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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Scream - 14 y/o DD

160 replies

ParkingPermitWoes · 23/01/2023 10:35

Would you let your DD watch Scream at friend's sleepover. She's nearly 15 (it is a 15+) but she isn't overly mature and gets scared easily! She hasn't watched any scary films before and so it's a tough one to know whether she should go and watch it or not.

She's desperate to go and I can't remember how scary it is (I was terrified in my 20s!). WWYD?

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WhoNeedsSleepNotISaidMyBody · 23/01/2023 10:56

I'd let her go. She can go into another room until it's finished if she gets scared.
it was kind of scary, but not in a gory way and at that age it was fun to be scared! Knowing you're actually safe! I find them more scary now than then!!!

she's 14, she needs to start taking responsibility for her viewing & what she's happy watching or not.

MoreTeaLessCoffee · 23/01/2023 10:56

I'm really surprised by the answers here. It has some big jumpscares but I don't think it's psychologically haunting in the way the most terrifying horror films are. It's not deep! I'd compare it to a rollercoaster - scary at the time but quite funny in hindsight. I'd be amazed if a nearly-15 year old couldn't cope with it.

whizzpopping · 23/01/2023 10:58

Scream is fine for goodness sake. It's a satire, not a horror movie.

SleeplessInEngland · 23/01/2023 10:58

If she's 14 and it's 15? Yes, assuming you know she's not easily scared.

FOJN · 23/01/2023 11:00

I watched it when it was first released, I would have been 24 and loved horror films. Most of the film is pretty average from a scare factor point of view but the first 15 minutes was one of the most frightening things I'd ever seen at the cinema. If your daughter scares easily then I'm not sure its appropriate.

SleeplessInEngland · 23/01/2023 11:00

SleeplessInEngland · 23/01/2023 10:58

If she's 14 and it's 15? Yes, assuming you know she's not easily scared.

lol, just re-read and you said she is.

Well, screw it, it's a very tame movie.

ParkingPermitWoes · 23/01/2023 11:01

whizzpopping · 23/01/2023 10:58

Scream is fine for goodness sake. It's a satire, not a horror movie.

I can't remember which is why I'm asking! All I remember was that I was very scared!

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Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 23/01/2023 11:02

The original one? Yeh at 15 I definitely would and I think I did at that age. It was the best "scary" film out there. I hated nightmare on elm Street though!

jodiekidd · 23/01/2023 11:03

Isn't the point of watching them to get scared? 😂

I would. We watched the first few screams when we was teenagers in the 90s and it didn't do us any harm.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 23/01/2023 11:03

whizzpopping · 23/01/2023 10:58

Scream is fine for goodness sake. It's a satire, not a horror movie.

No, scream is a horror albeit a tame one
"Scary movie" is the satire version of Scream

Shouldbesleeping1 · 23/01/2023 11:03

Yes

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 23/01/2023 11:04

Ring, ring "omega, beta, zeta" omg I love it!

FrenchandSaunders · 23/01/2023 11:04

I couldn't watch it now and I'm mid 50s Grin. Hate stuff like that. Saw a poster for that new film 'Megan' the other day and that freaked me out, her eyes were following me!

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 23/01/2023 11:04

Getting scared watching scary films at sleepovers is one of the best things about being a teenager!

Tekkentime · 23/01/2023 11:07

No I wouldn't.

OnceUponAThread · 23/01/2023 11:07

I think Scream is pretty jump-y rather than terrifying. Also she'll be in a giggling group which makes things less scary. And being a bit scared is part of the point / fun.

I think the other important thing to consider is, she's asked you, she's been honest about the film, and she's said she's desperate to go. I think at her age if you ban her, in future she'll just lie to you about what they're planning to do / watch at sleepovers so she doesn't miss out.

Far better to have a chat about coping strategies if she does get scared, warn her about the content and then trust her. That way she'll keep communication open.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 23/01/2023 11:08

I see there is a new one out this year.

Which version are you talking about? The very first one with Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell and David arquette? Then yes I'd 100% allow that.
New ones I don't know as haven't seen them but I think newer horror is more scary than it was in the 90s.

FuckabethFuckor · 23/01/2023 11:08

Hot Fuzz is gorier than Scream, in my view. (Scream has nothing like the church steeple scene especially.)

Scream is tenser and scarier than Hot Fuzz.

My major observation would be that she wouldn't 'get' Scream. Scream lands best when you know the horror movie tropes it satirises. If she hasn't seen any of the 80s and 90s slasher films it'll just feel like a by-the-numbers, if competently made, slasher flick.

Youtoldmeonce · 23/01/2023 11:09

Can you not watch it at home with her first so she knows what to expect? Or will that ruin the excitement of watching at the sleep over.

Iwasntgettingasandwich · 23/01/2023 11:09

It's a jumpy slasher, as PPs have said much better than the 'torture porn' that came later and isn't scary in the way that some horrors are.

Watch it with her before she goes? If there's any bits she really doesn't like she will know to look away at the sleepover and if she is scared she will be in her own home and will be able to make a decision about the sleepover.

FuckabethFuckor · 23/01/2023 11:09

Oh yeah that's a good point Hungry

The new Scream (which is technically Scream 5 even though it's just titled Scream) is a continuation and has quite a lot of callbacks to earlier movies. It won't make a lot of sense if she hasn't seen the original movies.

ParkingPermitWoes · 23/01/2023 11:13

OnceUponAThread · 23/01/2023 11:07

I think Scream is pretty jump-y rather than terrifying. Also she'll be in a giggling group which makes things less scary. And being a bit scared is part of the point / fun.

I think the other important thing to consider is, she's asked you, she's been honest about the film, and she's said she's desperate to go. I think at her age if you ban her, in future she'll just lie to you about what they're planning to do / watch at sleepovers so she doesn't miss out.

Far better to have a chat about coping strategies if she does get scared, warn her about the content and then trust her. That way she'll keep communication open.

I like this - thank you.

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Flameshame · 23/01/2023 11:15

@BessMarvin you’re traumatised by having watched Scream 30 years ago?

ParkingPermitWoes · 23/01/2023 11:16

Youtoldmeonce · 23/01/2023 11:09

Can you not watch it at home with her first so she knows what to expect? Or will that ruin the excitement of watching at the sleep over.

Sadly no, we don't have time to watch it beforehand. Good idea though but not sure I can face it! Ha.

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Thoughtful2355 · 23/01/2023 11:17

I would tell her to go but that if she gets too scared and wants it to stop, take a break.. go to the toilet and act as if the film is boring :D if she's too shy to say she doesn't like it/is too scared.