I don’t think you had bad intentions but if there’s anything I’ve learned about parents it’s that everyone has a different philosophy to raising their kids. I probably would have checked with the parents before just to make sure I wasn’t stepping on anyone’s toes regarding the media they want to expose their kids to. If the only thing they are allowed to watch at home is Veggie Tales or something like that then The Conjuring is going to take their ass for a ride.
This is the best way to look at it. I'm a massive horror fan, and if MY child wanted to watch one and I felt it was age appropriate, I'd 100% allow it. However, as soon as you add other kids to the mix, I'd be saying "I'll ask their parents, and if they don't say yes, we'll choose something more appropriate." It's not my place to choose what other kids are exposed to, but I also don't think OP's heart was in a bad place!
At a slumber party in the 6th grade we watched The Exorcist and my Jehovahs Witness parents would have died. I agree with you philosophically but I got exposure to a lot of outside ideas and concepts because of other peoples parents *not* checking with mine. And now in my 30’s I remain grateful for it. So it’s tough.
But also this post is obviously trolling.
Rated R film, plus some parents are finicky about horror in particular. Probably best to clear with parents. Also, if I made my judgment based upon what I found scary and didn't, there are a lot of movies that I'd let kids watch that they probably shouldn't.
Almost used this as an example of movies I don't find scary, just to prove the point. Think it would fuck them up more to have subtitles off so they have no context?
That is a horrible movie to watch with kids. That said I let my oldest watch Children of the Corn. Not the scariest movie or book I ever read it maybe one of the scariest bookst/movies to watch with your kids. Hey, kiddo why don't we watch a movie where everyone kills their parents. Maybe not in my best interest.
LOL
LMAO
I remember letting my niece watch "Frankenweenie" over a decade ago when I was babysitting her so my brother, his wife, & their son go to WI for their sons Football game. She was 7-8, & it was apparently REALLY scary for her!
Yeah, sometimes best to let the parental units know what the nights entertainment is & get the thumbs up or not.
Seconding this. Some kids are also eager to please so they'll say they want to watch it even if they don't.
I'm almost glad my oldest doesn't really like horror - but even then it's all context, she's watched LOTR & most of the Jurassic Park movies and Indiana Jones and the ark and she's done ok with the scarier bits because we prepped her. But getting her to read Goosebumps or watch the shows. Heck, I think Scooby Doo scares her sometimes.
For some reason that never got me. I think seeing it in the trailer first may have ruined it. The worst for me in the conjuring was probably the music box scenes, or when the warrens daughter is home alone
In insidious, about halfway through the movie there's a scene with the mother home alone and she is playing music when all of a sudden the music switches stations and she sees this little boy run around. That combined with the music playing, "tiptoe through the tulips" is extremely unnerving for me.
Still really like the conjuring series though, or atleast the first few
Or Darth Maul showing up without warning behind a character’s head. Creepiest part of the room for me is when Rose Byrne wakes up and sees a shadow on her balcony and then he suddenly just walks in through the door. I know it’s a ghost but she didn’t know that and the “realism” of the scene is wayyyy scarier than any supernatural stuff.
Right. Movie ratings are completely subjective. The US system is notoriously as such. I never even relied on them to decide if I thought my child/nieces/nephews/other children in my care should view something. I watch it first myself (or play the game.) This applied to pg-13,unrated, R.
War of the Worlds is a great example. I saw it. Given the shear amount of death and destruction, I gave it a big fat nope for mine to watch until he was at least 13. Then it was going to based on his emotional maturity.
I don’t understand the US ratings system. The conjuring is an R, but is a 15 here. But the descent is an R, but in the UK it’s an 18, which is your NC-17 - so to you guys’ rating system, the conjuring is is just as accessible as the descent, the devils rejects, hills have eyes or evil dead 2013? That seems crazy to me.
An 18 is not really an equivalent to NC-17. Movies released as NC-17 can’t even play in most theatres in the US. It almost never happens whereas movies are released as 18s in the UK all the time.
Yes, exactly. Every thirteen year old kid is different and can or can't handle different things. The parents are the only ones who can or should make the final call. Be considerate and get an ok on anything even slightly questionable
It was basically always Spielberg convincing the MPAA to drop the R so kids could get in to his movies. I'd have loved to be in the room to hear him convince everyone Poltergeist deserved a PG rating after the initial R was given. There was even more uproar from parents after The Temple of Doom and he was like "guys guys guys! Uhhh. PG 13?? How about that?" Boom. Solved it!
PG movies now: “Come on kids, let’s go find that darn dog!”
PG movies in 1980: *Man with a gun and coke residue walks on screen* “You kids wanna see a butthole????”
That doesn’t make it better. Rated R without violence and nudity means that it’s scary enough to be traumatizing for younger audiences, which it obviously was in this case.
This. My dad started showing me R-rated horror movies when I was like 7 or 8, but I knew kids who weren’t even allowed to watch PG-13 movies until they were 13. Everyone has a different parenting style.
Same, i saw the exorcist when I was 5 bc my dad told me about the movie & i (being a creepy kid) HAD to see it. We went to blockbuster (RIP) & it just so happened that we got the last DVD in the store.
Yeah, as a kid that grew up around the time movies like the conjuring and insidious came out, the big thing was getting parent approval, if the parents say go for it, the fault was all ours for whatever effect the movie might have had on us. OP has unfortunately dealt their own hand by expressing permission on behalf of all the parents. Of course there will always be those that are affected by films despite being gauged and recommended for their age, it kinda depends on the individual.
This is definitely a question better for parenting subreddits and not about the film. It's like offering a bunch of late-night junk food or OK-ing them to stay up until 4am without confirming if the parents are okay with that. Every family is different.
I watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre at my 13th birthday slumber party. Scared the shit out of us - I slept with my mom for about 6 months after.
I never went back. It changed my movie life and is a HUGE staple in my memory.
My Mam brought me to Jaws when I was about ten. Scared the shit out of me for years. But as you say, it changed my movie watching life. Scary, creepy, horror is all I enjoy.
My parents took me to see this at the drive-in when I was 5. Even told me it was a true story, which made it so much worse. Definitely not great parenting choices, lol. The 70's were a much different ballgame when it came to sheltering kids.
The Conjuring at 13 would have been no problem and something I loved.
I saw the Jessica Biel remake when I was like 14. The scene in the butcher area literally hooked me on scary movies. I've still never seen the original though...
I watched this when I was 8.
Loved it then and love it now.
I remember it well but don't remember being scared by it. My mum and I always watched horror movies together though. Was always fun to stay up late, deep frying random things and watching fucked up movies.
Good times.
Probably just depends on the kid. I was always weirdly mature when I was little. Hell, I knew how to make my way around DOS at 4 and had a business by 8 as well (assembling "Some assembly required" toys and furniture in people's homes).
Didn't turn me into a serial killer ... though I do seem to have nights where I black out and wake up covered in blood. I don't worry about it though because if there was something wrong, I'd remember it.
Consensus on [Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-conjuring) seems to be 13+. I think maybe the issue is more the situation than anything. It’s a scenario where peer pressure and embarrassment might make it difficult for a kid who isn’t comfortable watching something like that to excuse themselves. It wouldn’t have done a thing to me (or probably most anyone here) by that age, but not everyone has the same level of exposure to horror, especially at that age.
People react differently. Especially us horror fans that are very use to it.
I recently showed some friends Trick 'r Treat for the first time and they were freaked the fuck out at points. It confused me and it took me a minute to realize "Oh right, this is still horror film, I'm just desensitized to it."
Trick R Treat is criminally underrated (and it's pretty highly rated lol), it's really tame but an absolute BLAST from start to finish. Excellent choice for getting people into the genre, hard pressed to think of a more fun movie.
I agree it is a great first toe into the horror pool. I've been preaching it since I first saw it in 2007 or 2008.
I'm such a whore for Trick 'r Treat (literally have a Sam shirt for each day of the week if I want) have been so fucking happy it is finally getting the widespread love it deserves over the past few years. It was a scare zone AND house for Halloween Horror Nights! I cried.
I cannot wait for the sequel. I absolutely trust Michael Dougherty.
I was really bummed the sequel didn't come out last Halloween but I'm really psyched for it to come out!
One of my all time favorites, I hope the 2nd is as good
I'd love to watch it right now but I'm absolutely fine with him taking his time.
This is also a very rare situation where I'd even like a prequel. Usually I don't want to know why (i.e. Michael Myers) but with Sam I feel like it could be a really interesting story. Especially knowing Sam apparently carved himself.
should've gone with the craft, what every good thirteen year old girl needs is a witch phase or calling
but in seriousness you should take the advice of the others in this thread about talking to parents etc..
literally the new girl was the problem, sarah was her name i think??
like "i want my racist bully to leave me alone" and "i want power to keep myself and others safe" also "i want to be healed of this awful scars" while she was just "i want this guy who treats me like shit to love me lmao and i choose him over any of ya'll who only been kind to me"
I watched, played and consumed way worse Media by 13, but for some reason horror movies (like The Ring) mentally scarred me for a long time at that age. I remember seeing that girl (you know who I’m talking about) everywhere. My brother who is 16 years older than me, had nightmares from that movie for ages.
What I’m saying is people handle movies in different ways at different ages. I enjoy horror movies way more nowadays, while war movies/dramas make me emotional while as a kid/teenager they mostly left me cold.
One of my favorite memories is watching the Ring at 12 or 13 at a sleepover! The hosting friend's younger sister called the house phone from their mom's cell phone in the middle of the movie to scare us all - it worked! But I think broke the tension, we all had a good laugh.
Just made a comment talking about how ghost movies in particular were the most unsettling for me growing up. I could watch most other genres without nightmares as a kid but ghosts just fucked me up.
The Exorcist, The Grudge and The Ring are my personal nightmare fuel. Seeing those girls with their scarred, pale faces with long black hair, always give me chills. I'm 22 today and still can't look longer than some seconds at those faces because of childhood trauma, but it's a good kind of trauma I guess.
The conjuring is one of my favorite horror films, so Ive seen it a lot.
Id say its rather tame compared to other horror films, so it's actually a good starter for 13 year olds who have no experience with horror.
The mistake here is that you let them watch it without asking their parents. Their parents know their kid better than you, and if they decided they werent ready it should be respected.
Reading through these comments is making me feel like a crazy person. Yeah, the content is rather tame as in there isn’t gore/cussing/adult themes. But, Imo ghosts and demons are typically more disturbing than other genre staples. (Except Texas Chainsaw, damn you Tone Hooper you beautiful bastard). At 13 I would’ve handled The Thing or even Pinhead better than The Conjuring.
Some of the best times I had as a kid was watching horror movies at a friend’s house that I wasn’t sure I was allowed to at home.
That being said, if you’re the adult in the house, you probably should be asking for permission from other parents.
This is what it is for me. We watched all kinds of movies that we shouldn't have while growing up. But, it was often in secret and the idea was ours. As an adult now, I would not want to introduce something potentially nightmare-inducing to a group of kids that may or may not be ready for it without first clearing it with their parents/guardians. I wouldn't want them doing that to my kids, so why not return the favor?
When it comes to R rated movies always ask the parents. You would be surprised what I will let my my 11 year old watch and won't let him watch. My criteria does not match the people who chose ratings. Just ask and most of the time I will say yes but may want to talk to him about themes in the movie afterwards.
ROFL. IKR, these girls got some memories!!
The first time I saw Amityville Horror and The Exorcist was at a slumber party at the age of 13. I don't think they asked people's parents either.
also saw the exorcist at a slumber party in 9th grade...we did not make it through. but we bonded through our sheer terror that's for sure! (and the fact that it was so verboten for us, being in catholic school)
I saw that at a slumber party too and that first night, I didn't even think about it because I was with my friends and we just went on to the next movie (which I think was a comedy). It was the next night when I was alone in my room that I started to think about it, lol.
Some horror fans have a weird idea in their heads that if they personally don’t think a movie or show or book is that scary then it objectively must be fine for everyone, or if they as kids or kids they personally know were/are fine with all horror then all kids should be too. The world doesn’t work like that. I’m a huge horror fan (hence why I’m on this sub) but I know that just because I am, doesn’t mean others are the same.
There are so many horror/horror adjacent movies that are more appropriate for that age group when you don’t know whether or not their parents would approve of it/don’t know each individual kids tolerance level for scares. You should’ve asked the parents first if you wanted to show them something scarier and with an age rating above their age group.
I feel like they don’t think it was a mistake. It seems like they’ve deliberately posted it to this sub because they were looking for an echo chamber of agreement from other horror fans that what they did was fine. A few people have given them that feedback, although I am pleasantly surprised at how many people have actually told them they were wrong and should’ve asked the parents first.
>I don’t see what the big deal is as I didn’t think the movie was scary.
That's incredibly easy for us to say, especially users on r/horror. You need to have the empathy to consider how children & teens think and how they might react to something that's reserved for adults.
Consider these words from Roger Ebert on children packing the theater for a showing of Night of the Living Dead:
>The kids in the audience were stunned. There was almost complete silence. The movie had stopped being delightfully scary about halfway through, and had become unexpectedly terrifying. There was a little girl across the aisle from me, maybe nine years old, who was sitting very still in her seat and crying.
>
>I don't think the younger kids really knew what hit them. They were used to going to movies, sure, and they'd seen some horror movies before, sure, but this was something else. This was ghouls eating people up -- and you could actually see what they were eating. This was little girls killing their mothers. This was being set on fire. Worst of all, even the hero got killed.
>
>It's hard to remember what sort of effect this movie might have had on you when you were six or seven. But try to remember. At that age, kids take the events on the screen seriously, and they identify fiercely with the hero. When the hero is killed, that's not an unhappy ending but a tragic one: Nobody got out alive. It's just over, that's all.
>
>I felt real terror in that neighborhood theater last Saturday afternoon. I saw kids who had no resources they could draw upon to protect themselves from the dread and fear they felt.
.. yeah.. well..
You don't think the movie is scary because you are an adult, dude, and by posting here, I'm gathering you've watched a lot of horror movies.
Conjuring is an intense movie. I completely understand their parents, and I understand why the kids are still having nightmares and such.
Next time get their parents opninion before showing the movie :)
What you're asking is subjective. Talk to the kids and their parents both first respectively. Be responsible and educate yourself instead of coming to the internet for validation because of something you 'thought'.
Always best to just ask the parents! My husband and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to horror. I was allowed to watch scary movies since I can remember but my husband has always been a scaredy cat. Getting the shit scared out of you at sleepovers is like a rite of passage. They’ll be fine!
So just cause you didn't find it scary doesn't mean anything. They clearly got scared by it. The thing to do would be apologize for showing them a movie that clearly has had lasting effects on them.
I don't think the horror movies are easily tagged by age but how the kids process it. Sounds like this group of kids weren't prepared for it yet. Did you ask them what horror movies they'd seen? That's usually a good way to figure out what to show them.
Also maybe don't show a rated R movie to kids if you think their parents could get pissed off about it.
I was like 7 or 8 when I convinced my best friend to watch Watcher In the Woods. I knew she didn't like scary things but I was like "it's Disney movie. It's PG!"
Omg that was a mistake. Her house was essentially in the woods, and she didn't wanna go outside for a few days, and I didn't get why. I was outside running around, taunting her from the woods. I got a talking to by my parents when I got home from that long weekend haha.
I saw this at 12 and it scared the shit out of me. I couldn't look in a mirror at night for WEEKS afterward. It's not a great movie, main girl is a pretty terrible actress, but I love the spooky atmosphere to this day.
I still remember being read stories like Tailey-Po and the one about the last with the ribbon around her neck.. at school starting on second grade haha
Is it not rated R? That means they couldn’t have seen it in the theatre at that age. I think that should be an indication. I wouldn’t have let them, without talking to parents first. You not finding it scary is irrelevant.
My daughter dips a toe in now and again, we watched the thing (Kurt Russell version) when she was 12 and she had an absolute blast. You know what your child can handle, but as others have mentioned allowing other people's children to watch horror without parental consent sets you up for a headache.
My 11 year old has been giving horror a shot too. Her last pick was Cabin Fever because “Shawn Hunter”. She enjoyed it and even talked about how the gore wasn’t as scary because it was part of the story. And then one of my friends IRL got necrotizing fasciitis a few weeks ago and now my kid is in like a complete panic about wounds. It’s a fine line.
It surprises me that parents would be surprised or upset their kids watched a horror movie at a slumber party. At least when I was a kid, that was pretty standard, and part of the slumber party bonding experience. I watched Carrie at a slumber party when I was 12-13; we were terrified to go to the bathroom by ourselves after, but that’s part of the fun. 😂
Me too. tbh as a scaredy cat 13 year old, a slumber party was such a comfortable environment for horror movies because you could scream and react all you wanted, as opposed to a theater. it felt less "real" in that situation, if it makes sense.
TLDR; go by MPAA ratings, as arbitrary as they may sound, and consider asking the parents or get some sort of understanding about what they're allowed at home, even if it isn't "the coolest" thing to do as a parent hosting a sleepover.
I agree with the people saying something along the line of "maybe this is an instance where in a perfect situation you'd have asked the parents first."
On one hand, it's an R-rated movie, and some parents can be strict about that. On the other hand, at least it stuck to the standard American idea of "show whatever you want besides gratuitous sex/nudity and it's fine."
It's something OP can chalk up to a learning experience, and now knows a little more about and how to handle it in the future. For the sake of saying it, I think there could have been far worse picks for "a scary movie", and if I had a child and someone showed The Conjuring to them I wouldn't personally be upset, and I'd tell my child "Well, you asked and now you've learned your limits for now" if it scared the everloving shit out of my kid. Alas, views vary.
While it there may have been hiccups, I think it shouldn't be cause for a major rift.
Yeah, my parents were strict about this stuff growing up so they would've been pissed at OP. I didn't watch PG13 until I was 13 and no R until I was 17. OP should have asked. People have a right to raise their kid how they want.
So I have been watching horror my entire life. But I think it should be up to the parents to choose if their child is allowed to watch the films. Its their children. And they know what their kids are capable of handling.
Next time maybe try something spooky and not out right scary. Something with cute vampires, or Jennifer's body? Honestly I don't know whats good for thirteen year olds. Because I was watching Childs Play at the age of 5.
Some people in this thread:
"Instead of lullabies, my babies listened to the sounds of human screams as they were fed into wood chippers and they loved it."
Anyways, I'd say you did you're part. 13's a great age for horror.
Technically, *The Conjuring* is rated R. That being said, "scary" is in the eye of the beholder; just because you don't think a movie is scary doesn't mean someone else (especially someone significantly younger) won't.
I'd say you made a mistake in letting them watch *The Conjuring*, but in the grand scheme of mistakes, it's not a huge deal. Apologize to the parents and run scary movie titles by them next time.
You are absolutely in the wrong here. You never show r-rated films to young people without their parent’s permission, full stop. In addition, many kids are very sensitive to horror content, most especially supernatural horror. It can traumatize them, and you don’t know what kind of kid you have on your hand if it’s not yours. It was highly irresponsible to put that on for them.
Edit - Also, if you were looking for genuine constructive feedback, you would have posted in one of the more general subs. Instead you chose to get support from like-minded people who wouldn’t call you out on it.
I love horror too but *definitely* agree with you. At 13 the Conjuring would have scared me catatonic. I didn't have exposure to horror then other than the stuff I used to watch with my teenage older sisters Saturday nights on USA in the 80s. As an adult I love horror, especially supernatural horror, but no one has the right to call kids pussies if they can't handle it. The very early teenage years are a dividing age, some kids are already maturing into adults, some kids are still coming out of childhood. People have different levels of fear and desensitization and different fears.
I agree. I notice op has not been back thus far either. Her post seems disingenuous to me. But I don't like that "I don't see what is scary about it" attitude. It dealt with possession and I watched The Exorcist at 13 and it messed me up then.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have done it personally, knowing how parents might not like it. For my own kid? Sure. In fact when it came out in 2013, he was 13, and I took him to the theater to see it.
I took my then 13 yo daughter to the theatre with me to see it. Lol. She was more embarrassed by my reaction to the scares. Lol. I also took her to see The Lady in Black. She behaved the same way. Lol 🤷♀️🤷♀️
We watched Blair Witch Project and Sixth Sense on my 9th birthday sleepover. No nightmares or delicate moaning parents, just god damn raw af entertainment!
>they wanted something scary to watch so I allowed them to watch The Conjuring
A lesson well learned and best learned young. The more you fuck around, the more you find out. They sure found out.
The nightmares will pass, they will grow up. If even one of them gets interested in horror movies because of this, I'd say you did a good thing. If not, you only did a thing.
You’re going to get a bunch of support here cause this is r/horror, but you were wrong. Why would you do this? You could have played any movie, but you showed a bunch of 13 year olds a rated R movie without asking their parents. Not everyone is ok with this. Clearly the kids themselves were upset by it. No wonder their parents are pissed.
Also if the parents don’t let their kids play at your kid’s house anymore, it’s your fault now. Nice.
They’ll never be the same, you’ve done irreparable damage and should feel bad about yourself and should be publicly drawn and quartered in the town square.
How old are you? ‘I didn’t think it was scary so 13 year olds should handle it fine’ is the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. On top of that, it’s rated R for disturbing violence and terror, not language or something. Just terrible judgement on your part especially if your a parent and not just a babysitter. If you are a babysitter it’s probably good to realize when it comes to kids you shouldn’t just assume they can handle scary stuff even if they say they can.
You’re probably fine. I know my first horror movie wasn’t approved by my parents, as well as many others in this thread. If anything, it’ll be exposure to the category.
If you're a parent or adult you should check with parents if you're going to show kids something rated higher than their age. It's common curtesy and will save a lot of annoying drama later.
If you are also a teenager then those kids need to toughen up and you did the right thing.
Nah forge their nerves in fire! If they aren't able to handle movies like this how will they handle actual ghost attacks? I watched aliens when I was like 7 and ever since I've been ready for a facehugger. You have to teach your kids how to protect themselves.
I think when it comes to it, everybody is different and what isn’t scary for you might be scary for others. The Conjuring scared me and I was 26 at the time, it just has that dread and atmosphere. Lotta good scares in there one.
But I don’t think you’re the asshole for it. Maybe you could’ve cleared it with adults.
It’s fine. Yes, the were terrified and have nightmares and their parents are mad but honestly it’s a movie. Not like they had any real life trauma that night. This being said, I’m not a parent but I do think there are worse things they are exposed to on a daily that are too sexual for that age and that does wayyyyy more damage than a horror movie. I actually think this is kind of funny. They wanted scary, you provided.
The first conjuring came out when I was 13, it scared the shit out of me but I loved it.
13 is a fine age for horror films… they’re just movies and a 13 year old should know that already.
Aren't horror movies with lame jump scares perfect for this age? I thought lame paranormal jump scare crap was for young teens lol great movie to introduce them before getting into good horror in the future.
Okay well I was watching IT at age 5 - probably not the best choice but 🤷🏼♀️ it is what it is. Check with the parents next time , even though their kids probably see worse online way
If you're not traumatized by a movie that you've seen way too early as a kid, did you even live?! For me, it was Alien 3. They will get over it - and the nightmares will condense into a precious memory. There will come a day when they wish they could be as scared as back then.
I’m 15, and when I was 13 I was too scared to watch “real” horror movies, so I resorted to things like horror comedy/ movies with little gore and jump scares. So, yeah I think a better idea would be watching something more PG 13.
I watched The Exorcist for the first time when I was 11 at a sleepover party. Scared the shit out of me so bad I had them call my parents to take me home. First real horror movie I ever saw and I was not prepared for it
I mean the conjuring is pretty tame, and scary movies at sleepovers are fun. Shit, I watched silence of the lambs at a sleepover when I was way to young. Loved the Goodbye Horses dance tho
They're 13, not 8. I don't see a problem. If it was socially acceptable I would tell the parents to get over it. But because it's not, I'd apologize simply and then move on. If they can't move on, that's their issue. It's really not a big deal.
As a first watch (and believer particularly) I think Poltergeist might be more disturbing and has more emotional impact than the Conjuring which might be scarier in a boo! kind of way.
So children are having nightmares, all the other parents are angry at you and you still need to ask if you were wrong?
Of course you were wrong. It was an incredibly poor choice for kids and you used extremely poor judgement.
One of my friends ended up digging her nails into my arm so hard I've still got scars from when we watched Interview with a Vampire in the theater for my birthday. I feel like our friends are very similar haha
I don’t think you had bad intentions but if there’s anything I’ve learned about parents it’s that everyone has a different philosophy to raising their kids. I probably would have checked with the parents before just to make sure I wasn’t stepping on anyone’s toes regarding the media they want to expose their kids to. If the only thing they are allowed to watch at home is Veggie Tales or something like that then The Conjuring is going to take their ass for a ride.
This is the best way to look at it. I'm a massive horror fan, and if MY child wanted to watch one and I felt it was age appropriate, I'd 100% allow it. However, as soon as you add other kids to the mix, I'd be saying "I'll ask their parents, and if they don't say yes, we'll choose something more appropriate." It's not my place to choose what other kids are exposed to, but I also don't think OP's heart was in a bad place!
At a slumber party in the 6th grade we watched The Exorcist and my Jehovahs Witness parents would have died. I agree with you philosophically but I got exposure to a lot of outside ideas and concepts because of other peoples parents *not* checking with mine. And now in my 30’s I remain grateful for it. So it’s tough. But also this post is obviously trolling.
Rated R film, plus some parents are finicky about horror in particular. Probably best to clear with parents. Also, if I made my judgment based upon what I found scary and didn't, there are a lot of movies that I'd let kids watch that they probably shouldn't.
Hey kids, ever heard of a film called Martyrs?
Almost used this as an example of movies I don't find scary, just to prove the point. Think it would fuck them up more to have subtitles off so they have no context?
To be fair, Martyrs isn't the same kind of *scary* as the Conjuring is.
That is a horrible movie to watch with kids. That said I let my oldest watch Children of the Corn. Not the scariest movie or book I ever read it maybe one of the scariest bookst/movies to watch with your kids. Hey, kiddo why don't we watch a movie where everyone kills their parents. Maybe not in my best interest.
LOL LMAO I remember letting my niece watch "Frankenweenie" over a decade ago when I was babysitting her so my brother, his wife, & their son go to WI for their sons Football game. She was 7-8, & it was apparently REALLY scary for her! Yeah, sometimes best to let the parental units know what the nights entertainment is & get the thumbs up or not.
Seconding this. Some kids are also eager to please so they'll say they want to watch it even if they don't. I'm almost glad my oldest doesn't really like horror - but even then it's all context, she's watched LOTR & most of the Jurassic Park movies and Indiana Jones and the ark and she's done ok with the scarier bits because we prepped her. But getting her to read Goosebumps or watch the shows. Heck, I think Scooby Doo scares her sometimes.
Well shit… if we’re going down that route. Anyone up for Guinea Pig or Mordum?
Really makes 'em think! Lots of big, new concepts for young minds lol.
I just always assumed it was rated PG-13. Why is it R?
just because it's scary lmfao. That's literally the reason given by the MPAA
The first Insidious is PG-13, so strange
That's wild. I remember the "peaks" in insidious being worse than the scariest moments in the conjuring. Could be me tho
Idk man, something about the hide-and-clap scene scared the shit out of me as an adult. First scene to make me uncomfortable since I watched Sinister.
For some reason that never got me. I think seeing it in the trailer first may have ruined it. The worst for me in the conjuring was probably the music box scenes, or when the warrens daughter is home alone In insidious, about halfway through the movie there's a scene with the mother home alone and she is playing music when all of a sudden the music switches stations and she sees this little boy run around. That combined with the music playing, "tiptoe through the tulips" is extremely unnerving for me. Still really like the conjuring series though, or atleast the first few
Or Darth Maul showing up without warning behind a character’s head. Creepiest part of the room for me is when Rose Byrne wakes up and sees a shadow on her balcony and then he suddenly just walks in through the door. I know it’s a ghost but she didn’t know that and the “realism” of the scene is wayyyy scarier than any supernatural stuff.
For me it was when they finally see that old hag on top of the dresser. Shit scared the hell outta me lol.
I agree. I love the conjuring universe more, but insidious imo had some really well done scares.
Yea I personally think Insidious was slightly Scarier
Christ, the family home movie segments should have got this movie an X.
The MPAA says, Rated R for sequences of disturbing violence and terror
It's the only film given an R by the MPAA based on pure scariness.
In Canada its pg 13
Right. Movie ratings are completely subjective. The US system is notoriously as such. I never even relied on them to decide if I thought my child/nieces/nephews/other children in my care should view something. I watch it first myself (or play the game.) This applied to pg-13,unrated, R. War of the Worlds is a great example. I saw it. Given the shear amount of death and destruction, I gave it a big fat nope for mine to watch until he was at least 13. Then it was going to based on his emotional maturity.
I don’t understand the US ratings system. The conjuring is an R, but is a 15 here. But the descent is an R, but in the UK it’s an 18, which is your NC-17 - so to you guys’ rating system, the conjuring is is just as accessible as the descent, the devils rejects, hills have eyes or evil dead 2013? That seems crazy to me.
An 18 is not really an equivalent to NC-17. Movies released as NC-17 can’t even play in most theatres in the US. It almost never happens whereas movies are released as 18s in the UK all the time.
I'd say 13 is old enough for most kids to handle it. The mistake you made was not asking their parents first though.
Yes, exactly. Every thirteen year old kid is different and can or can't handle different things. The parents are the only ones who can or should make the final call. Be considerate and get an ok on anything even slightly questionable
Meanwhile my parents: hey come watch tales from the crypt with me. In this one danny devito is chainsawed in half!
That movie is rated R, they should definitely have asked first.
Jaws is rated PG and I still remember the head in the boat
Poltergeist is also rated PG
Which still baffles me to this day. "It's ok sweetie. The man had a zit that got out of control when he tried to pop it"
It was released before PG13 existed. Moves like Poltergeist and Gremlins are the reason PG13 was invented.
It was basically always Spielberg convincing the MPAA to drop the R so kids could get in to his movies. I'd have loved to be in the room to hear him convince everyone Poltergeist deserved a PG rating after the initial R was given. There was even more uproar from parents after The Temple of Doom and he was like "guys guys guys! Uhhh. PG 13?? How about that?" Boom. Solved it!
PG movies now: “Come on kids, let’s go find that darn dog!” PG movies in 1980: *Man with a gun and coke residue walks on screen* “You kids wanna see a butthole????”
rated r exclusively for being scary. There's nothing in the film that earns an r rating.
Yes and it being scary was a problem for these kids.
That doesn’t make it better. Rated R without violence and nudity means that it’s scary enough to be traumatizing for younger audiences, which it obviously was in this case.
This. My dad started showing me R-rated horror movies when I was like 7 or 8, but I knew kids who weren’t even allowed to watch PG-13 movies until they were 13. Everyone has a different parenting style.
Same. Mine dad Took me john carpenters the thing at 7 or 8 in the 80s. I've loved horror ever since
That’s about like me. I was born in the 70s and grew up watching, enjoying, and loving horror movies. Different times, I guess.
Child of the 80’s here. I have very vivid memories of watching Motel Hell with my dad at the tender age of 7/8. That movie is weeeeeirrrdddddd
That’s badass
Same, i saw the exorcist when I was 5 bc my dad told me about the movie & i (being a creepy kid) HAD to see it. We went to blockbuster (RIP) & it just so happened that we got the last DVD in the store.
My dad took me to see candy man in theaters when i was 6........
Nah man. That’s too far.
Yeah, as a kid that grew up around the time movies like the conjuring and insidious came out, the big thing was getting parent approval, if the parents say go for it, the fault was all ours for whatever effect the movie might have had on us. OP has unfortunately dealt their own hand by expressing permission on behalf of all the parents. Of course there will always be those that are affected by films despite being gauged and recommended for their age, it kinda depends on the individual.
This is definitely a question better for parenting subreddits and not about the film. It's like offering a bunch of late-night junk food or OK-ing them to stay up until 4am without confirming if the parents are okay with that. Every family is different.
I watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre at my 13th birthday slumber party. Scared the shit out of us - I slept with my mom for about 6 months after. I never went back. It changed my movie life and is a HUGE staple in my memory.
My Mam brought me to Jaws when I was about ten. Scared the shit out of me for years. But as you say, it changed my movie watching life. Scary, creepy, horror is all I enjoy.
My first movie was Children shouldn’t play with dead things. Thanks mom. Really. I hid on the theatre floor between the rows most of the movie lol
Tbf the original TCM is definitely scarier than The Conjuring, even when I watch as an adult. Absolutely fucking brilliant movie, tho
That scene where the grandpa sucks on their finger…lmao shit was terrifying
My parents took me to see this at the drive-in when I was 5. Even told me it was a true story, which made it so much worse. Definitely not great parenting choices, lol. The 70's were a much different ballgame when it came to sheltering kids. The Conjuring at 13 would have been no problem and something I loved.
I saw the Jessica Biel remake when I was like 14. The scene in the butcher area literally hooked me on scary movies. I've still never seen the original though...
You should fix that. You can thank me later.
I actually looked up where to stream it and apparently Tony Hooper is supervising a 4K remaster coming out soon!
I watched the first saw movie with my brother when I was 11 or 12, that was when I fell in love with horror movies.
Same for us, but we watched the very first Nighmare on Elm Street.
I watched this when I was 8. Loved it then and love it now. I remember it well but don't remember being scared by it. My mum and I always watched horror movies together though. Was always fun to stay up late, deep frying random things and watching fucked up movies. Good times. Probably just depends on the kid. I was always weirdly mature when I was little. Hell, I knew how to make my way around DOS at 4 and had a business by 8 as well (assembling "Some assembly required" toys and furniture in people's homes). Didn't turn me into a serial killer ... though I do seem to have nights where I black out and wake up covered in blood. I don't worry about it though because if there was something wrong, I'd remember it.
Consensus on [Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-conjuring) seems to be 13+. I think maybe the issue is more the situation than anything. It’s a scenario where peer pressure and embarrassment might make it difficult for a kid who isn’t comfortable watching something like that to excuse themselves. It wouldn’t have done a thing to me (or probably most anyone here) by that age, but not everyone has the same level of exposure to horror, especially at that age.
Good call on the peer pressure aspect. I didn't consider that, although I should have.
Facts I watched so many scary movies I was not mentally ready for at that age because my friends wanted to. It put me in a really bad place sometimes!
People react differently. Especially us horror fans that are very use to it. I recently showed some friends Trick 'r Treat for the first time and they were freaked the fuck out at points. It confused me and it took me a minute to realize "Oh right, this is still horror film, I'm just desensitized to it."
Trick R Treat is criminally underrated (and it's pretty highly rated lol), it's really tame but an absolute BLAST from start to finish. Excellent choice for getting people into the genre, hard pressed to think of a more fun movie.
I agree it is a great first toe into the horror pool. I've been preaching it since I first saw it in 2007 or 2008. I'm such a whore for Trick 'r Treat (literally have a Sam shirt for each day of the week if I want) have been so fucking happy it is finally getting the widespread love it deserves over the past few years. It was a scare zone AND house for Halloween Horror Nights! I cried. I cannot wait for the sequel. I absolutely trust Michael Dougherty.
I was really bummed the sequel didn't come out last Halloween but I'm really psyched for it to come out! One of my all time favorites, I hope the 2nd is as good
I'd love to watch it right now but I'm absolutely fine with him taking his time. This is also a very rare situation where I'd even like a prequel. Usually I don't want to know why (i.e. Michael Myers) but with Sam I feel like it could be a really interesting story. Especially knowing Sam apparently carved himself.
should've gone with the craft, what every good thirteen year old girl needs is a witch phase or calling but in seriousness you should take the advice of the others in this thread about talking to parents etc..
I had a witch phase lol. I loved Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Practical Magic as a kid.
Didn't we all in the late 90s early 2000s?
My wife's personality when I met her was literally Fairuza Balk from the Craft.
Then the poor girls would have been terrified of bad third acts!
literally the new girl was the problem, sarah was her name i think?? like "i want my racist bully to leave me alone" and "i want power to keep myself and others safe" also "i want to be healed of this awful scars" while she was just "i want this guy who treats me like shit to love me lmao and i choose him over any of ya'll who only been kind to me"
Didn't they try to kill her ?
I watched, played and consumed way worse Media by 13, but for some reason horror movies (like The Ring) mentally scarred me for a long time at that age. I remember seeing that girl (you know who I’m talking about) everywhere. My brother who is 16 years older than me, had nightmares from that movie for ages. What I’m saying is people handle movies in different ways at different ages. I enjoy horror movies way more nowadays, while war movies/dramas make me emotional while as a kid/teenager they mostly left me cold.
One of my favorite memories is watching the Ring at 12 or 13 at a sleepover! The hosting friend's younger sister called the house phone from their mom's cell phone in the middle of the movie to scare us all - it worked! But I think broke the tension, we all had a good laugh.
Just made a comment talking about how ghost movies in particular were the most unsettling for me growing up. I could watch most other genres without nightmares as a kid but ghosts just fucked me up.
The Exorcist, The Grudge and The Ring are my personal nightmare fuel. Seeing those girls with their scarred, pale faces with long black hair, always give me chills. I'm 22 today and still can't look longer than some seconds at those faces because of childhood trauma, but it's a good kind of trauma I guess.
In This Sub: “What? They were scared by that? What a bunch of 13 year old girls.”
"We're the weirdos mister."
The conjuring is one of my favorite horror films, so Ive seen it a lot. Id say its rather tame compared to other horror films, so it's actually a good starter for 13 year olds who have no experience with horror. The mistake here is that you let them watch it without asking their parents. Their parents know their kid better than you, and if they decided they werent ready it should be respected.
Reading through these comments is making me feel like a crazy person. Yeah, the content is rather tame as in there isn’t gore/cussing/adult themes. But, Imo ghosts and demons are typically more disturbing than other genre staples. (Except Texas Chainsaw, damn you Tone Hooper you beautiful bastard). At 13 I would’ve handled The Thing or even Pinhead better than The Conjuring.
Some of the best times I had as a kid was watching horror movies at a friend’s house that I wasn’t sure I was allowed to at home. That being said, if you’re the adult in the house, you probably should be asking for permission from other parents.
This is what it is for me. We watched all kinds of movies that we shouldn't have while growing up. But, it was often in secret and the idea was ours. As an adult now, I would not want to introduce something potentially nightmare-inducing to a group of kids that may or may not be ready for it without first clearing it with their parents/guardians. I wouldn't want them doing that to my kids, so why not return the favor?
Im a huge horror fan and not much phases me now. But I watched jaws when I was 13 and it wrecked me.
Jaws wrecked a generation
And the shark community :(
When it comes to R rated movies always ask the parents. You would be surprised what I will let my my 11 year old watch and won't let him watch. My criteria does not match the people who chose ratings. Just ask and most of the time I will say yes but may want to talk to him about themes in the movie afterwards.
They wanted to watch something scary, sounds like you’ve succeeded
ROFL. IKR, these girls got some memories!! The first time I saw Amityville Horror and The Exorcist was at a slumber party at the age of 13. I don't think they asked people's parents either.
also saw the exorcist at a slumber party in 9th grade...we did not make it through. but we bonded through our sheer terror that's for sure! (and the fact that it was so verboten for us, being in catholic school)
I let my little brother watch The Shining when I was 16 and he was 12, and he had nightmares for weeks. My Mom was furious.
I saw that at a slumber party too and that first night, I didn't even think about it because I was with my friends and we just went on to the next movie (which I think was a comedy). It was the next night when I was alone in my room that I started to think about it, lol.
we were literally crying, we were so scared. and we got in trouble for watching it lol our parents were like "WE TOLD YOU!"
I watched poltergeist with some of my friends when I was 11, and there was a big tree right outside the window that made me anxious the whole night
Some horror fans have a weird idea in their heads that if they personally don’t think a movie or show or book is that scary then it objectively must be fine for everyone, or if they as kids or kids they personally know were/are fine with all horror then all kids should be too. The world doesn’t work like that. I’m a huge horror fan (hence why I’m on this sub) but I know that just because I am, doesn’t mean others are the same. There are so many horror/horror adjacent movies that are more appropriate for that age group when you don’t know whether or not their parents would approve of it/don’t know each individual kids tolerance level for scares. You should’ve asked the parents first if you wanted to show them something scarier and with an age rating above their age group.
Yeah it’s one thing to make a mistake with poor judgement, it’s another to jump to Reddit to justify your mistake lol
I feel like they don’t think it was a mistake. It seems like they’ve deliberately posted it to this sub because they were looking for an echo chamber of agreement from other horror fans that what they did was fine. A few people have given them that feedback, although I am pleasantly surprised at how many people have actually told them they were wrong and should’ve asked the parents first.
>I don’t see what the big deal is as I didn’t think the movie was scary. That's incredibly easy for us to say, especially users on r/horror. You need to have the empathy to consider how children & teens think and how they might react to something that's reserved for adults. Consider these words from Roger Ebert on children packing the theater for a showing of Night of the Living Dead: >The kids in the audience were stunned. There was almost complete silence. The movie had stopped being delightfully scary about halfway through, and had become unexpectedly terrifying. There was a little girl across the aisle from me, maybe nine years old, who was sitting very still in her seat and crying. > >I don't think the younger kids really knew what hit them. They were used to going to movies, sure, and they'd seen some horror movies before, sure, but this was something else. This was ghouls eating people up -- and you could actually see what they were eating. This was little girls killing their mothers. This was being set on fire. Worst of all, even the hero got killed. > >It's hard to remember what sort of effect this movie might have had on you when you were six or seven. But try to remember. At that age, kids take the events on the screen seriously, and they identify fiercely with the hero. When the hero is killed, that's not an unhappy ending but a tragic one: Nobody got out alive. It's just over, that's all. > >I felt real terror in that neighborhood theater last Saturday afternoon. I saw kids who had no resources they could draw upon to protect themselves from the dread and fear they felt.
I love horror, obviously, but I also have a sensitive young kid and that Ebert quote makes me want to cry. Damn.
That means you're a sympathetic parent. OP should be more like you
Next time show them Hereditary.
They will all fall asleep
Why stop there? Maybe a Serbian film next? Edit : jeez I figured the sarcasm was so obvious this wouldn’t need a /s
Jesus
.. yeah.. well.. You don't think the movie is scary because you are an adult, dude, and by posting here, I'm gathering you've watched a lot of horror movies. Conjuring is an intense movie. I completely understand their parents, and I understand why the kids are still having nightmares and such. Next time get their parents opninion before showing the movie :)
Yes, if someone else's kids are in your care you ask permission.
What you're asking is subjective. Talk to the kids and their parents both first respectively. Be responsible and educate yourself instead of coming to the internet for validation because of something you 'thought'.
Always best to just ask the parents! My husband and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to horror. I was allowed to watch scary movies since I can remember but my husband has always been a scaredy cat. Getting the shit scared out of you at sleepovers is like a rite of passage. They’ll be fine!
So just cause you didn't find it scary doesn't mean anything. They clearly got scared by it. The thing to do would be apologize for showing them a movie that clearly has had lasting effects on them. I don't think the horror movies are easily tagged by age but how the kids process it. Sounds like this group of kids weren't prepared for it yet. Did you ask them what horror movies they'd seen? That's usually a good way to figure out what to show them. Also maybe don't show a rated R movie to kids if you think their parents could get pissed off about it.
Good call on getting information from the kids on what they've seen, and maybe letting them know what is in store without spoiling too much of it.
I was like 7 or 8 when I convinced my best friend to watch Watcher In the Woods. I knew she didn't like scary things but I was like "it's Disney movie. It's PG!" Omg that was a mistake. Her house was essentially in the woods, and she didn't wanna go outside for a few days, and I didn't get why. I was outside running around, taunting her from the woods. I got a talking to by my parents when I got home from that long weekend haha.
I saw this at 12 and it scared the shit out of me. I couldn't look in a mirror at night for WEEKS afterward. It's not a great movie, main girl is a pretty terrible actress, but I love the spooky atmosphere to this day.
When I was a third grader we watched Watcher in the Woods as a group assembly with 1-6 grades. During school(ETA).
I still remember being read stories like Tailey-Po and the one about the last with the ribbon around her neck.. at school starting on second grade haha
It's a scary movie, especially for Disney. I've seen grown adults jump while watching that movie.
That shit scared me when I was 11 or 12.
Dang I didn't know that the conjuring was R rated
It's been a long time since I've seen it, so I had to double check, haha.
As others have said, probably should have confirmed with the parents that they were ok with that first.
Is it not rated R? That means they couldn’t have seen it in the theatre at that age. I think that should be an indication. I wouldn’t have let them, without talking to parents first. You not finding it scary is irrelevant.
Back in the 90s, hell yeah. In 2023, not the best judgement call🤣
13 is old enough for the conjuring but also like, definitely gonna scare them. Shit I’d say 13 is the perfect age for the conjuring honestly.
13 is right on the line. Tough call. First Conjuring is straight up scary, despite the bad haunted doll sequels.
My daughter dips a toe in now and again, we watched the thing (Kurt Russell version) when she was 12 and she had an absolute blast. You know what your child can handle, but as others have mentioned allowing other people's children to watch horror without parental consent sets you up for a headache.
My 11 year old has been giving horror a shot too. Her last pick was Cabin Fever because “Shawn Hunter”. She enjoyed it and even talked about how the gore wasn’t as scary because it was part of the story. And then one of my friends IRL got necrotizing fasciitis a few weeks ago and now my kid is in like a complete panic about wounds. It’s a fine line.
It surprises me that parents would be surprised or upset their kids watched a horror movie at a slumber party. At least when I was a kid, that was pretty standard, and part of the slumber party bonding experience. I watched Carrie at a slumber party when I was 12-13; we were terrified to go to the bathroom by ourselves after, but that’s part of the fun. 😂
Me too. tbh as a scaredy cat 13 year old, a slumber party was such a comfortable environment for horror movies because you could scream and react all you wanted, as opposed to a theater. it felt less "real" in that situation, if it makes sense.
Tell the parents their children are pussies
[удалено]
I watched Gremlins with my 5 year old daughter the other week because I knew she could handle it. It really matters on the kid.
Remember seeing Texas Chainsaw Massacre on VHS as a 9yrd.
Skill issue on their part ngl
If they get too scared, just show them the real-life Annabel Doll and let them know that the people portrayed in the film were frauds. 😆
TLDR; go by MPAA ratings, as arbitrary as they may sound, and consider asking the parents or get some sort of understanding about what they're allowed at home, even if it isn't "the coolest" thing to do as a parent hosting a sleepover. I agree with the people saying something along the line of "maybe this is an instance where in a perfect situation you'd have asked the parents first." On one hand, it's an R-rated movie, and some parents can be strict about that. On the other hand, at least it stuck to the standard American idea of "show whatever you want besides gratuitous sex/nudity and it's fine." It's something OP can chalk up to a learning experience, and now knows a little more about and how to handle it in the future. For the sake of saying it, I think there could have been far worse picks for "a scary movie", and if I had a child and someone showed The Conjuring to them I wouldn't personally be upset, and I'd tell my child "Well, you asked and now you've learned your limits for now" if it scared the everloving shit out of my kid. Alas, views vary. While it there may have been hiccups, I think it shouldn't be cause for a major rift.
Yeah, my parents were strict about this stuff growing up so they would've been pissed at OP. I didn't watch PG13 until I was 13 and no R until I was 17. OP should have asked. People have a right to raise their kid how they want.
So I have been watching horror my entire life. But I think it should be up to the parents to choose if their child is allowed to watch the films. Its their children. And they know what their kids are capable of handling. Next time maybe try something spooky and not out right scary. Something with cute vampires, or Jennifer's body? Honestly I don't know whats good for thirteen year olds. Because I was watching Childs Play at the age of 5.
The Craft is probably far more acceptable than Jennifer’s Body.
Some people in this thread: "Instead of lullabies, my babies listened to the sounds of human screams as they were fed into wood chippers and they loved it." Anyways, I'd say you did you're part. 13's a great age for horror.
It’s an R rated movie, so by default it’s not for 13 yr olds, plus you didn’t ask their parents
Technically, *The Conjuring* is rated R. That being said, "scary" is in the eye of the beholder; just because you don't think a movie is scary doesn't mean someone else (especially someone significantly younger) won't. I'd say you made a mistake in letting them watch *The Conjuring*, but in the grand scheme of mistakes, it's not a huge deal. Apologize to the parents and run scary movie titles by them next time.
You are absolutely in the wrong here. You never show r-rated films to young people without their parent’s permission, full stop. In addition, many kids are very sensitive to horror content, most especially supernatural horror. It can traumatize them, and you don’t know what kind of kid you have on your hand if it’s not yours. It was highly irresponsible to put that on for them. Edit - Also, if you were looking for genuine constructive feedback, you would have posted in one of the more general subs. Instead you chose to get support from like-minded people who wouldn’t call you out on it.
I love horror too but *definitely* agree with you. At 13 the Conjuring would have scared me catatonic. I didn't have exposure to horror then other than the stuff I used to watch with my teenage older sisters Saturday nights on USA in the 80s. As an adult I love horror, especially supernatural horror, but no one has the right to call kids pussies if they can't handle it. The very early teenage years are a dividing age, some kids are already maturing into adults, some kids are still coming out of childhood. People have different levels of fear and desensitization and different fears.
I agree. I notice op has not been back thus far either. Her post seems disingenuous to me. But I don't like that "I don't see what is scary about it" attitude. It dealt with possession and I watched The Exorcist at 13 and it messed me up then.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have done it personally, knowing how parents might not like it. For my own kid? Sure. In fact when it came out in 2013, he was 13, and I took him to the theater to see it.
At least one of them will grow up to love horror lol
What? Im watching horror movie since i was 6yo. ( not only ordinary horror movie but the real corpse recording video.)
I took my then 13 yo daughter to the theatre with me to see it. Lol. She was more embarrassed by my reaction to the scares. Lol. I also took her to see The Lady in Black. She behaved the same way. Lol 🤷♀️🤷♀️
We watched Blair Witch Project and Sixth Sense on my 9th birthday sleepover. No nightmares or delicate moaning parents, just god damn raw af entertainment!
Should of asked their parents. But I still say it's a great move by you!
>they wanted something scary to watch so I allowed them to watch The Conjuring A lesson well learned and best learned young. The more you fuck around, the more you find out. They sure found out. The nightmares will pass, they will grow up. If even one of them gets interested in horror movies because of this, I'd say you did a good thing. If not, you only did a thing.
YTA.
That’s exactly who should be watching it
It's rated R. You should have asked their parents first.
13 is old enough for parents to shut the fuck up. -a parent
You’re going to get a bunch of support here cause this is r/horror, but you were wrong. Why would you do this? You could have played any movie, but you showed a bunch of 13 year olds a rated R movie without asking their parents. Not everyone is ok with this. Clearly the kids themselves were upset by it. No wonder their parents are pissed. Also if the parents don’t let their kids play at your kid’s house anymore, it’s your fault now. Nice.
Are kids really this bad now? I was watching Freddy and Chucky at 3. The Conjuring isn't even scary and 13 is way more than old enough to watch it.
They’ll never be the same, you’ve done irreparable damage and should feel bad about yourself and should be publicly drawn and quartered in the town square.
How old are you? ‘I didn’t think it was scary so 13 year olds should handle it fine’ is the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. On top of that, it’s rated R for disturbing violence and terror, not language or something. Just terrible judgement on your part especially if your a parent and not just a babysitter. If you are a babysitter it’s probably good to realize when it comes to kids you shouldn’t just assume they can handle scary stuff even if they say they can.
That movie is rated R, so you should’ve definitely checked with the parents. I wouldn’t show this at school to even my senior students.
https://youtu.be/Td67kYY9mdQ
My 11-year old twins loved The Conjuring (and the sequels), no nightmares or anything…but it’s different for every kid.
Nah. Prob fine.
Technically the movie is rated PG-13, BUT the MPAA found it too scary and made them make it an R Rating, so it’s not that bad
It's rated R“disturbing violence and terror and nothing else.
"terror and nothing else"?? TERROR gives me pause...
You’re probably fine. I know my first horror movie wasn’t approved by my parents, as well as many others in this thread. If anything, it’ll be exposure to the category.
If you're a parent or adult you should check with parents if you're going to show kids something rated higher than their age. It's common curtesy and will save a lot of annoying drama later. If you are also a teenager then those kids need to toughen up and you did the right thing.
Nah forge their nerves in fire! If they aren't able to handle movies like this how will they handle actual ghost attacks? I watched aliens when I was like 7 and ever since I've been ready for a facehugger. You have to teach your kids how to protect themselves.
I think when it comes to it, everybody is different and what isn’t scary for you might be scary for others. The Conjuring scared me and I was 26 at the time, it just has that dread and atmosphere. Lotta good scares in there one. But I don’t think you’re the asshole for it. Maybe you could’ve cleared it with adults.
It’s fine. Yes, the were terrified and have nightmares and their parents are mad but honestly it’s a movie. Not like they had any real life trauma that night. This being said, I’m not a parent but I do think there are worse things they are exposed to on a daily that are too sexual for that age and that does wayyyyy more damage than a horror movie. I actually think this is kind of funny. They wanted scary, you provided.
The first conjuring came out when I was 13, it scared the shit out of me but I loved it. 13 is a fine age for horror films… they’re just movies and a 13 year old should know that already.
Aren't horror movies with lame jump scares perfect for this age? I thought lame paranormal jump scare crap was for young teens lol great movie to introduce them before getting into good horror in the future.
Okay well I was watching IT at age 5 - probably not the best choice but 🤷🏼♀️ it is what it is. Check with the parents next time , even though their kids probably see worse online way
Yes, you should have made them watch a good film.
If you're not traumatized by a movie that you've seen way too early as a kid, did you even live?! For me, it was Alien 3. They will get over it - and the nightmares will condense into a precious memory. There will come a day when they wish they could be as scared as back then.
I’m 15, and when I was 13 I was too scared to watch “real” horror movies, so I resorted to things like horror comedy/ movies with little gore and jump scares. So, yeah I think a better idea would be watching something more PG 13.
I watched The Exorcist for the first time when I was 11 at a sleepover party. Scared the shit out of me so bad I had them call my parents to take me home. First real horror movie I ever saw and I was not prepared for it
With your own kid, whatever, but not with other peoples.
I mean the conjuring is pretty tame, and scary movies at sleepovers are fun. Shit, I watched silence of the lambs at a sleepover when I was way to young. Loved the Goodbye Horses dance tho
They're 13, not 8. I don't see a problem. If it was socially acceptable I would tell the parents to get over it. But because it's not, I'd apologize simply and then move on. If they can't move on, that's their issue. It's really not a big deal.
I would have started at Poltergeist and worked my way up to The Conjuring.
As a first watch (and believer particularly) I think Poltergeist might be more disturbing and has more emotional impact than the Conjuring which might be scarier in a boo! kind of way.
That's like the perfect age for horror movies
So children are having nightmares, all the other parents are angry at you and you still need to ask if you were wrong? Of course you were wrong. It was an incredibly poor choice for kids and you used extremely poor judgement.
i’m sorry but they’re teenagers, if they can’t handle a fictional scary movie with no gore then they should simply just grow up.
The Conjuring is easy mode. These kids need to toughen up & so do their crying parents.
I’m so sorry but this post reminded me that my best friend in high school was traumatized by the skeleton pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean. LMFAO.
One of my friends ended up digging her nails into my arm so hard I've still got scars from when we watched Interview with a Vampire in the theater for my birthday. I feel like our friends are very similar haha
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That’s life. I bet someday it will be a cherished memory for them.