What Age is Appropriate for Children to Watch A Nightmare on Elm Street; Englund & Langenkamp Respond

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As a film enthusiast who grew up in the ’80s, I can vividly remember the thrill of sneaking peeks at horror movies that were deemed off-limits for my age group. The iconic figure of Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street was one such character that left an indelible mark on my young mind.

Times evolve, and so does the maturity level suitable for kids to watch horror films. In an interview with ComicBook, some stars expressed their thoughts on the acceptable age for children to view the narrative of a grotesquely disfigured, child-slaughtering nightmare demon.

In the 80s, children showed a peculiar fascination with horror films. They found ways to catch glimpses or peek at VHS covers in video stores, despite being occasionally chased out by parents. Back then, content wasn’t as readily accessible as it is today. However, you might be taken aback by the opinion of the stars of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ regarding what age is suitable for younger viewers to watch this film.

Langenkamp: Initially, I would have said around 14, but considering the number of younger children who are now watching it, I think a more appropriate age would be about 8. It’s hard to say for sure.

In simpler terms, Englund seems to suggest that the level of intensity in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy movies has significantly increased. Shows like Game of Thrones contain mature content, yet it might appear tame compared to some current productions. Therefore, he implies that a 12-year-old could probably watch such films without worry.

Robert Englund Believes Freddy Can Be a Good Teacher to Small Children

Some parents may refuse to let their kids watch horror movies such as “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, but Englund argues that it’s beneficial for children to be frightened by characters like Freddy Krueger at a young age. His reasoning is that this could help them understand the concept of “stranger danger” more effectively. He further explained:

“You’d be safe at 12, but here’s the thing: younger kids accidentally see it sometimes, and these are the kids that haven’t been taught about “stranger danger” and the evils of the world yet. And they watch it as a dark — it scares them, but they watch it like a dark fairy tale, almost like a Brothers Grimm. They don’t watch it as this could be part of society, right? They see it as a cautionary fable.”

For the first time ever, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) reduced the rating of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” from 18 to 15 in the U.K. Despite facing criticism from some groups, the BBFC defended their decision by stating that the movie’s fantasy violence was relatively mild compared to most contemporary horror films. Consequently, they believed it was appropriate to adjust the film’s certificate to align with current industry standards.

Right now, you can stream “A Nightmare on Elm Street” on Apple TV+. It’s also set for a fresh digital release on October 1st, and a 4K Ultra HD release on October 15th.

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2024-09-26 19:34