To urge parents not to take their underage children to see the FNAF movie?

[Ahsoka2001]

Today it was announced that the new "Five Nights at Freddy's Movie" has been classified 15 by the BBFC for "strong threat, violence" - https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/five-nights-at-freddys-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdeznzy4

I know there's a large fanbase for the FNAF franchise aged 10-14. I'm sorry that they won't be able to see the highly-anticipated movie version on the big screen. But at the same time - as someone who works in a cinema - reading this news has me dreading the release of this film.

A 15 certificate means that NOBODY who has not reached their 15th birthday is allowed into the auditorium. This is enforced by UK law and applies even if the parent accompanies their child. No one underage being in the screen is a condition of the cinema operating. It's just like alcohol - sell alcohol to anyone underage, the venue loses its license and won't be able to remain in operation.

So, if I turn away your under-15 from the FNAF film, I am just following the law. Underage patrons being let into the screen could mean not only legal action against the cinema, but legal action against me - I could also potentially lose my job.

Many people think, "It's not like it's alcohol, it's just a film." No. It's treated almost just as badly as alcohol and other age restricted products. Please be kind to cinema workers who have no choice but to turn away underage customers. It's a shame I have to say this but please don't become aggressive or verbally abusive (it's happened to my colleagues before). I'm sure this isn't the vast majority of people but it's one of the prime sources of customer aggression in the exhibition sector.

Oh - and if your child genuinely is 15 or over, please make sure they bring valid photo ID :) If you don't want them taking valuable documents like passports out then a clear photo of these should suffice. The last thing we want to do is turn away people who ARE within the law but if we do have to...we have no choice and it's absolutely nothing personal.

That was missing the point. I’m not a massive fan of censorship but recognise the need for age ratings. I’m old enough to remember pre cert films, and because ratings were so new there was absolutely no policing of what I watched as a child in the 80s.

Now I’m older, and watching these again I’m horrified that I was allowed to - there’s no way I’d let my kids watch the same things at the same age. In fact we’ve had the discussion that so much of our collection is unsuitable for kids that we are considering keeping the door locked to keep the kids away (massive film nerds buffs with a huge collection).

I can’t imagine a situation where I’d let a 10 year old watch something violent, frightening and gory and I don’t see it being any different if the medium is a game instead.

The effect it's had on you is it's made you into the kind of person who would show adult content to a child. It's abuse.

You've got no idea how your child will react to horror films and there's no way of knowing until it's too late. They might be fine with blood and then a particular ghost terrifies them. How will you feel if your child is lying awake crying and terrified? Will being a cool mum make it worth it? They have their whole lives to enjoy everything cinema has to offer, they will suffer no ill effects from waiting 15 years or so.

I’m fairly scared just reading this brief overview. Who the hell is letting their kids watch this?!

I am sorry this happened to you. Setting boundaries and letting your child only be exposed ro age-appropriate stuff is a sign of love. I hope you feel differently when your child arrives rather than continuing this cycle.

@breadandbutterpudplease the damage it has done to you is that
you’re happy to expose your young child to violent themes of murder and paeodophilia. Hope that helps.

Never heard of this (and neither had my 11 year old) I was all set to say meh, I watched some 15s at that age. Then I google this franchise. Fuck me! Why are people letting kids play this game???

you don’t let them play the game do you?!

Have you seen the trailers? They are awful and very clearly not for anyone under 15. As a teacher I am sick and tired of mopping up poor parenting for allowing children to watch things that they should not. It’s damaging. It’s also damaging for the children who have sensible parents, but still have to listen to a child tell them all about inappropriate things at lunch and break. It takes hours of my life.

Ive met loads of even younger children, 5/6 years old ( at work) that are allowed and have interest in this and other similar games: Poppy playtime being another. They watch things related to on you tube unfiltered. Then the parents buy them the toys that are obviously manufactured for kids. Parents are fully aware while they tell me all about the characters and game in depth and so on.

Even though it’s not aimed anywhere near their age group. It’s not a cutesy film with a few scares. It’s a full on horror film that’s why the 15. But many will be allowed to watch it when it’s on streaming I’m sure.

I think you’ve answered your own question there. You can’t see the significance because violence/aggression/inappropriate material is the norm to you, which it shouldn’t be.

Wonder if my local odeon will put up signs for this to remind people it’s 15 certificate and they will be checking id’s ?
They did that for the most recent Batman film and asked my then 18 year old for Id even though the ticket shows her picture and age as she has a limitless card ! She didnt have any so was refused entry.

They don’t usually ask anyone for Id for films or put signs up. Which was what the large refund queue where telling staff.

Cinemas need to be consistent with checking ids and not just doing it for films they think younger people might want to watch.

Well top parenting advice is don’t dismiss your child as ‘timid’ if they have normal fears for their age, and wish they weren’t like that, because that would be very poor parenting. You need to appreciate your child for who they are, not expect them to be your mini me.

It’s great it was fine for you, but age ratings exist for a reason. The films aren’t suitable for most kids. There is a big wide world out there and lots that kids can experience - horror movies can wait till they’re old enough.

You are going to be a parent, not a cool
older sister.

I'm glad its a 15. My 9 year old dd has become a fan of this and anything to disincourage her. I really don't like it or the guy that's behind it either.

I’ve never heard of this. Also amazed people would let young kids pay it based on the description.

It really pisses me off when kids who’ve been allowed to watch inappropriate stuff mouth off about it on the school bus.

YY to poster who gave the advice about not referring to children who do not like/are scared of horrible things as timid.

So was I, watching South Park as a child, played GTA (I mean the first one is pretty mild compared to the PlayStation versions), up watching Alien at stupid o’clock at night.

It was irresponsible, lazy parenting. I vet what my children watch or play. They don’t need to be exposed to media aimed at older people just so I seem like a ‘chill’ parent to them. My 8 year old wants to play Among Us, hard no at the moment. The themes are not appropriate for a child his age and he’s not old enough nor mature enough to play anything online.

Its not about having a ‘timid’ child, it’s about understanding child development and how exposing them to inappropriate themes from a young age can cause long term damage.

Teacher here. Just wanted to highlight that during safeguarding training, allowing a child to watch films/play games with older children or adult ratings has come under abuse/neglect.

Saw the trailer for this the other day whilst waiting for my planned movie to start. It's definitely not for children.

I'm really glad cinemas police this stuff well. My parents were strict about what I watch and I'm glad about it. I watched the Shining when I was about 17 and was quite disturbed by it. God knows how it would have affected me at a younger age. People need to look after their children and not expose them to terrifying stuff. Plenty of time for that!

My DH watched lots of inappropriate things as a kid. He didn’t see much of a problem with it until we had our own. Now he won’t let them near anything inappropriate- they just don’t need that stuff normalised while their brains are still developing.

But the legislation around film and game ratings isn’t solely about you, is it? If the other areas of your life were stable when you watched adult rated films, and if you were fortunate to be in good mental health, then no, you probably wouldn’t be affected. But If children who are vulnerable, either because of their mental state or because they have been exposed to risks or instabilities elsewhere, then they will potentially be affected by the themes in FNAF. There is a weight of evidence to suggest that these combined factors have a powerful effect. I’d also urge you to remember that there are far more children suffering abuse and trauma than most people realise.

I think what’s worse about the dismissive attitude to the themes in these films is the message that they send that subjects such as child abduction and paedophilia are great entertainment.

It's messed up that people let their kids play games liked this. What is wrong with people.

@breadandbutterpudplease I was also able to watch/ play/ read anything I wanted as a child and it had no negative impact on me, that I'm aware of (I emphasis that I'm aware of - I don't know how/ whether my mental health and subconscious brain development would have been any different otherwise, so how can I know?)

However, you are absolutely naive and wrong to think that this is the case for all children.

I know an 8 year old whose irresponsible dad allows (and encourages) him to watch anything. He's actually pretty deeply traumatised by some of it, has nightmares and talks about things that scare him a lot. Social services are involved.

I don't know if you are just being provocative but you should really do some research on this if you are about to have a child.

There are many studies which show the negative impact of inappropriate media on children's developing brains. Age certificates are there for a reason, obviously some children mature at different rates and can cope with a 15 certificate before others, but saying that inappropriate media never impacts children is just stupid.

@Gerrataere love your response

My ex introduced DS to it when it came out...can't remember how old that would have made him but he's only 14 now. We were in court at the time and I raised it as a safeguarding but I was told that it's up to the parents how to parent and he's legally entitled to parent how he likes. DS has always suffered with nightmares...