Horror Movies Aren’t For Kids

In 2003, my brother, Aaron and I saw the horror movie Wrong Turn in theaters.  I was shocked at the terror and the gore that played out on the big screen.  There was a sight in the audience that shocked me even more.  A woman had brought at least five young children with her.  As the movie went on, the kids began to cry and scream.  The woman ignored their pleas and stayed until the end of the movie.  I couldn’t believe this woman brought her children into a horror movie.

Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to watch horror movies.  My parents thought Aaron and I were too young.  They were right.  Kids shouldn’t be allowed to watch horror movies.  Parents have no right to drag their children to a violent and possibly traumatizing movie.  Don’t get me wrong, I personally love horror movies.  I do not, in any way, consider them evil.  And no, if your parents let you watch horror movies, you won’t grow up to be a serial killer.  If parents do let their children watch horror movies, I do not consider that an act of child abuse.  I just think it’s stupid.

Don’t let your kids see this movie…..

Parents need to realize there are some ‘scary’ movies that kids can watch. One perfect example is The Monster Squad (1987).  This classic entry features a group of kids who face off against Dracula, The Wolf Man and other creatures.  It does have some blood, but not enough to scar the young ones.  There are also the classics, Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Wolf Man.  Even in black and white, these classics could be seen as scary.  But they’re nothing compared to some present horror entries. Parents need to use caution in which scary movies they let their kids see.

….Let them see this one instead!!

I have no kids so I have no right to claim to be the only authority when it comes to raising children.  I just don’t like seeing kids scared or upset because their parents made a bad choice by taking them to a graphic horror movie.  Parents, choose wisely.  Yes, you might want to go on a date night and take your kid or kids to that scary movie you want to see.  But think it through.  Do you really want to give your kids nightmares?  Instead, choose a more kid friendly movie.  Because if you take your kid to a scary movie, don’t complain if he or she comes knocking at your door later that night.  If your kid gets nightmares from a movie you took him or her to see, that’s on you.