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AIBU?

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Original poster

Kids watching horror films

66 replies

LoserHead · 19/02/2009 18:54

This was a convo I just had with my DS (8)

DS - "Mum .... What's Chuckie?"
me - "as in the egg?"
DS - "No, the doll that kills people"
me - " where have you seen that??"
DS - "Everyone talks about it at school, Can we get the DVD? Aaron and Josh have it and so does Casey. They all say it's great so can I get it?"
me - "No! it's a scarey film, it's an 18"

Then DS1 (10) comes in ....

DS1 - "What's an 18?"
Me - "A scarey film"
DS1 - "Oh right. Doesn't matter though, we can still watch 18s"
me - "oh? who said?"
DS1 - "Well, everyone at school does. They're all talking about something called Final Destination, it's supposed to be the best film ever. And Corey's favourite movie is The Football Factory, and that's an 18"

Me - "Well, that's up to their parents. You two do not watch stuff like that".

At this point, they both look at each other and smile ...

DS1 - "Well, dad lets us".

Me - "What has he let you watch?"
DS1 - "Kill Bill 1 and 2"
me - "ok, so what happens in it?"
DS1 - "It's great, this woman gets burried alive, one gets an eye poked out ... "

Am I really being precious here?? I will be having words with the father but apparantly "all the kids at school watch 18s"

OP posts:
seeker · 19/02/2009 18:56

Mine don't. And neither do their friends.

LauriefairycakeeatsCupid · 19/02/2009 19:03

erm...no, you are not being precious

the films mentioned are not suitable viewing for children

In Kill Bill 1 Uma Thurman is raped while unconscious in a hospital bed

Are you still with your children's father?

Rachmumoftwo · 19/02/2009 19:04

OMG they do not!

Some do, the ones whose parents don't give a stuff, but really, most don't so stick to your guns on this one.

Most of their friends are lying and the ones who are telling the truth are being exposed to things children should not see.

francagoestohollywood · 19/02/2009 19:11

No, you are not being precious at all. As much as I loved horror movies in my early teens, but there is no way I'd show Kill Bill to an 8 or even a 10 yrs old!

laweaselmys · 19/02/2009 19:13

I would easily believe ten year olds with older siblings have seen the odd fifteen, but if that many of them have really seen 18s there is some incredibly lax parenting going on. (Unlikely) More likely they either saw a few minutes before being kicked out the room, have just been told about them or have seen bits of/read about them online.

I would also be having very strong words about Kill Bill!!

mugwumpy · 19/02/2009 19:18

No way...........thats shocking at that age, once they get into their teens then you'd have a job stopping them but at that age it' appalling that parents would allow their kids to watch such horrific stuff...

piscesmoon · 19/02/2009 19:20

YANBU I found out that my 15 yr old had bought Kill Bill off his friend and I took it away and hid it. There is no way I would let an 8yr old or 10 yr old watch it. I don't care what other parents do-I don't follow the herd.

TheMiddle · 19/02/2009 19:23

Kill Bill is awfully violent. As is Final Destination. Not seen the others but I know Chuckie has a very bad reputation.

BCNS · 19/02/2009 19:24

absolutley not!
still won't let ds1 (13) watch 18's and I alway view the 15's first too.
but.. that's in my house with my rules.
ds's go down to their dads and are allowed to watch all sorts of things and play all aged games too... not a lot I can do about it.

So I also get the 'but dad lets us'..
still doesn't wash with me.. there are age limits for a reason.

Nekabu · 19/02/2009 19:49

No way. Those films are 18 for a reason.

LittleHarrysMum · 19/02/2009 19:56

Not precious at all. My mum let me watch 'Chucky' when I was about 8ish and it still terrifies me to this day I was so freaked out!!

Will not be letting DS & DD watch anything like this!!

BouncingTurtle · 19/02/2009 19:57

Kill Bill 1 & 2 are very very violent!
I would be inclined to bury your dh alive and poke his eye out for allowing your sons to watch it!

I remember watching Nightmare on Elm Street when I was 12... I was absolutely bloody petrefied and hid behind the sofa!

You are DNBU. DH and I refused to let dss watch pirates of the carribean when he was 6 because we knew it would be too scarey.

I suspect there is quite a bit of lying going on amongst your dss' friends!

pointydog · 19/02/2009 20:01

I think a fair number of young kids do watch 18s.

I do not understand why some parents allow it. I'd be fizzing if my dh condoned it.

troutpout · 19/02/2009 20:12

Omg no ...you are definitely nbu.
Those films are in no way suitable for children

All the kids at school do not watch 18's

I sent a stinking letter into my ds's school when he was in year 1 because they put Harry potter on for the children to watch
It's a pg
I was very pfb about it ...am a bit about it now
They said it was an 'oversight' and apologised profusely.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 19/02/2009 20:23

It's astonishing how careless some parents can be, though. I used to work in a video shop (many years ago now) and every Saturday afternoon, two brothers aged about 11/12 would come in and pick out four 18, violent movies. I refused to serve them, of course, so they'd nip next door to the pub to get their dad, and he'd hire them!

Rachmumoftwo · 19/02/2009 20:24

Troutpout- schools are only allowed to show films with a 'U' certificate, even in upper KS2, so you were perfectly right to complain.
Don't know about secondary, but should be the same.

The only exceptions are with parental consent but this would only be done if a film was important to a topic or book the children were studying.

springlamb · 19/02/2009 20:32

Ah, here you are, like-minded people.

Ds (14) has a friend who I believe has been quite badly affected by being allowed to watch 18+ films such as Childs Play too early. I prefer to risk being Monster Mum than allow it. And I was fuming that the school allowed a Year 9 class (14/15) to watch The Terminator (15 cert) in school time. I accept he's on the fringe of this, but would have wanted to be asked if I felt it OK.

cici84 · 19/02/2009 20:34

i think as long as the children know right from what, and whats real and not, what does it matter what they watch,

i mean have u watched Horried Henry... thats just like the worst cartoon out there for kids

dancingonmice · 19/02/2009 20:36

When I was really young Jaws was on TV and I wanted to stay up to watch it. I was so terrified during the opening scenes that my mum sent me to bed. I protested but was secretly glad. The next day at school I pretended I'd seen it and just repeated what the others told me about it.

Don't think YABU at all.

smartiejake · 19/02/2009 20:38

I won't let my DD (nearly 13) watch 15s never mind 18s and some of the 12s I have seen I wouldn't let her watch either.

BarkingHarriet · 19/02/2009 20:46

YANBU.

Dd1 is 8 and I've had to ban Scooby Doo this week as she's woken up every night so far with nightmares about monsters

HSMM · 19/02/2009 20:46

I have to confess that my DD age 9 has a thing for Jaws films , but that is it. This is not a licence to watch films in general that are too 'old' for her. She knows that and she knows which films to look for at the video shop. She wouldn't even dream of asking to watch as 12, because she knows she is NOT 12 (apologies again for Jaws).

Is there some kind of abuse in letting a 10 year old watch an 18? And I bet not ALL their friends are doing it.

pippylongstockings · 19/02/2009 20:52

My CM sent my 4 year old home with Spiderman the other day - I was very about it - it's a 12! He is I will repeatonly just 4!

I remember being about 15 and watching Nightmare on Elm Street - It was very horrible and I hate horror movies full stop.Maybe that clouds my judgement but the films are rated for a reason - hence not even being allowed to stay up to watch Michael Jacksons - Thriller video!

cory · 19/02/2009 21:29

Mine don't. Have occasionally allowed a 10/11yo to watch a 12 film, but then only if I have watched it through myself first to see if it has nothing unsuitable in it. Otoh I do not allow all PG films, just because the censor thinks they're all right. On the whole, I am quite fussy about violence, unless it is obvious fantasy. Even more so about anything that seems to encourage meanness (and that includes several popular television programmes as well). Sex references worry me less, unless they are either very explicit or link sex with violence or exploitation.

seeker · 19/02/2009 21:34

I don't mind sex or swearing, but I do mind violence and people being horrible to each other as if it's normal. I don't understand why so many children are allowed to watch Eastenders, for example...