Since my daughter broke her collar she has been in the house all week. She is obviously not feeling well and is in pain. Today, she was feeling a bit better so I told her I would take her to the movies.
We had seen the preview for the movie “Dark Shadows” starring Johnny Depp a few times. The previews for the movie looked hilarious. So, I took her and and two of her friends with us, as well.
“Dark Shadows” is rated PG-13. We have seen other movies with the same rating such as “Transformers” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” So, I did not think twice when I saw “PG-13” as I looked up the movie times.
I should have thought twice.
The preview to this movie may have been the most misleading preview I have ever seen. I laughed through the entire 2 minute and 33 second trailer. Now, I think they squeezed in every funny part of the movie during those 2 minutes.
There were a lot of other kids in the movie theater, as well. I was not the only person duped by the previews.
The first preview before the movie started was “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.” It’s a cartoon. The next preview was “Gangster Land.” It was not a cartoon. The rest of the previews were Rated R previews. Who plans the preview line-up for a particular movie? How can a movie theater jump from a cartoon preview to a gangster preview?
Once the movie started… there was a lot of blood. It was fake and bright red, but it was still blood. Everything was over-the-top fake, so I am assuming this is how they got the PG-13 rating. But, to three kids (and a mom/chaperone) that were expecting a comedy, it was shocking.
Not only did I traumatize my own kid… I had my friend’s kids with me! I must have said 47 times… “Kids, I’m so sorry… this is supposed to be PG-13” or “How can this be rated PG-13?” My comments were endless, but they all involved my shock at the rating.
When the movie was over… I did my “walk of shame” and told the neighbor girls I would call their mom to let her know the movie was not what I expected. My friend was more than kind and hopefully not mad at me for bringing her kids to see… a horror movie that earned a PG-13 rating.
I thought I did my homework. I watched the trailer several times and saw the preview in the movie theater. I assumed it would be tame. I thought it would be just another comedy. I missed the part that listed the movie as a comedy horror. I only noticed that bit when I sat down here to vent about my discontent about the rating. I still don’t think horror and PG-13 belong in the same sentence. I guess I am wrong.
Hopefully, nobody will have nightmares about fake blood and vampires tonight.
Next time I bring my kids to the movies and the movie is not rated with a solid G… I will read every, single descriptive word that Fandango offers.
Especially if I am bringing the neighbor kids with me.
the coffee club (and me) 