To think my 6yo shouldn't watch The Two Towers?

[StuntNun]

I just walked in to our living room to find DH had left DS1 (10) and DS2 (6) watching The Two Towers which is rated 12. They were at the scene in the Dead Marshes where Frodo falls in the water - this bit and they were both freaking out. This has happened before resulting in DS1 refusing to go upstairs by himself and DS2 starting to come into our room at night after having nightmares.

DH says I am being unreasonable: the kids should enjoy being scared and that I am projecting my own fears on to them. My opinion is that it's okay for them to watch a film rated above their age so long as one of us is with them. For example to warn them that a scary bit is coming and that they can close their eyes if it's too scary and I'll tell them when it's over.

The problem arises because DH's parents let him watch whatever he wanted including Jaws when he was six, whereas my parents were more likely to go by the ratings system although they did have some flexibility around it.

So AIBU to not want my kids to see films rated above their age without parental permission?

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

Jaws was a PG? Wow. I watched that when I was about 9 (I think) and was terrified to go in the sea for at least a year afterwards.

[StuntNun]

We did take both boys to see the Hobbit at the cinema but we were with them and DS2 did spend a couple of scary bits cuddled into me so he couldn't see them and I could tell him when they were over. It's really watching these sort of films without parental supervision that concerns me more. I remember being terrified of Young Frankenstein as a child and my dad saying, "But it's a comedy." I didn't get the jokes though, I was too young and it just seemed scary to me.

On a related subject my DB just asked me if he could show the boys The Dark Knight. I think the Joker and especially Two Face might be a bit more than they can handle. However they are watching Avengers Assemble with him instead which they have seen twice before (with me both times). It really is a minefield, DH can't see why Avengers Assemble is okay but The Two Towers isn't. But I'm going by the children's reactions to the film and they were scared of the goblins and the Dead Marshes in The Two Towers but they weren't upset by the scary bits in Avengers.

[StuntNun]

Jaws was a PG on release but it was changed to a 12 on DVD.

[BlatantLies]

The Joker is really creepy.....