Horror movie ‘screened’ at summer camp for children

A summer camp has stirred up controversy after a horror movie was allegedly screened for children as young as five years old. According to legal norms, horror movies can only be screened for those older than 17 and the movie screened was R-rated. The organising committee of the camp is now under scrutiny after parents of many children became upset over the movie screening. However, it is learnt that the organisers, instead of apologising removed the complaining parent’s ward from the camp.

Speaking to Tribune, one of the disgruntled parents, said: “My son has been participating in the summer camp for the past few years and we have always been happy with the previous organising committees of the camp. “However, what happened this year is deplorable. They aired a horror movie for young children to watch. The movie ‘Annabelle’ was screened for children as young as five years old.

“The camp was for children between the age of 5 and 15. When I questioned them about this they said that the children were given the choice to watch or not. “This was ridiculous because children obviously want to watch movies and they would not think that a scary movie may affect their mental health,” said the parent, who did not want to disclose her name.

“As a parent, I mentioned this issue on the camp’s WhatsApp group. The group comprised all parents and many were upset about it. “One of the organisers assured me that this would not happen again. However, to my surprise when my son attended camp four days later he was publicly humiliated by a sports teacher and was asked why his mom wrote the complaint on the group chat.

“He was also told that the camp was the best summer camp in the Kingdom and was asked to leave if he doesn’t like it. When I questioned the teacher, he refused to answer,” she said.‘ When I wrote this on WhatsApp group, demanding an apology from the teacher, I was blocked from the group. Later, I received a call from the camp reception office, informing me that I could collect 50 per cent of the fee paid for the camp.

“My son, 11 years old, was unwilling to attend that camp after becoming extremely nervous. He was too much scared after watching the horror movie. I am worried about kids who are much younger than him.” “I want authorities to take action as children should not be made to watch movies whose contents are not appropriate for their age.” Many summer camps are being held for the children of different ages, across the Kingdom.