Introducing my son to horror - Starting off with 1930's Universal horror

[Neil]

So now my son is 10, I thought I'd carefully introduce him to the horror genre. I thought a nice way of doing this would be via some of the classic b&w Universal horror films which I used to love as a kid. We started with the classic "The Invisible Man" - which in my book is really more scifi than horror - and he really enjoyed it. It was interesting discussing it later when he got the slight heebee-jeebies about the idea if the invisible man was in his room, he really wouldn't know. That said, he laughed it off and was fine. On to "The Wolf Man" next...

[MinionZombie]

Good man. I jumped in at the deep end, as I've said elsewhere, aged 9 with "Alien" and "The Fly II", but those were horror/sci-fi combos, and it was the sci-fi element that made it okay for me to watch them (them being a step up from action sci-fi such as The Terminator and T2), and yet when I was that age - and older - I wasn't allowed to see Poltergeist (which was rated PG-13 in America, if I'm right in thinking). Then again, Ghostbusters was one of my favourite movies as a kid (and remains one of my all-time faves to this day), and that's got plenty of spooky goings on at an introductory level - so I think I was more drawn to horror elements from a young age. Glad your boy dug "The Invisible Man" - I got into some of the Universal monster movies during my early teens - but I didn't see "T.I.M." until quite recently (but I loved it). Actually, I thought the film was quite dark in some regards, more so than many other such films of the time, there's a real mean streak within the movie (but in a good way), and it's wonderful in visual terms too. A genuine classic. The follow-up just didn't size-up to it, though ... the sequel was alright, but it just didn't match the first film's sheer brilliance. "The Wolf Man" - another classic, and one that I enjoyed as a young teen (this was around the same time as I was digging into much gorier and scarier flicks like The Evil Dead and various slasher movies and of course Uncle George's flicks - Day of the Dead was my first intro to his work and I was blown away by it - it was a real eye opener!) My discovery of horror was mostly as a result of my own curiosity, rather than being shepharded through the genre, so he should have a really good appreciation for the genre. I think that's a cool way to get into horror - go chronologically with the classics and gradually build him up.

[Neil]

I think there's one or two more (Universal) invisible man films, so we'll probably visit those too

[shootemindehead]

What age is the boy Neil? I remember my parents were quite liberal with films for me from a young age. Although, they were a generation and a half older than me (I was a late accident). I suppose they just didn't know how to properly censor stuff for me. I remember seeing 'Alien', 'The Omen', 'An American Werewolf in London', 'Halloween I, II and III' and a host of other classics, including the Universal stuff, which I considered second tier entertainment even then. They were more of an excuse to stay up late. Frankly, none of them had the impact that 'Jaws' had on me. My parents seemed more concerned with the "sexy stuff". People getting ripped apart was perfectly fine. However, this fecker below was THE largest "scary" thing in my early childhood. He haunted my dreams for years. Attachment 1222

[slickwilly13]

You should have threw him into the shark tank like my dad did with me at age 4 or 5. Creepshow I watched the world cable debut in the early 80's. I am glad my mom was at an art show that night.

[LouCipherr]

You're doing it the right way, Neil. I was evil, I started showing my son stuff like the original Nightmare on Elm Street, some of the Friday the 13th's (first 4), and a few others as his "introduction to horror." Not sure how many read my post a while back about it, but ANOES spooked the ever-living shit out of me at age 12 - but my son, who was only a year older than I was when I saw it for the first time, wasn't phased at all by the film. Go figure.

[Mike70]

you cannot go wrong with Universal. great choice.

[Neil]

you cannot go wrong with Universal. great choice. The effects for The Invisible Man must have really have freaked people out 80yrs ago!

[bassman]

As others have said, you picked a perfect place to start. Next you should just screw his mind up and show him The Thing or The Fly.

[MinionZombie]

As others have said, you picked a perfect place to start. Next you should just screw his mind up and show him The Thing or The Fly. Oh you brilliant, evil bastard.

[Mike70]

The effects for The Invisible Man must have really have freaked people out 80yrs ago! i bet they did. there's some damn creative camera work in that flick. wasn't that Claude Rains' first movie? or was it his first starring role? can't remember and am too lazy to look it up right now. you should show him "The Thing From Another World." that has always been one of my absolute fav movies. it doesn't have anything really over the top in it.

[Neil]

wasn't that Claude Rains' first movie? or was it his first starring role? can't remember and am too lazy to look it up right now. His first real film I believe... you should show him "The Thing From Another World." that has always been one of my absolute fav movies. it doesn't have anything really over the top in it. You know... I don't ever recall watching that!

[LouCipherr]

Next you should just screw his mind up and show him The Thing or The Fly. I'll second that! Talk about childhood trauma..

[Mike70]

His first real film I believe... You know... I don't ever recall watching that! exsqueeze me? the 50's version, produced by howard hawks? that's one of the best scifi films ever! go out, find it and watch it. on a different note: i showed my son the werewolf transformation scene from "American Werewolf in London" when he was about 3 1/2 - 4. he flipped over it. looked me and said "that's the coolest thing i've ever seen!" he's been hooked since.

[LouCipherr]

i showed my son the werewolf transformation scene from "American Werewolf in London" when he was about 3 1/2 - 4. he flipped over it. looked me and said "that's the coolest thing i've ever seen!" he's been hooked since. At that age?! And he didn't completely flip his shit and end up traumatized?! I'm impressed!