ICYMI, we’re in the midst of an “everything old is new again” renaissance, and that’s especially true for 90s and early 2000s nostalgia. Luckily for those of us who fall under Millennial parenthood means we can enjoy the second coming of some of our favorite things as we grow up. Like Brendan Fraser. And necklaces. The last example? The rebirth of Scream film franchise, which began in 1996 and spawned three sequels spanning more than a decade. Now 2022 brings a long-awaited revival with Cry 5. You obviously want to watch it, right? But here’s the catch: between the nostalgic trend and the addition of a cast of young Hollywood “it” actors, your tween or teen might also be begging you to watch the long-awaited sequel (not to mention the rest of the franchise). ) . Enter the Scream parent guide.
Need to know what risky scenarios you can expect? How awkward can it be to sit next to your teenager during certain scenes? If your tween will see Ghostface in their nightmares for eternity? Keep reading.
Scream Parent’s guide: is it suitable for children?
What is the premise of Scream?
Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the original film introduced us to the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, and a group of teenagers who become the targets of a mysterious killer in Halloween costumes. Ghostface, as the killer has just been called, begins to terrorize a particular teenager by eliminating his friends and peers. The name of this teenager? Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell). Throughout the film’s sequels, nearly everyone Sid becomes close to dies at the hands of Ghostface – except for tabloid reporter Gail Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Woodsboro Sheriff Dwight “Dewey” Riley (David Arquette). ).
This year’s “requelle” picks up where the action left off in scream 4. Campbell, Cox and Arquette are back (with Marley Shelton as Deputy Sheriff Judy Hicks). But, and this is where your tween or teen’s interest in the rebooted franchise really comes into play, Ghostface has found a new group of modern-day teenagers to hunt down. The hot young cast includes Melissa Barrera (In the heights), Jenna Ortega (You), Dylan Minnette (13 reasons why), Jack Quaid (The boys), Savoy Brown Jasmine (yellow jackets), Sonia Amar (Jappeloup), Mikey Madison (better things) and Mason Gooding (Love, Victor).
What are the Scream rated movies?
If you’re a fan of the franchise, it’s probably no surprise that each Scream the film is rated R. The Motion Picture Association defines this rating as follows: “Contains adult material. Parents are encouraged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them. And since you must be 17 or older to enter an R-rated movie, anyone under 17 must have a parent or adult guardian present.
So is Scream Ok for tweens?
There’s no point in talking about absolutes when it comes to parenthood and any kind of screen time, because every parent has different thresholds. Maybe you’ve made it clear to your child that you’re not comfortable with them watching anything rated PG-13 or higher until they’re 12th grade. high school. Or maybe you let your child watch World War Z when they were seven years old. No one knows their child better than you, so ultimately it’s up to you. Yes, you’ll find studies that suggest horror movies can cause emotional issues in young children, ranging from depression to aggressive behavior. However, you will find just as many counter-arguments that point to such emotional issues, if they present, are generally of short duration. If your child is already anxious or easily frightened, his temperament indicates that he will wait until he is older.
Based on reviews from critics, parents, and even tweens and teens themselves, the consensus with the Scream frankness seems to be that your child should be older than a preteen to watch. For context, stranger things – another popular “teen” production – is rated TV-14, the MPA equivalent of PG-13. So if your child watches this and finds it too intense or scary, the Scream franchise would be a no-go. Not only are the movies clearly centered around violence (*so.many.stabbing.scenes*), but they also include a lot of mature language, some very risky behavior, and references to sexual activity. The movies have gotten more and more graphic as the franchise has progressed, which means the original might be the safest bet if your tween keeps begging to watch (and you know his loving heart horror can bear it). Hey, it’s better than giving in and letting them watch squid game, to the right?
And the teenagers?
You might have been a teenager yourself when the first movie was released. Did watching it – or any of the other R-rated films you managed to see in your youth – have a lasting impact on you? In addition to your undying love for Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard, right? Probably not. Still, Common Sense Media recommends that only children over the age of 16 watch the franchise, including the sequel. That said, the parents on the site think it’s safe for ages 14+, kids weighing 13+ should be OK. Hey, what can we say – being a parent is a dice game. Bring your child or not; someone somewhere will probably challenge your decision.
If it helps inform your choice, Slate’s Scaredy Scale rates Cry 5 a 7/10 for suspense (just on par with Jaws) and an 8/10 for gore (same as the OG Scream and Extraterrestrial). You should be aware that the film contains “exaggerated” blood scenes, “pretty strong” language, teenage drinking (plus a reference to drug use), and “several instances of gender-related dialogue “.
