Pet Peeve of the Day

A parent/parents bringing younger children in to see R-rated movies.

Frankly, anyone who brings someone who seems a bit too young for an inappropriate movie.

What do I consider ‘too young?’ I consider someone to be too young if they’re looking horrified at the screen, or end up crying, or keeps asking questions about things beyond their psychological maturity.

What do I consider ‘inappropriate?’ Well, any rape scene, multiple sex-scenes, extremely/excessive graphic violence, and excessive vile language.

I’m not saying to keep your kids home from Harry Potter, but Harry Potter isn’t rated R! It isn’t rated R for a reason!

However, movies such as Hobo with a Shotgun (which is unrated, by the way) is probably unrated for a reason. They didn’t neglect to stamp it with a rating, let’s use our heads here.

Other movies like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo are rated R for good reasons. I’ve heard tell of a mother bringing her (approximately) 7-10 year old children to see it. Two rape scenes are probably not the most enjoyable thing for children to see. Just my opinion.

I understand several things:

·      I know I cannot tell/suggest/even approach a parent and tell them how to parent their children. I know this. But I don’t think I should be faulted if I inform a parent that a movie is, in fact, vastly too inappropriate for the eyes of a young viewer. Politely.

·      I know it is none of my business what anybody does.

·      I know by condemning one type of violence, it naturally logically follows that I must condemn any type of violence. So rape isn’t allowed but murder is? Nope, violence is violence. However, there are degrees of violence, and there is a pretty OKAY rating system that helps people discern what kind/measure of violence they’re about to see.

As far as I’m concerned, if someone is too young to distinguish reality from fantasy, they should not be watching a film beyond their age rating. If an audience member is crying and staring with anguish and horror at the scream, probably not appropriate. I’m all for exposure and educating people on the realities of the world, but let’s face it… you can do it in a delicate way. I’ve seen pretty violent movies (and love some of them to pieces) but I still can’t sit through the entirety of Hostel. Not because it’s inappropriate for me, but because I know where my threshold is, and Hostel passes it. If someone is used to seeing Disney movies and Pixar wholesomeness, the next film you bring them to probably shouldn’t be Straw Dogs or something. 

This is how I would watch Hostel...

This isn’t solely about younger audience members, though that is my biggest qualm… but generally my issue is about anyone who is unprepared for what they’re about to see. There really aren’t that many good excuses for ‘not knowing’ what you’re going to witness. For the movie Hostel, I knew it was going to be terrifying, disgusting, involved torture and body parts and blood and torture and eyeballs… but I chose to see it. How can I possibly complain if I am a fully consented and compliant audience member?

I think my main point is that people (parents, guardians, any audience member in fact) should do their research before going into a movie. Know whether you’re going to be supremely offended. Know if you’re going to scar the younger person you’ve brought. It is so easy, there are rating systems ALL over the Internet, there are film synopses and ratings in the theatre when you buy tickets… I just don’t believe anymore (in this technological age) that you just ‘didn’t know it was this violence!’ Know what you’re getting yourself into!