons, peered into a stagecoach which turned out to contain a real, live scary-masked person, rather than the animatronic figure I had expected.

I ran screaming through three rooms while small children and foreigh students tittered and sniggered.

Hmm, it does sound OTT for children.

However - on the link, on the attractions page it does say this:

PANIC (Institute of Research and Development)
For our braver daytime visitors we are unleashing a milder version of our night time attraction PANIC. Take a walk through the corridors and rooms of the institute and who knows you may come across some former ?live? experiments who are still there.

Note: This attraction may not be suitable for small children or the easily scared.

I ran screaming out of Madame Tussauds when I was about 5.

It was a bloody adult sized Benjamin Bunny (just standing there, not weilding an axe or holding up the severed head of Mrs Tiggywinkle or anything)! I hate things like that...

The mad, leprous monk was the worst one. Particularly when he cornered me and asked me if I had seen his finger.

And my friend had abandoned me and was about two streets ahead, still screaming and running.

And then to add insult to injury when I eventually escaped his leprous clutches and caught my friend up, and ran shrieking into a pub, yelling about mad monks chasing us, no-one believed us!

I actually complained to the company as I think it is pretty bad form for their mad monks to chase innocent bystanders and make them look like utter tits.

They aplogised and offered me tickets for the ghost walk. [facepalm]

I have been there before on Halloween and found it quite tame, to the extent that my dds laughed their way through it. Planning on taking 5 and 8 year old this week but may have to rethink it now!
Frightmare is meant to be really good but no way am I brave enough to do it!

I'm also wondering where you are roller. I am usually one of those chasing a tractor (or jumping out at people on a train). We do warn that bits of our late night for Halloween might not be suitable for little people.

Hulababy - it wasn't the PANIC bit, it was the Spooky Theatre treasure hunt

As an aside, how bad is the London Dungeon? My three dc's are dying to go at half term, but the youngest is 7... She's pretty tough, but I haven't been there since I was young and I guess it has changed a bit. The others are 11 and 15, so no concerns there...

Do you mean the 'mask' hunt?

It sounds as though you went to PANIC by mistake as it talks of coming across some former ?live? experiments who are still there.

FlamingoBingo we went last year to Fright Night and my boys loved it and I was terrified, we went to the evening one. They do it extremely well as you're taken out on a tractor and then 'things' attack you

This year I think the theme is clowns and I'm not taking them anywhere near it.

It is one of the most horrible things I've ever been to, but I scare easily

Clowns are scary at the best of times.

KungFuPanda, I'm sorry but your post really made me laugh! The image of you running screaming through the streets whilst chased by a leprous monk........ oh sorry, but I'm still chuckling!

Flamingo - thanks for the info. I think I'll still take them but look out for the corpse bits and shield them accordingly (if I'm not hiding behind my husband at the time...)!

Exactly frontpaw. This would give us all nightmares for sure
Wish I was brave enough to go

That sounds inappropriate YANBU

I'm glad my trauma amuses!

It was a formative moment in my life.

I'm wondering where the chainsaw wielding tractor chasing thing is, not Thurleigh Farm is it? We've been there every Halloween for the past few years. Loved it. Chainsaw thing was terrifying. I was scared. The kids loved it.

The chainsaw maniac is at Apple Jacks farm nr Warrington which turns into Spooky World at this time of year. I've never actually been (way too much of a wimp) but I've heard about it.

A friend of mine took her kids when her youngest was a baby! I'm not sure if it gives warnings (I'm sure it must do tbh) but there's not a chance I'll be going!

YANBU - it's not suitable for young kids.

However, I wouldn't contemplate taking my kids to such a place without a full reccy first. It's a fuss but it's a parent's responsibility.

You know your own child and kids have very different levels of 'scare' so you are the best judge and I wouldn't rely on, what is essentially, someone else's judgement.

Same with films. If you want to take a child to see a PG or 12A, it's your job to check it out first. I did this when my kids were little.

I have complained about Halloween displays etc in public places - Asda, I'm talking to you! But anywhere where you are making a choice about going in to is your responsibilty to check out. Guidelines are just that - guidelines.

Also, it's you who has to cope with the fall out afterwards if it goes wrong, so best to be sure beforehand?

I was a I bit about the display in Asda tonight. Right opposite the entrance they had a display of costumes some of which were pretty gruesome- blood and anatomically correct guts, that kind of thing. Some of the masks we're pretty horrid too. My 5 yr old didn't bat an eyelid though.

Kungfu

I may have called him a tosser

Bloody love Frightmare!
My 3 & 5 yr old loved it too.
Me and DH are off to the evening event on Sunday, I cant wait!
Last year I was picked on and chased by an axe wielding pirate, which made me actually cry!

Its all a bit of fun

Well I'm a bugger for complaining about things that I think are inappropriate in shops etc. That perfume ad with a model tweaking her nipples right at toddler height set me off. Now I sometimes do it for devilment

I keep wanting to go to Over Farm, but the evening one would definitely spook me too much & it now looks like the daytime one will too .
My sister got so freaked out in The Chamber of horrors a few years ago & head butted a Zombie when he jumped out at her .