Scream - 14 y/o DD

[ParkingPermitWoes]

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?

I think for the 90s it might have been the scariest thing for it's time. But horror movies have really moved on in the last 30 years, while it's still a good film, it doesn't pack the same punch anymore

Yes I'd be fine with this. It's a semi-comic parody. Was going to post the CommonSense review but see it's already been posted.

Obviously you know your own child though.

And scream is a satire of slasher horrors of the time. It’s a well-documented fact.

Yeah I'd let her, then show her the scary movie version! My 14 year old self found it hilarious !
Its all part of growing up, watching scary films with your mates then absolutely shitting yourself when you walk home 😆

I would if she’s not easily scared. I was watching horror movies when I was 7/8 but I was never scared.

Well it does depend on her maturity really. I think scream is probably absolutely fine for 1 14 year old, but then I was regularly far nastier horror films at a much younger age and became quite desensitised to them (I'm not suggesting that children should be allowed to watch horror films and I am actually a lot stricter with my own children now) and so scream wasn't scary to me at all. I can possibly see it being scary for someone who hasn't seen horror films before and is maybe isn't quite as mature (or has actually been allowed to be a child).

I watched Scream at my sisters 13th birthday sleepover party in the very early 00s. I was 7 when I watched it. But I love all kinds of horror movies so I liked it.
In my opinion I think that kids maturity levels have changed these days so if you think your 15 year old isn't ready then I wouldn't send her.

Surely she has time to watch some clips on Youtube? There will likely be bloopers and behind-the-scenes footage someone's uploaded on there which immediately takes away the horror element (not that Scream is even scary anyway)

I watched it in Amsterdam when it first came out and was bored silly by it.. Not remotely scary.
''Halloween'', the original , if far superior!
That one really is good.

Agree, Scream isn't remotely scary.
Halloween {First and original} has far superior acting in it, too, and much more frightening {To me anyway}

At 14 yes I'd let her. Scream is not particularly scary by modern standards and doesn't have anything really inappropriate in it. I'd talk to her about the content beforehand and if she still wants to go then fine.

I'd say scrap Scream and see Halloween {1970's } instead.
Jamie Lee Curtis is really good in it. 97% on Rotten Tomatoes!

And scream is a satire of slasher horrors of the time. It’s a well-documented fact.

Yes, our Media studies A Level class covered this when the film was fairly recent! It's post-modern - acknowledges all the tropes and cliches of 70s and 80s slasher films and plays on them. Scary Movie is a parody.

The film is fine for most 14 year olds IMO. Most kids had watched Nightmare on Elm St, Halloween, Friday 13th, Candy Man etc. by that age when I was school age. They were a natural graduation from all those Point Horror books we read as tweens. 😂

I don't remember it being particularly terrifying but I'm also wondering when people are saying about it being more comedy horror they are confusing it with Scary Movie, which is basically a spoof version?

I used to write about horror films for an actual living and I'd respect the fact that my dd didn't like horror films. Scream the original IS scary - it's a home invasion/stalking women premise with some violent scenes and jump scares. I'd totally respect my dds decision and take it from her.

I think she will be fine, as another poster said upthread best to help her have a coping strategy if she does find it too much.

Absolutely!
All getting so scared that you all pile into the same bed ..😂

And a PP was correct - Scream (1996) was an 18.

🤷‍♀️ you know your own child.

I had watched the texas chainsaw massacre by then and I've been a keen horror fan since. Will I let my own kids do the same? Nope, I think my parents were a bit irresponsible.

When my kids are older I think the eldest will probably not be that bothered by horror whereas I can't imagine DD1 ever enjoying it. She's a very sensitive creature. Unsure about the others yet.

Scary Movie is of course a blatant parody of Scream (and other films). But Scream itself obviously satirises the horror genre by calling out and exaggerating various horror film cliches with lots of wink-winks and comedy. Yes there are jump scares and moments of tension but the point is that it's mostly a fun teen movie and not comparable to real modern horror films in my opinion.

Totally!

I remember watching an 18 horror as a bunch of 15 year olds at a sleepover and we were terrified but also I'd have been so upset to be left out!

You can say no but she would probably watch it anyway?

No

They're different types of comedy.

Scream is quite subtle; it's primarily a horror film, but it has elements of satire and witty dialogue. A lot of the chat between the group is comedic, about what 'normally happens' in stereotypical horror movies and how they shouldn't do any of those things. (Although most of them end up doing them anyway.)

Scary Movie is way broader; silly pratfalls and comedy semen jokes. It's the movie equivalent of a custard pie in the face.

I am not a horror fan but I don't find the scream movies scary at all. I watched it at about 13 and was fine. The strangers on the other hand terrified me and I was in my 20s when I saw it!