Psycho film being shown to 14 year old in English class

[Emydan83]

I’d like some opinion or advice for this situation I find myself, my partner and my 14 year old daughter in. In a council school in Scotland my daughter, who is 14 and in 3rd year , the English class were shown the film “Psycho” from the 70’s, then asked to write a critical essay from the view point of either the murderer or the victim. No parental consent was asked before they began this topic , now roughly 2 weeks later we have contacted school to make a complaint after realising the full scope of this topic. Not only is this film rated a 15 in the uk, no authority seems to have been given from any senior member of the school or any parents contacted. I truly believe a 14 year old child should not be subjected to this emotional torment to imagine themselves either committing murder or being murdered in the name of learning English.
I would be grateful for any feedback, thank you.

Maybe it was a way of getting the class engaged. After all no one complains when the essay question is 'Explain Macbeth's motives in killing Duncan'. In these social media days it sounds like an effective way to get the attention of the class.

Are the children 13/14 or 14/15? Either way I do think that parents should have been advised first for a 15 film

My son did this in high school too. He was in 3rd year. He was absolutely fine and I don't think he mentioned it after he finished the essay.

Psycho from the 70s? 1960, you mean.
I watched it at 10! I’m 51 now!
My mum, who’s second degree from UCLA was in music (specifically film scores) gave me a Director’s Commentary throughout, especially the cinematography behind the slasher/shower scene. 😆
Psycho is a masterclass in film making.
It is one of the most beautiful films ever made, in my view. And honestly, it’s mild by comparison to what 14 year olds are exposed to today.
Psycho is high art.
Next stop: The Birds!

Fun fact: Janet Leigh is the mother of Jamie Lee Curtis who plays Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.

I used to love horror films at that age, and I’m still a big horror fan, but I digress, I don’t think they should have been allowed to watch it without either the choice, or parental approval. I watched psycho at that age as the new version had just come out and I managed to get into the cinema underage, it wasn’t that gory, it was more the suspense and the build up.

Also, if she's being asked to do a critical essay, it's part of her course work.

I am 50 and watched it about that age as well. We were required to do an analysis of the film making as I recall.

I hate horror films- but it's pretty tame.

Has it distressed her?

AS a child (and adult) very sensitive to tv violence, I sympathise

If it is upsetting her, and if she is too young to watch it ( films are rated for a reason) then complain to the school and say you want her withdrawn from that topic

It is inappropriate, and some children will get upset by it, and many might not want to say.

I am still angry that I was shown a film rated 18 when I was 15 as part of our English coursework at school I am 60 now and still never watch films rated 18, and several scenes in that film upset me then, and would still upset me today

At first I thought you meant American Psycho and I was horrified, then I realised you meant Hitchcock's Psycho which is tame in comparison. However it's still got an age rating older than your daughter so I don't think it's appropriate. I also think it's unfair to put children in a situation where they have to watch a film they might find scary, even if most kids are ok with it some people just hate horror and suspense.

Is your DD showing any signs of being emotionally tormented or did she just crack on and write her essay?

Emotional torment 🤣

I remember doing an essay on this for Media Studies, the entire point of which was the viewer doesn't actually see any violence, they only think they do due to the quick edits, the music, and the shots of blood.

It's surely very mild compared to what teenagers watch now.

Just watched this with my 15 yo DD last night. She was really impressed with it.

It sounds like an interesting essay idea to me!

Current 3rd year in a Scottish secondary are children who will turn 15 between 1 March 2023 and 28 February 2024. There will be no 13 year olds in the class at this point in the year.

Agree that the movie implies the violence and murder scene, it's not gory and not "violent". DS is the same age and they did Jaws and looked at all the same aspects of the movie - the music, editing, character development.

Totally detailing here but for those interested, Psycho is loosely based on a real American murderer called Ed Gein, should you fancy a trip down a rabbit hole. Very disturbing story though.

In English? Have they run out of books to study?

The film is tame by today's standards, but that's not really the point. It is a masterpiece and therefore does its job - to unsettle - effectively. I can see how some might still find it disturbing. But the point is also this is meant to be English, not media studies or film studies.

The English curriculum in Scotland also includes the study of ONE film at National 5 level. Along with poetry, novels and plays. DS has also "done" The Merchant of Venice this term along with Jaws, and is currently looking at 20th century poetry.

It's so mild by any comparison to anything that is on after 9 pm in normal TV. Have you watched it lately. ?

Why do you think schools should inform you of every resource they're likely to use ?

It's perfectly acceptable.

*Fun fact. Even if it was an 18 rated schools are allowed to use them for educational purposes. Schools have an exception

Also, at the same age DD's class studied "The Shawshank Redemption" which is also a 15.

It’s over 60 years old and a classic. Have you actually seen it ?

My 15y old in y4 so 14/15s was also shown this at school recently. Must be on the syllabuses now. He was fine with it and compared to a lot of the stuff on Netflix etc I think it's fine.

I’m guessing since OP thinks it’s a film from the 1970s, she isn’t familiar with it.

In a world of attention span hijacking media (hello TikTok and YT shorts! 👋), be glad your child can sit through and then write an analysis of a full length film… that’s NOT Marvel!

As a sometimes Media teacher I only showed and analysed that film with Year 11 and 12.Not sure I would show it to a younger group.Hitchcock is not gory but my Dad showing Vertigo from an old projector on the kitchen wall may have had an influence on my very young self.The psychological scary stuff can be quite deep even if it now seems very tame as a film.

I think it's a terrifying film. I watched it at 13/14 and was haunted by it to the point where I have never watched it again. I don't think they should have watched it without parental consent.

Good Lord. Have you any idea what kids watch these days? Has your child seen Stranger Things? It's terrifying! This is a non issue.