Well, to be fair, it's not that the pointedly forbade horror movies - My dad showed me a LOT of old black and white horror and classic scifi - I think that they just weren't into modern horror so it never occurred to them to show it to me or prevent me from watching it, you know? And I didn't discover it on my own until I was older because I wasn't interested either.

Ya, before cable, if it was on TV, basically parents didn't think they had to worry. My folks didn't want us kids watching Soap for a time, but never restrictions on horror. I'd watch horror films with my mom all the time. Oddly, my folks took the family to see Jaws when I was only 6. I didn't want to dangle my legs over the bed that night.

Great story Chrono. I doubt it would scare you much now.

Watched Beast from 20,000 Fathoms the other night. I'll be posting my review and next weeks theme later tonight

My first entry into the horror genre was at five with the original Friday the 13th. My parents were never really that strict on stuff like that. They believed that I would find out about certain things anyway. In addition, even at a young age, they wanted me to learn how to make my own decisions. I mean I could not watch porn or anything like that (considering that is illegal and I would have had no interest anyway). I watched some of the older classics like Dracula (1931), which I loved and still love to this day, but most of the films I watched were newer for that time. I was and still am a huge slasher fan with Friday the 13th being my favorite franchise. I ended up introducing my nephew to horror at roughly the same age as I was. His parent, Jeannie, who was the one who actually took care of him, was completely fine with it. She had a similar policy as my parents likely due to being raised by them. His father was not as big of a fan of it though. He was pretty much absent though, ended up moving to Alaska for a few years actually. I cannot remember when I introduced my niece to horror, but she probably would have been six or seven. I did so with The Shining, which definitely terrified her. So much so she did not really watch horror for a few years. Today, she is starting to get into the genre and I look forward to introducing her.

I remember watching Interview with the Vampire at about 7, then watching Hannibal at 9. I didn't really get interested in horror until I saw the original Halloween at 12 with my sister and her friend.

The part where Michael Myers is under the bedsheet still scares me ::big grin::

You saw the uncut Friday the 13th at age 5, or some broadcast TV edit? Just my opinion, Mett, I don't think a 5 yr old is mature enough for that material. A (live action, real human) murderer, hiding everywhere, under your bed, etc, trying to literally kill you, plus the graphic violence... that seems like mental torture for a 5 yr old.

I've read some material and heard presentations from psychologists on possible/likely negative effects of graphic horror on young children, and I wouldn't recommend anyone put young children in front of horror films. No offense.

Nobody put me in front of a horror film (except that one Jaws incident). I sought them out, and choose them, on my own (if we don't count TV)... Scooby Doo, Space Giants, Ultraman, Godzilla, every type of Creature Feature TV program (classic horror), library books. None of my bro/sis were into horror except me. My mom didn't join me until years after I was already into horror, for which I think she was "returning" to horror.

Eh, I don't listen to psychologists. They don't know my story ::roll eyes::

Well, we don't want to create a story that they have to hear either. ::wink::

Just treated junior to a viewing of Cannibal Holocaust with his milk and cookies after picking him up at daycare. He's going to learn about cannibals someday anyway, so-o-o-o.....

Show him the baby rape scene from A Serbian Film, and tell him that's what's gonna happen if he misbehaves.