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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder about ten year old DD's friends being allowed to watch horror films?

39 replies

MrsTawdry · 07/03/2015 10:47

DD is ten in year six so one of the younger girls. She tells me that a number of her mates have watched the film Annabelle and other horror films.

AIBU to think there's no need?

She's always loved the scary stuff...ghosts etc and is bugging me to allow her to watch Annabelle. Is it too much? I beleive her when she says certain girls have seen it....but should I let her?

OP posts:

loudarts · 07/03/2015 10:54

I think you should watch it first and then decide if you think it is appropriate. I haven't seen it so don't know how scary it is

Idontseeanysontarans · 07/03/2015 10:57

Not seen it all but it really does look quite scary.
A warning though, it's not just the film itself that could be an issue, it's the aftermath. DS went to a sleepover aged 11 where they managed to get hold of Paranormal Activity and watch that. He was fine with the film itself but ended up sleeping with his light on for 3 weeks afterwards.
I was Not Inpressed.

DamsonInDistress · 07/03/2015 11:35

Common Sense Media suggests that it probably isn't suitable for a ten year old, it's actually a 16 rated and kids own reviews suggest an age of 13. "There's lots of bloody horror, splattering blood, and scary images, plus some jump-shock moments, shooting, fighting, and dead bodies. A pregnant woman and, later, a small child are in jeopardy. It's all pretty terrifying. But on the upside, other than the scary/gory stuff, there's not too much other iffy content of note -- no sex, strong language, alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs.".

Not something I'd let a ten year old anywhere near tbh.

Original poster

MrsTawdry · 07/03/2015 21:57

Thanks all....Damson that does it! No way is she watching that! She'll be fuming naturally but WHY do some ten year old's parents let them?

OP posts:

mrsfuzzy · 07/03/2015 22:01

mrs, because they think it's it cool to let their kids watch that crap, they are probably good parents who never like saying no and try to be their dc's 'best mate' as they get older.

EachandEveryone · 07/03/2015 22:09

It's hard with netflix these days.

BaconAndAvocado · 07/03/2015 22:11

If it's a 16 certificate 10 year olds should not be watching it.

AgentZigzag · 07/03/2015 22:32

What is it that makes you believe her friends are watching the films?

They make up all sorts of shit at 10/11 to outrage whoever's listening, the things DD used to come home with that she'd be told I couldn't help but laugh at, one used to get £100 a week pocket money apparently!

I saw it on Sky and looked it up and it looks a total crock of shite, same as the first one The Conjuring at least shit them up with a decent horror like The Ring

Fairylea · 07/03/2015 22:39

I can't understand why people pay such little attention to the certificates. They are there for a reason.

Dh and I watched annabelle the other night and it's very creepy. There's no way in hell I'd let dd aged 12 watch it.

I had this same discussion with dd the other day when she said half her class have watched it. I was so shocked. I'm very opened minded as an adult myself and not a lot shocks me but modern horror films are full of gore and often contain sexual violence. There is no way I'd want her watching any of those (or playing 18 rated xbox or playstation games either).

Original poster

MrsTawdry · 07/03/2015 22:59

Agent one of them told her the basic plot...I believe her in that she's not completely daft...she's canny and can often tell a fairytale from the truth.

OP posts:

AgentZigzag · 07/03/2015 23:05

Pah, you can get the basic plot off Wiki/Tomatoes/Imdb

Just sounds to me like the old 'but X, Y and Z's parents all let them do it'

'Yeah, and I was born yesterday'.

TomCruiseCreepsMeOut · 07/03/2015 23:12

MrsT, don't worry about it. I had an older (by 16 years ) and very cool sister who babysat me and my brother and sister when mum and dad worked, back at the start of the eighties, in the era of the video nasties. We watched The Evil Dead and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and that kind of thing all before we were 12!!!

It didn't harm us at all....in fact, we all work in caring professions, are nice and kind blah blah and look back on those occasions as exciting and daredevil. Mainly because the rest of our childhood was so generic and lovely.

As long as it is a one or two off, it is fine, really!!

Lamourestbleu · 07/03/2015 23:12

They let them because some kids are are allowed to run the show. Dh and I run the show here, with input from ds. When he is the parent he can do as he likes.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 07/03/2015 23:17

I doubt all the kids who say they've seen it HAVE actually seen it. What they mean is they've seen the trailer.

It will almost certainly do no long term harm - kids love being scared shitless - and who else is a film about a haunted doll targeted to if not pre-teen and teen girls.

But YANBU - if you don't want her to watch it, don't let her.

Fairylea · 07/03/2015 23:17

I'm not sure why people don't believe some parents let them watch things like this..they honestly do. I think some of it is they don't care and some of them don't actually know how bad they are, especially with computer games. One of dds friends mums was adamant grand theft was fine as it was just a game until I told her it has simulated sex scenes in it including graphic oral sex. People just don't realise how awful they are now.

Original poster

MrsTawdry · 07/03/2015 23:21

Thing is, at her age I was reading James Herbert and Stephen King....by 12 or 13 we were renting the most AWFUL slasher type films too...I think it's as though I feel I'm not allowing her free expression in her interests but the idea of my little girl watching that!

She's never even watched Eastenders! We don't have much telly on here...only Nickelodean etc.

OP posts:

MummyPidge · 07/03/2015 23:23

I was made to watch Child's Play at a sleepover when I was 11, scares the arse off me now even 20 odd years later, I have watched horror films since, but some i take to heart and can't sleep over due to merely thinking about them! no way would I watch Annabelle even now and I got scared at the trailers!

ouryve · 07/03/2015 23:24

I remember when SIL borrowed a load of horror movie DVDs off DH.

She brought them back a couple of weeks later saying that her 9yo couldn't get enough of them.

So I definitely believe it!

Fairylea · 07/03/2015 23:24

I think James Herbert etc and old style horror films are quite tame in comparison to a lot of stuff out there now. I would have no issue with dd reading James Herbert or watching some of the milder horror stuff but I do think annabelle and some of the recent stuff is pretty grim.

There's a scene in annabelle where the pregnant woman gets attacked by two intruders and there's a throat slashed and lots of blood up the wall etc. I wouldn't want a younger teen watching that.

ouryve · 07/03/2015 23:26

If it's any consolation, my 11yo refuses to watch any film that isn't an animation.

He loves 24hours in A&E, though, even though we have to do a lot of explaining!

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 07/03/2015 23:26

I do believe some parents let kids watch horror films and so what if they do?. I also think a lot of 10 year olds are full of shit.

ouryve · 07/03/2015 23:27

Also well aware that Hentai is animation. Hopefully that won't fall within his accepted rules any time while I expect to have some control.

PrettyFeet · 07/03/2015 23:33

It depends on whether they have the stomach for them. A good friend of his has been watching them with her dad since the age dot and she's absolutely fine. My son's 17 and still won't watch one

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 07/03/2015 23:34

Ha! A few years ago when DS was about 3, our local arthouse cinema decided to show highlights of the London Animation Festival during its Kids Saturday matinee.

Unfortunately nobody checked the films first (bearing in mind few were certificated for mainstream release) and the kids were treated to various Eastern European existentialist black & white meditations on the pointlessness of existence along with a healthy dose of animated sex and cartoon zombies.

abigamarone · 08/03/2015 00:11

James Herbert...tame? I think you might be mis-remembering his work!

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