To let DS watch 'IT'

[Skrowten]

I really don't know what to do for the best. DS is 11. He is pretty mature. He has read a Stephen King book recently (short story collection) and has some certificate 16 video games, which I approved. He is begging and pleading to watch IT (the movie of the Stephen King book) and I am really torn. Any advice welcome!

I'm torn on this exact thing too.

My 10 year old loves films and horrors in particular. It's an absolute no to human on human violence that could actually happen (like Hostel etc), and no to stuff that is terrifyingly ghost orientated (Insidious etc). But he recently loved the Bone Collector, and Sixth Sense. I'm considering IT as it's only a clown. I know he won't be scared, and will actively enjoy watching it. I see it similar to Stranger Things which he watched the whole series in a matter of days. He also loved Aliens.

But then my mother thinks I'm going to damage his brain.

I just don't know! At his age the reference to sexual abuse will go straight over his head in IT.

My ds (12 at the time) was completely freaked out by the trailers. He's 13 now and I wouldn't let him watch it. He has watched a fair few 15 cert films but I know his imagination would run wild after watching something like IT and he'd have trouble sleeping.

It's an absolute no to human on human violence that could actually happen

Have you watched IT yourself because there is human on human harm in it? It has a similar feel to Stranger Things in some respects but not in others it's no way suitable for a 10 year old

I watched the original around your sons age and it's given me a life-long fear of clowns. Maybe I'm just not made of the stronger stuff but even that aside - there are some very adult themes which though might fly over his head still wouldn't be worth the horror at that age.

Why on earth would you let him?

I'd probably let him. But to give you some perspective I am very relaxed about film ratings. I used to watch horror films as a young kid and most didn't bother much.

I'd let him watch it, because if he gets too scared he'll just leave the room won't he? Most DC just ask to turn it off or leave if it gets too scary.

I say this as someone who is too scared to watch horror movies etc so we never watch them here. But I know if my DC have watched them at a friends they just leave the room or stop watching.

I would yeah

I didn't think it was scary,it was almost like the goonies in parts but I'm an adult.I think it totally depends on the level of maturity tbh.

I watched a lot of questionable stuff at that age and I'd say no. I can't prove anything but I have a feeling it has contributed to my anxiety as an adult. He's too young for such a graphic film.

OK to watch it, the book was more unsuitable for kids imo. They all ended up having sex with eachother aged about eleven, there was none of that in the film.

I wouldn't. But I'd rather he watched the film than read the book, the book contains a pretty graphic gang bang amongst a group of pre-teens in a sewer.

I wouldn't. But I'd rather he watched the film than read the book, the book contains a pretty graphic gang bang amongst a group of pre-teens in a sewer.

I've read alot of Stephen King books but I never actually read IT, that's the first i heard about that scene, that's disgusting :/

I agree with a couple of others on here - it's not the clown so much, there is a horrible underlying sexual abuse story in 'IT' that is not suitable for an 11 year old

I didn't realise there was a new version. I saw the old one in approximately the 1990s and at the time was grateful the kids didn't have sex with eachother in that, which was in the book.

I'll look out for the new one.

No, no and no. It's really quite scary! I'm not frightened by films generally.

Unless he's like my friend who I went to school with. She was always in absolute hysterics when she watched a horror film! Found them hilarious!

I watched the original when I was 10 it left me with a fear of clowns I watched the new version with my partner and it just reminded me why I have a fear of clowns after watching the film. Don’t let your 11 year old watch the film.

Realise I'm completely alone here but I didn't think IT was bad or scary at all. Cheesy, definitely. My 11yr old hasn't seen it as she hates 'horrors' but pretty much every kid in her class has.

I thought the abuse from her father was mostly implied in the movie, can't remember it being graphic, but maybe I'm misremembering.

@agirlhasnonameX you are not the only one. The new one is less scary than the old one imho.

I wouldn't. But I'd rather he watched the film than read the book, the book contains a pretty graphic gang bang amongst a group of pre-teens in a sewer.

It's been nearly two decades so I absolutely don't remember that was in there in such a graphic way?

I'm watching it with my 11 and 12 year olds (the old one, not the new one). I watched it at a similar age and was fine with it and so are they.

It's been nearly two decades so I absolutely don't remember that was in there in such a graphic way?

Me neither. I remember being really creeped out by this part, but I don't remember it being graphic.

The sex scene wasn't in the film version, it was in the book.

That part of the book is explicit, but sad. Beverly is resigned and the boys feel guilty.

I wish they'd put the sci fi turtle in the film, then it would be less scary!