To let 10 YO DS watch a horror film?

[ProfessorMoody]

DS10 has decided he doesn't want to trick or treat this year and wants to stay in and watch a "horror film".

He's seen most of the children's ones like Miss Peregrine, Hotel Transylvanias, The Witches etc.

He'd like to watch something a little more "grown up" but I can't seem to think of any that are suitable, or a 12A.

DH thinks Woman in Black is a good place to start but I was horrified that it's a 12 as I found it really scary and definitely unsuitable for a 10 year old!

What's your favourite mild horror?

Poltergeist isn't scary. I loved it from age 8.

It's jumpy more than anything. The same with Terminator. It's a bit violent but for a 10 year old it's fine. I'm sure I was around that age when I watched it. Or perhaps Scream? It's so bad it's funny and I have a bit of a soft spot for it. I think it was my first slasher film.

You’re right miladymilord. Absolutely ridiculous

I saw poltergeist when it came out. My dcs would have been scared when the bloke pulls his face off in the mirror, when the clown grabs the kid from under the bed, when the huge ghost hound appears, when the child disappears and the mum and sister are very distressed.

They would have been really upset by it.

But maybe the OPs child is one of these who loves a slasher movie or a proper grown up horror film

The Shining, effing hell, that has some nasty stuff in it and just the thought that your dad would pursue you like a homicidal maniac . Really there’s so much great stuff out there for kids now - Why on God’s earth show it to a ten year old?

I had been thinking about letting my almost 10 year old DD watch Beetlejuice. I’ll maybe watch it first in case it’s worse than I remember. I did watch Drop Dead Fred with her. There’s a fair bit of swearing in it but nothing that worried me and the humour is exactly at a 10 year old’s level.
A lot of these older films pre-dated the introduction of the 12 certificate so I guess they knew if they weren’t getting a PG they might as well add more mature stuff. Probably if they were making them now, they’d tone it down a little and make it a 12.
I wouldn’t consider letting my DD watch something like the Others, BWP, Poltergeist although it’s possible I’m just projecting as I loved watching horrors as a kid (and my parents weren’t generally lax, but totally were on this) and I get creeped out more easily now.
The scary movie we’d watch as kids with younger cousins was The Watcher in the Woods. Not watched it in close to 30 years and Wikipedia reckons it was not critically acclaimed but we loved it!

Clown warning hell no

Ghostbusters 1, 2 and remake
Coraline
Gremlins
Original Nightmare on Elm Street
Spirited Away
Howls Moving Castle
Nightmare Before Christmas
The Village
Paranorman
Maybe The Craft or The Covenant, Craft is obviously the superior film.
DP says 9, the animated one from 2009. I think it's bloody upsetting, but also amazing, so maybe watch it yourself in advance.
Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Mirrormask.
Maybe Constantine.
The Mummy (1999) and the Mummy 2
Maybe watch some of Buffy?
The most recent Godzilla film was a pretty good monster film.
Pacific Rim
Basically take all of these with the note that it might need turning off. Now, I'm off to sleep with the light on!

But maybe the OPs child is one of these who loves a slasher movie or a proper grown up horror film

He's never seen either.

I cannot believe someone let their ten year old watch The Shining!

Ghistbusters is a good one, although mine still found some parts really scary (original not remake which I haven't seen)

I’ve been watching scary movies since I was nine. I couldn’t cope at first but gradually got accustomed to it. I’ve always loved being able to watch scary ghost films on Halloween night before bedtime. We started off telling creepy bedtime stories a few years before I was allowed to watch films however that helped the desensitisation process.
Ghostbusters was good. Also seen Cabin in the Woods.

I’d second what others say about the potential impact. I can still remember a scene from Freddie Kruger watched at a sleepover around 13 and which haunted me for tens of years. I can also remember being freaked out by the levitation scene from ghostbusters. You can’t unwatch this stuff. Sometimes being a good parent is about making unpopular decisions and just saying no.

I’d also second adhering to the ratings advice. They are decided by people who probably know more than we do. Certainly more than me at least.

What about Blade? Vampire movie but more action packed and suitable for a young lad I think!

I guess it depends, my DSS (11) recently went to the cinema with a few friends and their dad and watched the house with a clock in its walls. Totally freaked him out and he still has really bad nightmares about it, yet his friends have watched IT and all the saw films

I have my old dusted off selection of point horrors from I was a pre-teen. I have about 60!
I have never wanted to let them go cos I still love them but was recently considering letting them go to a charity shop.

I don't have the room for them and would love to introduce them to a new generation. If anyone would like some pm me and I can get them sent to you.

Not read the whole tread yet but would really recommend 'Victor Frankenstein' (2015), the one with James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe.
DS (9, not v scaredy) and I both love it.

Beetlejuice, The Monster Squad, Ghoulies, Critters

I remember "Munchies" (one of the Critters/ Ghoulies spin offs) being pretty tame. Am surprised at the people advocating the original Nightmare on Elm Street though - that film is still pretty scary. And the themes in it are too intense for a 10 year old. I loved the Monster Squad as a kid - keep trying to find it again. I also loved the original Hammer Horror films.

The Shining still gives me the jeebies and I've seen it loads of times - no way would I let a 10 year old watch it. Blair Witch, however, is utterly dull and not the slightest bit scary. I would let any age watch that as the only danger would be of them falling asleep

Coraline is a fabulous film for Halloween and is just the right side of creepy.

Coco is also really good, and very touching - it made me cry but in a good way - I love that film.

Yeah, blade would be awesome for a 10 year old.

Here's a clip:

I recommend Commonsense Media for 90% of the posters here. Here's what it says about Blade

"Parents need to know that this movie is filled with violence -- in fact, violence seems to be its reason for existence. Blood falls from the ceiling onto dancing vampires. Blade graphically kills many vampires, and they in turn graphically kill many humans. There's swearing and partial nudity, as well as scenes that combine sexual lust with vampire blood lust"

I think if you don't "get" Blair Witch it's probably not that scary.

The ending made me cack my pants, plus the teeth. Fucking terrifying.

I generally ignore ratings and rely on my own judgement but even I wouldn't let my 10 yo watch Blade!

Blade and The Shining?? For fuck’s sake.

I can’t bear the ‘I’m a cool mum, I let my young kids watch violent horror films and play COD and GTA’ attitude. You’re not cool, you’re setting your kids up to be traumatised.