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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?

OP posts:
SlippinKimmy · 23/01/2023 15:14

The original Scream was and is an 18: www.bbfc.co.uk/release/scream-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtnjczotk1

I saw it in the cinema when it came out (at age 18!), having seen a few horrors before (Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween and so on). I did enjoy it, but was quite disturbed by the beginning scene where Drew Barrymore gets her throat cut and then tries to scream for her parents to help her, but it comes out all raspy as her voice box is cut. That scenario still pops up in occasional nightmares nearly 30 years on! Obviously it's not a major trauma, but perhaps if your DD is of a sensitive disposition you should rethink it.

Greatly · 23/01/2023 15:15

Also the sudden image of the guy with his guts hanging out !

DonnaBanana · 23/01/2023 15:16

Only if you make her watch Scary Movie first. Then she might have better context for how these sorts of films are just for entertainment and are all a bit silly.

Greatly · 23/01/2023 15:16

I think all the screams are 18? They are slashers, albeit not as nasty as some.

shash1982 · 23/01/2023 15:18

Yes!
I watched it at about that age, its part of the fun as a teenager. Watching a film that's abit too old and getting scared with your friends.

UselessExLondoner · 23/01/2023 15:19

Flameshame · 23/01/2023 10:39

Yes, come on everyone. Best part of being a teenager was watching horror movies and getting shit scared with your friends. Plus Scream is ‘fun’ horror, it’s not like torture porn.

This!

Ottil · 23/01/2023 15:20

'Being 15' isn't the only factor. It's personality, sensitivity and all kinds of other things.

You've said that she is likely to find it scary. I've had this situation with my DC, wanting to go a halloween movie party but actually really not liking scary films.

They wanted to be involved, but they didn't want to watch 'horror.' They asked if the group could watch a spooky film that wasn't 'horror' and it turned out that more than half the group felt the same way, so they didn't.

Not all 15 year olds are desperate to watch scary/off limits shit.

defi · 23/01/2023 15:23

I watched horrors at that age. Depends on the child. Could you try milder horror? Return to oz, watership down, Wednesday, buffy the vampire slayer, the witches ect see how she gets on

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 23/01/2023 15:26

Hard to say as different horror affects people differently. I watched all sorts from 11 onwards yet the one that stayed with me was Amatyville Horror. No idea why but still bothers me now.

I agree that Scream while slasher - again, won't bother every kid - is also sending up the entire genre of horror. It's actually an excellent film in itself with a cracking soundtrack too.

If they will be on their own I'd be a bit uneasy only because, as a pp pointed out, the beginning may be a little too close for comfort especially when they're wide awake and can't slept at 2am Confused

As an aside my DD who is very nearly 15 went with me to watch Megan last night (I know, bad mum for taking her to a 15, don't worry the universe paid me back). I though it was hilariously dreadful and she though it was quite good but wasn't scared at all.

Now the trailer before hand for a new evil dead reboot? Different story which lead to her begging to sleep with me last night as she couldn't stop thinking of the demon mum ("Mommy's with the maggots now!") Confused

I think that's karma ...

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 23/01/2023 15:26

ParkingPermitWoes · 23/01/2023 10:49

Well she's watched some gore and scary films but with us and nothing on Scream level. If she's watched Hot Fuzz can she handle this?!

Actually it's definitely got similarities to Hot Fuzz

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 23/01/2023 15:27

The Ring, on the other hand ... Confused

GorgeousLadyofWrestling · 23/01/2023 15:42

It’s not just about the age rating though, or what everyone else watched at whatever age. It’s about what specific people find specifically scary.

I can watch any horror except home invasion type stalk and slash stuff. It’s terrifies me because I feel like it could happen, and does. I’m extremely sensitive to things like that but it’s taken me 20 odd years to work that out and not subject myself to it.

Do your daughter a favour and just talk it through first. She may be absolutely fine with this kind of stuff and find other things terrifying - like supernatural stuff, for example. She may find the idea of it horrifying. The first scene with Drew Barrymore IS scary but it’s such an adrenaline rush. Do I still think about it 20 odd years later - yep! Does it still scare me? Yes!

zingally · 23/01/2023 16:24

I was about that age when I first watched it as well! Also at a sleepover.

I didn't enjoy it (still don't watch horror films), but it certainly didn't traumatize me.

Mammyloveswine · 23/01/2023 16:26

I watched it around 11/12 but I was allowed to watch all sorts of scary films at a young age Grin

I now listen to murder podcasts to relax so not sure what that says about me!

Coasterfan · 23/01/2023 16:29

My two watched this when they were 12 and 14 I think it’s silly and gory rather than scary. Neither were disturbed by it.

Ottil · 23/01/2023 16:46

It’s not just about the age rating though, or what everyone else watched at whatever age. It’s about what specific people find specifically scary

Agree. I hated being pressured into watching scary films because teenagers are supposed to love that kind of thing.

Are you sure that all the other kids/parents are happy about it, OP?

Wombatbum · 23/01/2023 16:48

My daughter watched it at 15…. And scream 2 and 3…. So bad they are funny!

ohlordnotagain · 23/01/2023 16:50

I 'watched' this at a sleepover as a teen. I sat behind the sofa for the entire film. Horrendous. I'm a huge wuss though.

ParkingPermitWoes · 23/01/2023 20:08

Thanks everyone!

We have had chats about the film and scary bits and what happens. We have also talkies about coping strategies if she gets too scared! She's good friend with the two girls she's watching it with and they've seen it before and said they'll tell her the scary bit too. In her words she won't be embarrassed if she ends up in the next room watching cat videos!

So she's going this evening. Will let you know how she gets on (we are in Aus and so still school hols here!).

OP posts:
ParkingPermitWoes · 23/01/2023 20:09

Ottil · 23/01/2023 16:46

It’s not just about the age rating though, or what everyone else watched at whatever age. It’s about what specific people find specifically scary

Agree. I hated being pressured into watching scary films because teenagers are supposed to love that kind of thing.

Are you sure that all the other kids/parents are happy about it, OP?

Yes the other parents are fine with it. The girls are a few months older and have seen it before!

OP posts:
PurpleFlower1983 · 23/01/2023 20:23

Yes I would! Best memori

PurpleFlower1983 · 23/01/2023 20:24

Posted too soon!

Some of my best memories of teen years were sleepovers with friends watching horror films we were to young for!

Sussexlass84 · 23/01/2023 20:25

This is a tough one...could a compromise be that you watch it together before the sleepover? That way she'll know what's coming and it won't be as scary at the actual sleepover?

CarolDunne · 23/01/2023 20:27

Screen isn't a horror, it's parody, dark humour

I would have no problem with a 15 year watching it

Crunchymum · 23/01/2023 20:31

Underage horror films were one of the more tame things I did underage 😜