{"id":13764,"date":"2016-10-18T23:56:01","date_gmt":"2016-10-19T06:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/?p=13764"},"modified":"2016-10-20T18:59:16","modified_gmt":"2016-10-21T01:59:16","slug":"horror-film-countdown-day-18-movies-anxious-parents-should-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/horror-film-countdown-day-18-movies-anxious-parents-should-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"Horror Film Countdown Day 18 \u2013 Movies Anxious Parents Should Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to our countdown to the most anxiety-inducing horror films for parents! \u00a0Day eighteen of our countdown and we are on movie number fourteen!<\/p>\n

Each day, we are covering the films I both love and hate because they\u2019re awesome and they give me panic attacks now that I\u2019m a mom.<\/p>\n

\"trickrtreat\"<\/p>\n

Welcome back! \u00a0Today we spend some time with another sweet, unsuspecting mother who loves her son and would do anything for him. \u00a0The best home, the best schools, the best watch dog, the best nanny…<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: Trigger warnings are a given when you talk about horror, but I\u2019m going to say it anyway.\u00a0 Many subjects covered by horror films are disturbing to parents\u00a0in ways we can\u2019t possibly understand and each is unique to the parent and his\/her\u00a0experiences. Tread carefully and know your limits. \u00a0If this begins to be too much, there\u2019s no shame in closing the window. \u00a0Also, this post contains some spoilers throughout.\u00a0<\/em><\/h5>\n

<\/p>\n

14. The Omen (1976)<\/p>\n

\"Title:<\/p>\n

So, here is a movie older than I am. \u00a0It came out the same year Interview with a Vampire was published, the year Rocky came out,\u00a0the year of the corduroy suit. \u00a0A year before Star Wars was released, this film produced by Fox was profoundly more popular and impactful than anyone anticipated and once you see it, there’s no question why it continues to be on most everyone’s top 10 list of best horror films ever made.<\/p>\n

When I saw it the first time, it was “fun”, had some great imagery, a good story, proper good film all around.\u00a0W<\/span>atching this movie again after so many years was like seeing it for the first time. \u00a0New things struck me in a way I had barely noticed\u00a0before and all related to being a mom.<\/span><\/p>\n

A father’s son dies. \u00a0He accepts an orphan child in its place, one who was born at the same time his own child was born. \u00a0He never tells his wife, he simply replaced the child and put it in her arms.<\/p>\n

Okay, I realize it’s the 70’s and birth happened differently back then, but seriously? \u00a0The father thought it was in his wife’s best interest. \u00a0“The mother died the very moment your baby died… she (the wife) never needs to know. \u00a0God has\u00a0<\/em>given you a son this night…. take the blessing.” \u00a0Seriously if ANYONE thought a mother wouldn’t lose her damn mind if this happened to her and she EVER found out, they’re just insane.<\/p>\n

\"the-omen-1976-gregory-peck-baby-nun-priest-reflections\"<\/p>\n

As the child grows, he is\u00a0nearly always in the arms of his nanny until his fifth birthday. \u00a0The mother suddenly takes special interest in him after seeing a photographer snapping pictures of her son in the arms of a nanny. \u00a0Suddenly growing a conscience, she takes her child for her OWN photos, leaving the nanny feeling useless. \u00a0She then catches the eye of a black dog in the woods to seems to speak to her somehow. The party continues and the little family seems happy, blessed with good fortune and joy until the faithful nanny throws herself off a roof in front of a lawn of party guests, cheerfully exclaiming that famous line, “It’s all for you, Damien!”.<\/p>\n

\"maxresdefault\"<\/p>\n

The story picks up the pace as the nanny is mysteriously replaced by “the agency”. \u00a0A pushy, stern woman takes over the nanny duties while mother and father seem bewildered, yet somehow, not suspicious. \u00a0How could you not be suspicious enough of this creepy looking woman who showed up uninvited to live in your home and watch your kid? \u00a0This lady would be out the door and on her way to being investigated in about four seconds. \u00a0Instead, they just smile sheepishly and carry on with this “it must be fine” sort of attitude.\u00a0Different times, I guess…<\/p>\n

I also noticed during and after Damien’s first major outburst, the first clue that something was wrong\u00a0– he became petrified at the idea of having to walk into a church and reacted violently against his mother. He begins screaming desperately, begging them to leave. \u00a0Now, as a mother of a child with autism, I am no stranger to the meltdown over something that seems fine to me. \u00a0I am 100% certain I’d have reacted the same way as his parents; get him out of the place he’s terrified of and go home where he feels safe. \u00a0The problem is, the mother is in denial as the father considers that maybe there is something wrong.\u00a0 Everything is fine, she says.. it was\u00a0“just a fright”, that’s all. \u00a0I mean, really, who would suspect your child is actually the son of the Devil and is terrified of churches because he might explode?<\/p>\n

The issues with the nanny continue as she oversteps her boundaries, pushes her opinion, brings a creepy dog into the house then refuses to get rid of it. \u00a0She clearly has an unhealthy attachment and sense of ownership over the boy, yet the parents do nothing. \u00a0This brings a common mom anxiety to light; does my childcare worker really love my child? \u00a0Do they respect my authority and parenting style? \u00a0Are they being kind to my children when I leave? \u00a0Can I trust them? \u00a0Are they filling my child with terrible thoughts or ideas? \u00a0This is a fear every mother has experienced as she kisses her babies goodbye and hands them to someone else. \u00a0Sure, they might not all be minions of Satan, but sometimes nannys are terrible humans. We take that risk every time we open our homes and our trust to a childcare worker.<\/p>\n

\"the-omen-billie-whitelaw-1976\"<\/p>\n

As the film progresses and we see the father come into an understanding of what his “son” really is, we also see the mother, still unsuspecting. \u00a0She falls into a depression. She has anxiety about her child and a deep sense that she cannot be a mother again. \u00a0Soon after realizing she is pregnant, she is knocked off balance by her son and falls from a balcony, killing the baby inside her. \u00a0All while little Damien watches from above.<\/p>\n

\"the-omen-1976-2\"<\/p>\n

At the same time, the father is learning more about the history of the birth and unraveling the mystery of who is child really is. \u00a0SO, he figures out that his actual son was murdered by Satanists and he was given the child of Satan to raise as his own,\u00a0his wife is murdered, his friend is decapitated and he is given a series of ancient knives to sacrifice his son upon the altar of God on hallowed ground.<\/p>\n

\"originalsevendaggers\"<\/p>\n

Here’s the issue; \u00a0As his (the Devil’s) son cries and screams for him to stop hurting him, “daddy please, don’t! \u00a0Daddy! \u00a0Don’t hurt me, please!” my heart tore from my chest at the thought of all the actual children who have been murdered at the hands of some “holy” person throughout history because they believed them to be evil. \u00a0This film brings to light just how dark faith can be.<\/p>\n

Damien is the same age as my own son and only a year older than my daughter, so naturally, I think about them as I watch it. \u00a0The idea of someone believing such horrors of my own child or wanting to do harm to him in the name of their god terrifies me. \u00a0Sure, in this film it was warranted – I mean, Damien actually WAS the child of Satan, but crazy people are out there and they believe they have the power of God\u00a0behind them as they do terrible things to their fellow man. That is a real thing. \u00a0Not a make-believe horror film. \u00a0The zealous fanatics are real people and they are out there – in all forms, of all faiths, in all nations.<\/p>\n

When I see this film, I know it’s about\u00a0“the son of the Devil”, but that’s not what i see. \u00a0I see a little boy whose father is manipulated and convinced to kill his child. \u00a0I know this is the point… to leave a shadow of doubt in the seed of both the father and in the viewer: have sympathy for the devil and you never know, maybe he’s not so bad after all.<\/p>\n

\"screen-shot-2016-10-20-at-1-01-04-pm\"<\/p>\n

Of course, that’s what he wants you to think….<\/p>\n

Only thirteen movies to go before Halloween and the reveal of the most panic-inducing horror film a parent could ever watch! \u00a0Keep up and stay tuned!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to our countdown to the most anxiety-inducing horror films for parents! \u00a0Day eighteen of our countdown and we are on movie number fourteen! Each day, we are covering the films I both love and hate because they\u2019re awesome and they give me panic attacks now that I\u2019m a mom. Welcome back! \u00a0Today we spend […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[4,9,14],"tags":[487,544,501,543],"class_list":["post-13764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-and-reviews","category-lessons-from-the-mother-ship","category-news","tag-halloween-countdown","tag-horror-film-countdown","tag-horror-films-for-anxious-parents","tag-the-omen"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1opIU-3A0","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13577,"url":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/horror-film-countdown-movies-anxious-parents-should-avoid\/","url_meta":{"origin":13764,"position":0},"title":"Horror Film Countdown Day 1 – Movies Anxious Parents Should Avoid","author":"Janelle","date":"October 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Happy Halloween season, everyone! \u00a0It's October 1st and officially Halloween time, so here- have a countdown list! \u00a0It's a fun, little exploration inside the mind of a\u00a0parent with anxiety who also love horror films! Each day we will cover an aspect of my personal brand of crazy as it relates\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories","link":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/category\/blog-and-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"trickrtreat","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/trickrtreat-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13598,"url":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/horror-film-countdown-day-4-movies-anxious-parents-should-avoid\/","url_meta":{"origin":13764,"position":1},"title":"Horror Film Countdown Day 4 \u2013 Movies Anxious Parents Should Avoid","author":"Janelle","date":"October 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Welcome to our countdown to the most anxiety-inducing horror films for parents! \u00a0Today we are on day four and today, I admit.. I kind of cheated. Each day, we are covering the films I both love and hate because they\u2019re awesome and they give me panic attacks now that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories","link":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/category\/blog-and-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"trickrtreat","src":"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/trickrtreat.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13646,"url":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/horror-film-countdown-day-9-movies-anxious-parents-should-avoid\/","url_meta":{"origin":13764,"position":2},"title":"Horror Film Countdown Day 9 \u2013 Movies Anxious Parents Should Avoid","author":"Janelle","date":"October 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome to our countdown to the most anxiety-inducing horror films for parents! \u00a0Today\u00a0is day nine. Each day, we are covering the films I both love and hate because they\u2019re awesome and they give me panic attacks now that I\u2019m a mom. The movie of the day is a personal\u00a0favorite in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories","link":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/category\/blog-and-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"trickrtreat","src":"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/trickrtreat.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13596,"url":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/horror-film-countdown-day-3-movies-anxious-parents-should-avoid\/","url_meta":{"origin":13764,"position":3},"title":"Horror Film Countdown Day 3 \u2013 Movies Anxious Parents Should Avoid","author":"Janelle","date":"October 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"If you haven't stopped by so far this month, let me sum up; Lessons From the Mothership is doing a Halloween countdown just for parents!! Each day, we are covering the films I both love and hate because they're awesome and they give me panic attacks. \u00a0These are 31 of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories","link":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/category\/blog-and-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"trickrtreat","src":"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/trickrtreat.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13603,"url":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/horror-film-countdown-day-5-movies-anxious-parents-should-avoid\/","url_meta":{"origin":13764,"position":4},"title":"Horror Film Countdown Day 5 \u2013 Movies Anxious Parents Should Avoid","author":"Janelle","date":"October 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome to our countdown to the most anxiety-inducing horror films for parents! \u00a0Today\u00a0is day five. Each day, we are covering the films I both love and hate because they\u2019re awesome and they give me panic attacks now that I\u2019m a mom. Today's movies are special to my heart, as they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories","link":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/category\/blog-and-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"trickrtreat","src":"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/trickrtreat.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13582,"url":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/horror-film-countdown-day-2-movies-anxious-parents-should-avoid\/","url_meta":{"origin":13764,"position":5},"title":"Horror Film Countdown Day 2 – Movies Anxious Parents Should Avoid","author":"Janelle","date":"October 2, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"To recap this series; Each day we will cover an aspect of my personal brand of crazy as it relates to the films I love and how they affect me as a mom by listing the most anxiety-inducing films I, personally, have ever seen. It's October 2nd and today we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs\/Reviews\/Stories","link":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/category\/blog-and-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"trickrtreat","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/trickrtreat-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13764"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13794,"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13764\/revisions\/13794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}