To ask what horror films you would let your 11 to 13 year olds watch?

[SistemaAddict]

And possibly their younger siblings?

Poltergeist
Nightmare on elm street
The Omen
Anabelle

That kind of thing?

I’m a teacher. It is a big safeguarding issue.

I like scary films but won’t watch anything over a 15. I can’t stand sadistic/torture stuff.

Tell him it's a safe guarding issue.. I'd like not let them watch those films at all how ridiculous.

Arachnophobia is OK ish and Jaws 1..with some fast forwarding.

Didn't some children whom hurt a child, exposed to chucky etc.?

I feel for you. This would upset me so much. These films are amazing but not for young kids. There are so many wonderful films that are age appropriate I don’t understand why he needs to show them those?

I was just talking to my nearly 16 year old about watching some horror as he loves Stranger Things. Thought we might start with Gremlins and It. I still feel he’s too young for an 18 horror film. They can mess you up!

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

Well he needs reporting then.

He needs reported to who?

Also a teacher - I don't believe that any school would be not interested in this. It's the sort of thing we report to the Head for considering SS involvement. The only reason I could think they wouldn't be interested is if they haven't heard it from. The children and think you're making it up.

I’ve just said where upthread!!

Nope none of the ones you listed. It can mentally scar a child from watching an adult horror film. Stick to PG and up to 12 ratings

@Fluffybutter

Oh my god .. none of those ! Jeez .. Maybe Scream or I know what you did last summer ? I can’t really remember them but they’re not nightmare inducing like your list. Cabin in the woods maybe but not for an 11 year old.

I watched Scream when I was 13 and had nightmares for years. It petrified me!

I'm not into horror at all though.

I saw all of these and more as a kid (before I was 14) and read endless scary books.

I have always been a great fan of horror movies and still am.

This did nothing at all to 'traumatise' me but with insight I can see how it might not be suitable for kids (my upbringing was not a good one and it was scarier in itself than any film I could watch...).

Just stick to things like Ghostbusters, Harry Potter and stuff. More fantasy/humour stuff than real horror.

Unfortunately SS are well aware and aren't interested. They watched some of those listed at 8 and 10 which is when it was reported.

I’d complain above them then.

Yes, SS aren’t going to intervene in this, OP. I think, if you believe it’s causing harm, the way to go might be to document it and, if it’s causing anxiety, take the child to their GP. Perhaps make an application to the courts yourself.

The age guidance on films is there for a reason. Use it.

Geez no wonder he's an ex.

I love horrors i was watching them from 9 years old but 11 is pushing it even for me.

I've let dd from about 12.5 watch sone 15s depending on what they are ( I watch them first ) something like the shallows where there's one swear word at the end where she's heard worse at school. And 93 days.

Honestly there's far too much sexual innuendos and sex in the 12 films these days your almost better off watching aliens...

The age ratings these days r a bit fucked.

Wasnt jaws originally a 15 or something

Do they want to watch horror films? Would be pretty cruel if not - my kids (7 and 9) are pretty sensitive, and struggle with anything even slightly scary - I'm talking Coco and Nightmare before Christmas! I used to love the old Hammer horror films when I was a child. They are fairly tame. Poltergeist terrified me. The Omen's not quite so bad, but Nightmare on Elm Street is pretty intense for a child (although, slightly over the top - I don't remember that one having as big an impact). I haven't seen Annabelle.

Some 13 year olds would be okay with those films - but it all depends on the child. Plus, as a PP stated, if he's making out that the films are suitable, then the kids might feel pressured into watching them. I would want to be the "bad guy" and say no, although it sounds as if you don't have that option. I'm sorry OP, it sounds like a really difficult situation. I wonder if you could push for a compromise film?

Sadly, like others, my mother did this when I was a kid - she always wanted to be 'cool'. I remember hiding my face in the couch while she laughed and having terrible nightmares about Freddy Krueger coming up through our front lawn and no one believing me starting from when I was 5-6. It wasn't the scariest thing going on in my life, but having to watch adult content repeatedly really messed with my head.

I'm not sure what you can do, other than the advice already given of trying to go above those who weren't interested and giving them space to talk and decompress from it.

I’m surprised by the comments on this thread. I suspect I’ll get absolutely flamed for this but I think it completely depends on the child and their understanding of what’s real / what’s not. And of course the content of the actual film - some horrors are more sexual and violent than others. I grew up watching all sorts of stuff - I watched Nightmare on Elm street when I was about 9 (I’m 40 now) and I loved it, it’s done me no harm at all and I loved scary films - Jaws, Friday the 13th, Evil Dead, tons of stuff. I am the most balanced person I know! The only thing that’s ever traumatised me was actually Watership Down because I love animals and it really upset me!

Following on from this I am with Dh who equally loves horror films and both our dc have seen all sorts of stuff - only if both dh and I have seen it beforehand and know the content. Ds is 9 and we watch all sorts of things with him- poltergeist, the conjuring, the babysitter, Shaun of the dead (although that’s mainly daft, still lots of blood) etc. Dd is 17 and is a well adjusted, sensible teenager who is on her way to university next year.

Both have always known the films aren’t real. They’ve never been scared by anything. Dh collects horror film props and merchandise so maybe that helps.

We just tell them not to say anything to anyone at school etc as people don’t understand.

It was extremely common in the 80s and even 90s for kids to watch horrors etc. I used to go to sleepovers at about 11/12/13 and it would be a treat for all of us to sit and watch a 15 or 18.

I think we are all a bit too over cautious when it comes to this stuff. Not all kids enjoy sitting there watching Frozen or the masses of PG type stuff there is out there. Some kids really enjoy being scared when they know it’s safe - like lots of grown ups too!

My first horror films were Poltergeist and Scream. I was probably about 10 or 11. Poltergeist isn't that scary really and Scream is so bad its funny. I still have a soft spot for it even now.

None of the ones you suggested.

Their dad is arse! Love Actually with the porn scenes? Nice!

And Hot Fuzz is much more violent than Ghostbusters for the poster that mentioned those .

I kinda agree with you bagel

There are some films that absolutely are adult. But those tend to be the modern ones where there alot of sex and sexual violence.

Back in the 90s when you had the ones that were realky hyped up like scream and texas chainsaw massacre and Blair witch, you were really like " is that it"

You knew that aliens bursting out chests were fake and that the blood was fake whereas when u have the loud sex with the underwear close ups there's too much thats real whether its acted or not.

Showing children sexually explicit material is a crime

Is it? It may be a crime but it's not illegal. As I understand it the BBFC certifications only cover the sale or exhibition of certified material. It is illegal to sell an 18 cert film to a 15 year old. It is Illegal to admit a 15 year old to a cinema while it is screening an cert. 18 film.

When the same material is in the home that certificate is purely advisory. It's not illegal to watch an 18 with your child (of any age) or let them watch it alone.

You'd be sodding insane to let them watch things like Gaspar Noe's Love - which has an 18 certificate and features long sequences and uncensored shots of penetrative sex shot from angles that leave it obvious that nothing has been faked - but I don't think it would be illegal.

The law - as usual - is an ass.

I disagree. Alien terrified me for years after seeing it at 16.

The Fly scared me for ages after seeing it at 30!