what do you all think of really violent horror films and young teens

[DragMeToHelliemental]

ds appears to be the only -not-quite-13-yr-old in school who is not allowed to watch things like SAW.
please tell me I am not alone?
I am under a lot of pressure now to allow him to watch slash-em-ups. I know he will watch them at others' houses but I don't want them in my house, ( I also have a 10-yr-old)

I have a 12 year old DS and he's not allowed to watch 18 rated films.
In fact he was so scared at Hole we had to leave the cinema!
It does seem to be true that other parents allow more access than I do and I think it's often where there is an older sibling.

We did have an "incident" recently where DS2 had sneakily had a look at his brother's copy of American Pie (not a horror but a bit adult). His brother snitched and DS2 was read the riot act, though more for the deceit than the actual offence.

I am a little bit pragmatic about these things though. I would let him watch a 15 if I thought it okay, generally if the violence is more fantasy than realistic eg Lord of the Rings type stuff.
DH usually does the honours and watches a film or tv programme first to decide whether it's suitable.

He watches a lot of 15 - I don't have a problem with something like Shaun of the dead because it is well-crafted and witty and funny.
I don't even have a problem with something even like The Omen, because it is not a gore-fest but very scary and I appreciate the fact that we all like to be scared.
(we laughed at The Hole but did clutch each other once or twice....)
But slasher films, (especially ones where nubile young girls always seem to be first target) are just something I can't encourage. I just can't seem to articulate why to satisfy hime and his friends, who think I am being precious.

Our DS is also 12 and used to constantly nag us to let him watch Saw (apparently he's the only one in his whole year who hasn't seen it....

I'm not a prude; it's the 'twisted' and sick kind of violence, which is in Saw particularly, that I would worry about having an effect on him. The odd bit of profanity doesn't bother me; there won't be one swear word he hasn't heard at school before and he's got enough brains not to come out with it himself (not around us anyway!). I'm also not bothered at all about him seeing the odd boob and bum shot, even a little bit of getting jiggy - that's all normal as far as I'm concerned - ripping someone's eyes out for fun isn't!

We explained to him why we wouldn't let him watch Saw, and I really stressed how much it could freak him out. He was ok about it, particularly as we agreed to come up with some films we could watch which would be scarey enough to be fun but not too freaky. Since then he's seen Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland, which he really enjoyed without being too freaked out. Last Halloween he wanted to stay up late and watch a film with us so we watched American Werewolf, which I know is pretty tame by today's standards, but is a really good story and scarey enough to be fun. We're now trying to think of a film for this Halloween....

BTW there is no way I would let him keep these kinds of dvds (Shaun of the Dead, etc) in his room as we also have younger children. The only way I can be sure they won't get a hold of them is if I keep them in my secret hiding place, and if he watches them with us after the younger children are in bed. He's fine with that.

this is the problem moomoo, trying to think of ones he can watch...he wants to hve some mates over at half term and we have seen The \Lost Boys, Zombieland, Shaun of the dead etc.
Anyone else got any dvd suggestiuons?

thanks Maryz, appreciated !

Sleepy Hollow 15
Blade 18, but not horrific
Pitch Black 15 scary
The 13th Warrior 15 if he likes Vikings
Don't know about modern slasher stuff

I have 2 young teen DSs and don't allow them to watch this kind of thing but I do feel like I am in a minority. DS1, now nearly 15, watched something, either Saw or Hostel, at a friend's house. I was pretty annoyed to think that another child's parents had allowed him to. (We are going back a couple of years now). Anyway DS was really really disturbed. He very unusually admitted I was right and told me he would do anything to get it out of his brain. He has never attempted to watch anything similar since.

why would any of you even consider letting your 12 / 13 year olds watch 18 cert extremely violent and graphic films? why???

have ds1 13 and ds2 11. if you really think "everyone else is allowed" you are either v gullible or your children's parents are a bunch of idiots.

Any film my DS watches is one that I've already seen and decided was appropriate for him. I've done this for both of my children and will continue to do for DS.
He also understands that some films are a 15 but closer to a 12, and other 15s are closer to an 18 and it's my decision as to what he watches.

I know my children and what they can handle or not. What other parents do has never been a consideration for me, and if mine tried that, I used to say
'But X goes to church every Sunday and Y isn't allowed to read books at the table.
B's mum won't let the cat sleep on his bed.
Are you sure you want to go down this path?'

The answer has always been no, after a little thought.

My 13 year old probably watches more Horror films than my 17 year old did at that age. I let them watch some horrors, even 18's but never sexually violent ones. I came down one night to my youngest cuddled on the sofa with her two friends about to watch Eden Lake and I stopped that. They watch stupid type horrors such as Scary Movie, House of Wax, nothing that could be true if you know what I mean. I actually took my 17 yr old to see Drag me to Hell and it was ridiculous, we laughed so much. I don't see the point in banning all horror films, they just feel like they are missing out and will watch them at friend houses anyway.

oops, posted and ran... meant to say "your children's friends parents".... sorry.

controlfreakery, I am not considering letting him watch them, thank you. I merely pointed out how much pressure we are under , wanted to check I was not the only mum who didn't let him and was asking for alternatives. Sheesh. So take your little and shove it.

I am also cvarefuul about computer games and their content.,

Yes, actually, most of his friends do watch them. And at his best friend's sleepover party last weekend they watched Drag me to Hell. But IU am not so much of a control freak that I would prevent him from going to other people's houses unless they can guarentee Disney only

They are both bloody terrifying!

I do not allow the really violent sick stuff in my house. Plenty of time to watch that when they have their own houses, but I don't want my living space invaded. Hasn't caused any grief so far, but ds has a fine line in "every other parent does", so no doubt we will get to hear about it.

Otoh I do let them watch films rated above their age, if I decide it is appropriate for them. I have slightly different views from the censor- less fussed about sex, and about the kind of language they can hear in the playground any day, but am strict about sexual violence.

I let ours watch films over the rating, according to whether I think it's excessively whatever. Some 15's are rated that way purely on a couple of references to the 'f' word.

Just looked up a number of DVD's that all my kids watched before they were 15 and some films they saw before being 12 yrs.

Moulin Rouge
Branagh's Frankstein
Dances with Wolves
Atonement
Kingdom of Heaven
House of Flying Daggers
The Motorcycle Diaries
The Untouchables
Gladiator
Troy
Tin Cup
Shaun of the Dead/hot Fuzz
The Monty Python films
The Mummy (Brendan Fraser)
Mission Impossible 2 (MI 1 is a PG, MI3 a 12)
Serenity
The Bodyguard
Cloverfield
Children of Men
Stand By Me
The History Boys

Would you believe the Tim Burton/Michael Keaton "Batman" is a 15 (though the Chris Nolan films are 12s)

There are several 18's which I have watched with under-18's which I have judged to be okay for those who are going to be watching with me. Sexual violence and callous violence and explicit sexual behaviour are the things I would be strict on. Most teens find the horror-gore films laughable, and swear-words wash over them.

so nice to meet you too molly. maybe your difficulty in explaining to your dc why slasher movies aren't appropriate for children is your charming way of relating to people

We don't mind swearing if the film is 'worth' it IYKWIM - ds1's fave film is Life of Brian (he is 10)

Agree 100 per cent on sexual violence, is a huge no no as 'entertainment' in my book.

controlfreakery, I am the OP.
sorry if you were offended. I am a little tetchy (full moon soon, innit!)
But it was a knee jerk reaction, as your original post appeared to call us idiots (I didn't see your correction at the time of posting)
There is nothing so annoying than someone who piles into a perfectly nice thread and critises the posters and the OP without seeming to have actually read the OP.