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.

I wonder if the people who work there have to have special insurance to cover work-related GBH!

Old-fashioned funfair ghost trains used to shit me up. As an adult.

There's a camping one in England somewhere that I'm pretty sure you can take 14+ too, I thought it sounded great, until I went on the site and looked at the small print.

You basically sign a contract that allows them to bind you, gag you, hood you and act torture out. They even check your FB etc to make it personal...

Here it is.

OMFG that looks horrific!

That looks horrendous... Maybe we should do a MN meet up there.... They'd meet their match then

I went to a Hallowe'en party at the London Dungeon as an adult and had to leave early as I was a bit traumatised by it. Can't stand all that medieval torture stuff, horrible crimes and so on. I don't even like ordinary waxworks very much. I wouldn't take children younger than teenage, personally.

I went on a ghost walk at Appuldurcombe House on the Isle of Wight, and that was great, it really made us laugh more than anything, supposed to be family friendly but glad we didn't take DDs.

tulleys farm here in sussex does the fright night.

I worked at Fright Night at Hedingham Castle last year. Turned up in the pitch dark, set up the stall, and spent the whole night listening toowls hooting and people screaming in the woods, as they were accosted by chainsaw weilding terrors in the woods! I thought it was hysterical... until I popped to the loo, walked into the deserted, hidden in the trees toilet block and came face to face with a spectre in a black wedding dress! I nearly died on the spot! Thankfully, I managed to register that she was touching up her eye liner in the mirror!
There were plenty of fairly small kids out there that night, none of them seemed overly upset!

Worry, thank o for your concern, but I really am not thick enough to go into the wrong thing with my children. I was so shocked I went round to the beginning and re-read the signs about five times to check I hadn't missed any warnings.

And my objection was not with the fear, but the horror of what looked like a violently murdered body! And I absolutely promise you, this was on the kids bit.

That camping one looks AMAZING!
Totally doing that next year. I will entirely wet myself. Literally.

YADNBU ... totally agree with Flimflammery, that Halloween events aimed at children should be all about spirits, bats, witches, pumpkins, ghosts, spiders and so on. NOT extreme horror, gore, violence and so on.

My 9 year old would have been traumatised for sure. If she'd have caught sight of a bloody mutilated corpse, she'd have been scared to go to bed later and would no doubt have asked how it got in that state. She has a basic understanding of murder, but thankfully so far as I know, has not yet read about the appalling ways it can be achieved (as she's a very advanced reader I often have to keep papers from her so she doesn't read detailed reports).

It was very very irresponsible to aim this at kids without, for example, advising adults what the exhibits consisted of before the children saw for themselves. And I really do think that if you're depicting such gore and horror that's what needs to be done so adults can make a properly informed decision ahead of entering. As you say, on film, such scenes would probably merit at least a 15, and on TV this would probably be post watershed.

YANBU and this is exactly why I am taking the DDs on an illuminated walk where you hear tinkly bells and fairies in the bushes.

Am still laughing at Peppa's sister headbutting a zombie. True fight or flight kicking in there!

YANBU

Monkey I really want to do it too, a bit panicky about actually being tied up, hooded etc by strangers though!

Sounds bloody cool, my children would love it in a UGH THAT'S GROSS and start acting crazy way.

YANBU though, because all children are different. Mine love gore, bums, farts, grossness (but nothing sticky on the hands) etc etc., my eldest (9) still will not watch Coraline or Snow White.

There should be more if not 'age restriction' then guidance/literature so that parents like me and you FlamingoBingo can make an informed choice.

We were at Alton Towers recently, the boys hated the willy wonker ride because it was too freaky but LOVED 13, and they both begged to go in the new scary maze even though they're well under the limit.

More information and choice would go down well with both you and me, even if we are different as there's nothing in your OP that made me uncomfortable or even slightly worried?

www.horrorcamplive.co.uk/ Sounds amazing but I wouldn't do it! Armchair horror fan that I am, plus I'd be scared that I'd hurt one of the live actors once my survival instinct kicked in....

Aldi See, that's what I think too. If someone has gagged you and is acting that they are going to kill or torture you I don't think you could help but hit them.

I'm sure it also mentioned on the site there could be scenes of sexual violence.

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

Are you my mum :o she did the same in the same place, my brother was obviously terrified and we were just trying to get through but he kept purposely scaring my brother even more. I thought my mum was going to lamp him.

A lot of my friends are going to 'Farmedgeddon' this year, sounds ace

Urgh horror camp would freak me out - as a veggie I wouldn't even cope with the bacon sandwich :) I love the fact that the location is the home of Mrs Downson's ice cream - surely that should be 'I Scream!'

We HAVE to do a MN meetp at horror camp!

As long as noone leaves me alone around masks and jumpy-out people obviously.

KungFu But hugs aren't allowed on MN and I don't think I would be able to stop clinging to everyone! :o