Teens Buying Gory Movies
"The story, told entirely through song, details the intersecting secrets of people living in a world where a mysterious virus has caused random organ failure and forced people to resort to leasing cloned organs, at a very high price. "
I understand that there is a great deal of violence and gore as well as sexual content. (grave robbers, organs being ripped out of people, etc.)
My son is 16 and will be able to purchase this without my permission in a year or two. However, I would never be able to watch this or even be in the room when he watches it. I would be partly willing to let him have it, because I think that teens grow out of their taste for this type of entertainment, and if I say no it will be that much more appealing. However, my husband wouldn't even want it in the house, if he knew. We were more involved in these choices when he was younger.
Denise’s thoughts: If purchasing this movie will go against your family’s values and produce hard feelings with your husband should he find out, then by no means should you allow your son to purchase the movie. While it’s not so bad of a movie, it does go against your family’s rules, which is the foundation of the love and respect you have for one another – something you need to protect because your teen will really need it as he approaches young adulthood. He’ll need it much more than a gory movie.
From our parenting community: Would you allow the movie to be purchased? Share your thoughts, experiences and advice in the comments area.
I agree with Denise, if your husband wouldn’t want it in the house then by no means should your son have the movie. To smooth it over and not just NO, explain that its not the kind of thing that your or husband want in your home. Explain that your not saying he can’t watch it, you are saying he can’t OWN it. Another words your not making it forbidden, just don’t want it in your home. Let him know not buying it is showing respect for his parents feelings, but you understand that he enjoys the gore and are not saying he can never watch it, you just feel its not something you want in the house.
While your son may react to the NO, by explaining the why and the respect issue and how you feel about it being in house you are getting across your values, while not making it off limits completely. (My husband would die if my dauhter got a tattoo, she is talking about at age 14, so I told her you have to be 18 and even then you have to go with my friend, this has made it not forbidden, but something that you have to be an adult to do, she is content and won’t go behind our backs cause we just said NO.)
Thanks!
I agree with Denise and Fanny. If it goes against your values by all means do not buy it! I don’t think blood and guts is bad especially for a 16 year old however, sexual content is. I don’t think there are any movies any more that don’t have sexual content in them which is really sad. I do suggest a DVD player that we have purchased called Clear Play. It lets you download filters for movies. You can control how much blood and gore your child see’s, how much cussing etc… The only downfall is not all movies are available for filters to downlad but it is worth looking into!
I assure you he is going to see the movie no matter what you do….there are copies everywhere, and this movie in particular is rampantly popular right now. I own and love this particular movie, and would let my 13 year old watch it, because of the story line of a teen growing up with the parents trying to right by her. (and I like the music) The gore is very strong, but the sexual contact is mild…skimpy costumes and posing mostly.
All that said, I respect your choice of not allowing your teen to buy it, or to have it in your home. The values you are teaching are worth more than ANY movie. I’m just warning you not to freak out when you find out he’s already seen it.
I also agree with Denise and Fanny as far as owing the movie and having it in your home, but I wouldn’t worry about your son wanting to see it. I’ve been watching horror movies my entire life, even as a child. I realize they weren’t as graphic, and the subject matter was a lot less bizarre than today’s movies, but I can assure you they did me no harm. My 17 year old son also loves these type of movies, and we frequently watch them together. We have seen all the “Saw” movies and absolutely love them. I’m not sure why we enjoy gory and graphic films, but I do know they have no negative effect on our lives. So I wouldn’t worry about your son’s choice in movies. He probably has a great imagination!
I for one have seen the film. It is done in a over the top manner and is not as horrific as one might imagine. One thing I will add is there are quite a few tracks in the film that may just pique the ear of an opera aficionado. This may perhaps, even lead your son to explore classical opera such as Die Fledermaus, Carmen, The Marriage of FIgaro, and Pagliacci. Seeing as how your son is an intelligent individual I am certain that 90 minutes of Karo syrup dyed red will hardly make him abandon a life of healthy morals. In fact in the film the young heroine spends a good part railing against her over protective parents only to learn at the end that her father was right and that she loves him very much. This moral could in fact make your son realize that you are only looking out for his best interests later on down the road on more serious topics such as drugs, alcohol, teenage sex, and others.
Regardless of the nature of the movies or games, I always think that forbidding teenagers to do something is an invitation for them to do it. My 17 year-old likes violent movies and games. I have always made it clear that I do not agree with them and the reasons why, but I allow him to watch them at home, as oppose to him watching them in somebody else’s home without me knowing it, so that I can follow what he is up to. Demystifying things with the proper explanation of values and principles instead of forbidding allows kids to develop well-founded choices in life.