Here ya go.
Alright, I’ll bite. There were times my dad took me to a “grown up” movie and I lived to regret it, somewhat. Here’s my short list of films I might’ve been better off for not seeing as a kid:
Robocop, 1987
I have to admit, watching Peter Weller’s hand getting blown off in the first minutes of the movie made me queasy. Yeesh
Gremlins, 1984
What could go wrong, right? There was a cute, adorable fuzzy creature on the playbills, if you will, but it was the first PG-13 movie in America for a reason. Actually, that’s just a rumor, as it’s explained here:
As the big man on campus, Spielberg received the brunt of this criticism. He responded by rightfully deflecting the matter to the MPAA and casually suggesting that the organization change its rating system to address these concerns. And shockingly, they listened. Within two months, the MPAA introduced a new rating: PG-13, which suggested parental guidance to children under the age of 13. This rating also mandated that only one F-bomb could be used in a PG-13 film.
So, maybe it wasn’t Gremlins, but it was another I maybe shouldn’t have watched:
Red Dawn, 1984
So let’s instill a fear of WWIII while also encouraging youth to be the fighters of the Free World. Seeing Powers Booth die was traumatic, to an extent, but the thought of dying at high school, as bad ad high school was, was terrifying.
So how about you…what’s a movie you shouldn’t have seen, if you could go back and change it?
Children of the Corn scared me the death!
The Day After got me. I was terrified of Russians and nuclear war for most of my childhood as a result. I watched the Shining at a friend’s house way too early also. That one still gives me chills. l’ll hate long hotel hallways forever.
We didn’t go to enough movies when I was a kid to have this experience. I do remember the original Nightmare on Elm Street scaring the $#!+ out of me when a friend rented it for a party.
I still haven’t watched the original Halloween.
Marley and Me.
I was dimly aware it was based on a book a guy wrote about his golden retriever. My (then) wife had read it. Assured me it was wonderful. This was a few months after I had to put down my golden, who had become suddenly ill. I liked goldens, she seemed eager to go, what could go wrong?
Well, Marley, the beloved golden, got sick. And the story was basically the family’s anguish over trying to save him. Probably mid-way through the movie, I started to cry, which quickly escalated into great, heaving, wracking sobs. Literally had to go into the lobby to try to gain control over myself. Made the mistake of sucking it up and going back in. Got to relive my own painful decision as the movie family made the agonizing decision to put Marley down. I finally had the sobs under control, but I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much in 2 hours in my entire life.
If I had a glimmer of an idea what it was about, I would never have gone to see it. Some experiences, you just don’t need to relive, or re-examine. In hindsight, I suppose I should be mad about not being told what the story was really about. At best, a tone deaf mistake. It’s been 16 or 17 years, but I haven’t made that mistake again.
I know, “it’s just a dog.” And I’m not considered an overly sentimental or sensitive person. But that one hit me hard in just the wrong place at just the wrong time. I guess I’m over it, but I won’t ever forget it. Or resent having gone to see it. Live and learn.