Be Scared and Carry a Big Gun

posted by Momo Fali on February 18, 2012

Despite my fervent warnings, my 13 year old daughter is going to see her first scary movie today. I suppose I’ll need to make some room in my bed tonight.

It’s possible she will be like her father, who has no problem sitting in a dark house in the wee hours of the night while the TV flashes images unfit for my psyche. cough…Saw…cough. Popcorn and Paranormal Activity are not my idea of a good time.

My guess is that she’ll be more like me and won’t be able to wash the dishes without thinking someone is walking up behind her. Note: Always wash the steak knives last, so they’re within easy reach for a quick stabbing.

Maybe she will walk past a window and be startled by her own reflection, or feel the need to look in her closet and under her bed before she goes to sleep. Maybe she’ll be scared to go in the basement, or take a shower, or walk anywhere after dark. Where’s my Zoloft?

Though, I suppose it would be a good thing for this movie to scare her in the way Amityville Horror did me. I am cautious, aware, and I know how to wield a crucifix.

Not to mention that the last time my husband and I went to the shooting range, I was a way better shot.

    Comments

  • Sarah


    Amen to that Momo! I only _read_ Amityville Horror as a junior high student, and forever after saw those little red pig eyes out every window after dark when I was babysitting or home alone at night. I avoid scary movies like the plague! Will be interested to see what your daughter thinks!

  • Jo Beaufoix


    Ach I’m dreading this. E went to her first 12 film this year. She’s not 12 till August but her friends were going and she’s as ‘mature’ as them so I let her. It was a romantic comedy. Her response – boring.
    Amityville was the one that did me when i was a kid. E is like me, slightly wussy, and we’ve only just watched the first Harry Potter so I think horror films are a long way off yet. I think you did right though hon. We have to let ’em try and then be prepared to pick up the pieces.
    Good luck. X

  • alaina


    I am usually OK watching horror movies, but then after I can’t walk down our dark hallway without my chest tightening up.

    Thanks for the steak knives tip. That’s a good one.

  • Amie


    I think being exposed to scary movies at an early age had a significant impact on my fight or flight reflex–startle me and you’ll find yourself at the business end of one of the pointier parts of my anatomy. No “helpless girl tripping and sobbing through the forest” for me! Of course, I have also been known to yelp when I come around the corner at night after having left the closet door with the full-length mirror open–but I don’t run!

  • Heather


    I hope you’ll update us tomorrow (or today, now, I guess) and let us know how she fared. Hahahah. I saw the Excorcist (the original) in 6th grade at home with a bunch of girls as a sleepover and about shit myself. (Can I say shit here? HA!) I will never forget it. To this day, I cannot watch a scary movie UNLESS I am home (no theatres for me!) and even then I am spooked for days at a time when home alone in the dark. HAHAHAH!

  • BEAN


    Update, please! How’d it go???? What movie?

    Amie, I loved the ‘helpless girl forest’ visual!

  • Tara R.


    I don’t watch horror movies. Not gonna happen. Luckily, my son inherited my aversion to anything scary.

    Hopefully, your daughter will be immune to the after effects.

  • Anne Weber-Falk


    We saw The Woman in Black yesterday. There were several ten(?) year old girls waiting to see Daniel Radcliff. Very chatty and jumpy with excitement. It was a different scene once the movie ended though. So serious and Dad was bent over them talking them down from the movie. It was pretty creepy.

  • UP


    Or, put the dishes in the dishwasher, and keep a knife handy at all times!

    UP

  • Stacey


    I cannot watch horror movies. I’m far too skittish for serial killers, monsters, ghosts, or gore. Even psychological thrillers will keep me awake for days.

  • Jennifer


    I can NOT watch scary movies. I really wanted to see the Woman in Black, but I know it would freak me out.

  • meleah rebeccah


    Oh boy. Scary movies are a total NO NO for me. However, my 15 year old son had no problems watching horror flicks.

  • mara


    Nothing scares these kids. Although, my 17 year old daughter thought monsters lived in the basement until last year. Personally Cape Fear did it for me forever. Now, I’m a real chicken.

  • Steph R


    So how did it go? Did she enjoy it?
    Im somewhere in the middle I enjoy scary movies as long as Im not home alone, and for the most part my kids are the same way. As long as someones in the room with them they will watch them (age appropriate films of course).

  • rajean


    How did it go? I bet your electric bill will suffer for a while. My kids always leave every light on in the house after they are scared by a movie. But then again, their mother always sleeps with a sheet over her body, even when she’s warm, ‘just in case.’

  • Amanda


    Oh god. I love scary movies, but they cause me serious psychological distress. haha. especially since I had kids. I can only watch them every once in a while because I get all panicky thinking about ghosts and murderers.

  • teresa faidley


    How did it go? we all love scary movies in my house but every time we watch one I have to tell the kids now I don’t want you going out and doing this lol.

  • Jacqui @SnglPrntRetreat


    My daughter loves scary movies. As long as knives are not involved, she is good to go! She is thinking she wants to go see Lady in Black. I am refusing to go to that one, but, her step-mom wants to see it as well. So, she may go with her.

    How did your daughter handle it?

  • mistee dawn


    My daughter is only 6, so I don’t have to worry about that yet. But I do like scary movies, myself. But I still check under my bed, too. lol.

  • Sara


    Haha! That made me smile! 🙂
    I remember sleeping in mom’s room the 1st time i watched a horror movie!

  • Sara


    Haha! That made me smile!
    I remember sleeping in mom’s room the 1st time i watched a horror movie!

  • Katja of Skimbaco


    I used to be able to watch scary movies but after becoming a mom (um, almost 12 years ago..) I can’t do it anymore! I can’t watch scary movies at all, or I will think of all horrible things & see nightmares.. um, not for me. And I try to keep my kids away from them too, but not always easy, especially since my hubby thinks I’m paranoid… Am I..? (haha)

  • Corrin


    I saw my first scary movie in high school (the horribly cheesy Scream) and was scared out of my wits. I don’t think I’ve seen a scary movie since.

  • Ranchgurl


    I’ve always hated scary movies… they keep me up at night! Hope she was able to sleep 😀

  • hollow tree ventures


    I’m with you on this – I still walk with caution past tv screens after seeing The Ring. ::shiver::

  • the mama bird diaries


    Scary movies are like a teen right of passage. But I can not stand them. Scare the crap out of me. A Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy is scary enough for me.