Generally, when you take your kid to see a G or PG movie, you kind of know what you’re going to get in terms of the trailers before the film: lots of CGI, lots of singing animals, and a handful of flatulence jokes.
(Which, TBH, is why I generally hate watching movie trailers intended for children.)
However, one group of moviegoing parents in Perth, Australia were recently served up a majorly unpleasant surprise before their screening of the new, kid-friendly Peter Rabbit film.
Instead of the typical pre-movie fare, the movie theater accidentally showed the trailer for the decidedly adult horror movie starring Toni Collette, Hereditary. (A trailer which you should probably watch at your own risk if you’re a scaredy-cat like me.)
The content of the trailer is pretty disturbing for the average adult, not to mention a theatre full of rabbit-loving children. As WA Today reports:
The trailer for the film … shows scenes of scissors being pinched into a dead pigeon’s neck, a corpse laid out in a coffin, a boy bloodily smashing his head into a desk and a man on fire, all set to tense music and sharp sound effects.
“It was dreadful. Very quickly you could tell this was not a kid’s film. Parents were yelling at the projectionist to stop, covering their kids’ eyes and ears,” one woman who had been in the audience told WA Today. “A few went out to get a staff member but she was overwhelmed and didn’t really know what to do.”
“Some parents fled the cinema with their kids in tow. Eventually, a senior staff member came in with a walkie-talkie and he shut the screen off. To his credit, he apologized and offered us complimentary movie passes to make up for it.”
Twitter alternated between sympathizing with the kids and being devilishly entertained by the whole debacle:
this is it. the funniest headline. https://t.co/bcB7HIMIGp
— nestor? (@77lastjedi) April 26, 2018
This was my worst nightmare as a Projectionist. I once played the adverts for a 15 rated movie during a Shrek Kids club. Luckily I realised before the trailers started and other than some alcohol adverts there was no harm done ??? https://t.co/de9dtZTZXN
— Nick Ray (@ray_likethefish) April 26, 2018
I actually closed my eyes halfway through the ‘Hereditary’ trailer and just sat there (I went to the theater alone). And I’m a grown ass woman! These poor children.
— Kim Renfro (@kimrrenfro) April 26, 2018
Reminds me of the time a cinema screened Paranormal Activity 4 instead of Madagascar 3. https://t.co/diNj88tMlI
— Chloe Catchpole? (@The_Film_Girl) April 26, 2018
I mean Peter Rabbit is pretty disturbing in its own righthttps://t.co/wPLknxeIUh
— Rob Plainview (@ClooneyDisciple) April 26, 2018
To add insult to injury, the coupons the theater offered had already expired, but the theater later assured everyone that their passes would still be honored for the next 12 months.
Here’s hoping there’s some sort of coupon that can cure months of nightmares!
Fortunately, A24, the production company behind Hereditary, seemed willing to offer some emotional support.
We will consider subsidizing their child therapy. #hereditary https://t.co/ds7FPS3Wig
— A24 (@A24) April 26, 2018