THE CHILDHOOD FILM SURVEY
HOW OTHERS RESPONDED

August 2, 2004

Name of film: Never Ending Story

What was harmful about it? I was so traumatised by the scene where the horse dies in the quicksand, where the boy was crying and trying to rescue the horse but couldnt stop him from sinking under. And another film was bambi.. I was really affected when Bambis mom goes missing.. I must have seen that cartoon when I was 5 or something and Ive never watched it again, I think of bambi as a horror story!

How did it happen that you went? I saw the neverending story at a friends house on video.. My Dad took my sister and I to see Bambi at the movies because he thought we would like it.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PARENTS TODAY AS A RESULT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE? If your kid gets freaked out at sad animal stories dont take them to see movies like that! or warn them whats in them becuase if kids dont want to see something they usually dont watch it.

Belle, age 23

August 2, 2004

Name of film: tales from the darkside

What was harmful about it? It was very scarey. A college age student was living in a boarding house. There was something "bad" living in her closet. In the middle of the night this thing would try to grab her. Finally, it got her in the middle of the night and dragged her back into a small closet. The closing shot you see the owner of the baording house talking with the girl's mother on the telephone, "I don't where she is Mrs. So and so" Meanwhile he's smirking and is a cohort in her abduction. Very frightening. I had a love hate relationship with scarey things. I wanted to be scared and I wanted to break the rules by watching such scarey stuff. Then my mind would torment me over what I had seen. To this day, I am very fearful. I think scarey movies planted those seeds. I don't think they should b ebanned. I think they can serve as soem type of outlet for society. But they must be discussed and researched, regarding the effects of such things. There is an imbalance. There are not positive happy images to counter the negative/ scarey images.

How did it happen that you went? It was on prime time television.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PARENTS TODAY AS A RESULT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE? See the first response.

Ruth, age 29

July 30, 2004

Name of film: The Legend of Boggy Creek (a '70's movie)

What was harmful about it? It was based on supposedly true events in an Alabama town, where several people's homes were attacked by a Bigfoot type creature. I now know that I am an INFP and my imagination can work a little differently from a lot of folks but at the time, all I heard was "true events." I refused to watch the movie at all but just *hearing* it made it even worse - that way, my brain could attach it's own images to the sounds! As a result of that movie, I lived in fear for many years...all because of "true events."

How did it happen that you went? My dad was interested in the subject so he took my mom and I to see it. I think it was also the first monster movie I had ever been to see. I was eight years old.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PARENTS TODAY AS A RESULT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE? Be aware of how your child reacts to things, especially if they have a vivid imagination. Be sure to talk to them about it as well - don't just say, "It was just a movie!" Imagination is a wonderfully powerful thing but sometimes it can get a little crazy. They need to know that it's all right and they're going to be safe. If anything, create a ritual to "keep the monsters away," whether it is a spray bottle filled with "special monster repelling" water or an equally repellent rhyme.

Dawn, age 34

July 19, 2004

Name of film: Friday The 13th

What was harmful about it? It was extremely violent and it was stupid. I also had my first really terrible nightmare that night about it.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PARENTS TODAY AS A RESULT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE? I think parents should definetely be more involved in the lives of their children in some way or another at the time I was 17 and it was allowed for me to go and see a film that was supposed to be okay to see. I actually think that horror films like this are the worst kind of films in our society. Children should be taught of the dangers of talking to strangers and learn how to defend themselves but they should also be taught about quality viewing and learning.

Micheline

July 22, 2004

Name of film: I wasn't taken to this film but it changed my life...Psycho

What was harmful about it? The shower scene. Being viciously attacked by an unseen, surprise attacker...

How did it happen that you went? I lived in Virginia when I was 8 -11. The family was watching TV, my parents waiting for 9 o'clock so they could put us to bed and they could watch the movie on TV. A news flash came on. "Because of the murder of the Govenor's daughter, tonight's movie, Psycho, will not be shown tonight." What, mommy? Why, mommy? what happened? I got the usual: Nothing. Go to bed! Of course it was all over the news paper in the morning and I could read. Since then I was very determined to see Psycho so I could make the connection between the movie and the murdered girl. I did not see it until I was in my 20s and living on my own. It terrified me!! I could not shower or be in the tub without being able to clearly see all around me. To this day, I will not have a shower curtain I can't see through and I double check that doors and windows are locked before I get in.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PARENTS TODAY AS A RESULT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE? When children are exposed to horrifying events they need to be talked to, assured of their safety, know that their parents will protect them. What I got from my parents was complete avoidance, feelings or situations were never discussed, Less said, soonest mended? That left me perculating my deepest fears

Monta

July 22, 2004

Name of film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

What was harmful about it? I must have been 5 when I saw it. I had nightmares pretty regularly for a while, and still occasionally now. The scene with Snow White running through the stormy, dark, scary woods trying to escape the evil queen.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PARENTS TODAY AS A RESULT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE? Talk to your kids about what they have experienced from the movie. What was their favorite part? What was the scariest, etc. Allow them to discuss their fears and provide them a supportive outlet and nurturing. DO NOT! Belittle their fear!

Monta

July 18, 2004

I did not see a movie like that since they really did not make movies when I was young as they do now. Parents need to pay more attention to what they allow their children to see and what they are exposed to. We need to go back to some of the old fashioned values.

Linda Sierra