American Psycho for teens?
American Psycho for teens?
rebeccmam31
Featured Actor Joined: 10/21/15
#1American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 8:43am
I'm bringing two 14-year-olds to the city in April. I'm already taking them to Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen but was toying with taking them to American Psycho also. Truthfully, I think I just really want to see it, but I also feel the young man I'm bringing may enjoy it. However, I don't believe I'd let them see the movie (I have never seen the movie) and I'm wondering about the "adult" level of the show. For anyone who saw it in London or knows much about the staging, what do you think? I don't want to be selfish and put them through something that's just a little beyond them at this point. (For point of reference, my daughter has seen and loved Fun Home and Next to Normal. The boy has not seen any theater ever.)
skipgal
Chorus Member Joined: 12/12/15
#2American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 9:50am
My brother read the book when he was 15 and loved it. I saw it in London and it does have some sex and violence but nothing beyond what he could easily see on TV.
#3American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 9:52am
While I saw the movie when I was 13 or so, it definitely isn't "appropriate" for that age group but my parents never cared what I watched. There is an abundance of violence, sex, nudity and language though. I can't imagine the Broadway show would be that far off content wise.
#4American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 10:42am
I echo the sentiments here.
Back when the book and film were released in the late 90s/early 2000s, it pushed many limits in terms of content and subject matter. However, media has come a long way in 16 years in terms of sex/violence/nudity/language being easily accessible and less censored.
If you are worried, show him the movie and see how he reacts. Yes, it's bloody and somewhat vulgar, but there is also a lot of subtle wit and innuendo that would probably go over his head (especially for a film set in the 1980s).
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dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#5American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 11:13am
I'm bringing a group of HS students aged 14-18 and I have to admit, I'm a tad worried. That being said, they are wicked excited, and I haven't heard a complaint from any parents about the content. My own child is in that mix but I have no worries about him, I know what he's ready for.
My concern is more about the "other" young man you are bringing and his parents. (I'm assuming a friend of your son's.) You might want to discuss with his parents before making the final decision.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
rebeccmam31
Featured Actor Joined: 10/21/15
#6American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 11:47am
dramamama611 said: "I'm bringing a group of HS students aged 14-18 and I have to admit, I'm a tad worried. That being said, they are wicked excited, and I haven't heard a complaint from any parents about the content. My own child is in that mix but I have no worries about him, I know what he's ready for. My concern is more about the "other" young man you are bringing and his parents. (I'm assuming a friend of your son's.) You might want to discuss with his parents before making the final decision."
The young man in question is my daughter's boyfriend. I would never purchase tickets without talking to his mother first, but I suspect she would agree because he is allowed to watch a wider range of movies than my own child is. That said, I think I'm going to wait and see this on a later trip. I am just unsure, and we have a very short trip with a boy who has never even been to the city before. I think I will use that time to show him something in New York that *isn't* about Broadway. Thank you all for your input!
#7American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 2:38pm
I think you've made excellent choice with Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. I want to see DEH so badly but it will be gone before my next trip in June. Hoping and fingers crossed that they transfer to Broadway for next time I'm there in November. Enjoy!!!! (they're going to go crazy over Hamilton) :)
mpkie
Broadway Star Joined: 6/21/15
#8American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 3:01pm
Very curious about the show. I doubt it will be good but happy to be proven wrong. Some of the music is posted online and it sounds terrible/boring. I assume the musical version would be more watered down for the stage and more purposefully campy. I saw the movie when I was ~15 and we found its awkwardness humorous and the intensely violent sexcapade(s) bizarre. There are also some memorable scenes and quotables. There is a lot of not-subtle stuff, so I wouldn't for example, suggest to my young teenaged cousins to ever watch the movie.
Updated On: 2/8/16 at 03:01 PM
ChiTheaterFan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/15
#9American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 3:50pm
I watched just about everything when I was 14 and was mature enough to handle it. BUT if my mom had taken me to see anything with ANY sex WITH my boyfriend I would've been mortified. So I think you've made the right choice to wait for a different trip. Every family is different, but if you do think about going you might want to ask your daughter if she's cool with sitting between her mom and her boyfriend during a sex scene. Most teenagers might find that a wee bit awkward. :)
Hope you all have a fun trip! They'll love Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen sounds awesome as well.
rebeccmam31
Featured Actor Joined: 10/21/15
#10American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 4:03pm
ChiTheaterFan said: "I watched just about everything when I was 14 and was mature enough to handle it. BUT if my mom had taken me to see anything with ANY sex WITH my boyfriend I would've been mortified. So I think you've made the right choice to wait for a different trip. Every family is different, but if you do think about going you might want to ask your daughter if she's cool with sitting between her mom and her boyfriend during a sex scene. Most teenagers might find that a wee bit awkward. :) Hope you all have a fun trip! They'll love Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen sounds awesome as well. "
Ha! Good point, that. She's definitely not ready for that--nor am I. 
rebeccmam31
Featured Actor Joined: 10/21/15
#11American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 4:06pm
A Canadian in NYC said: "I think you've made excellent choice with Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. I want to see DEH so badly but it will be gone before my next trip in June. Hoping and fingers crossed that they transfer to Broadway for next time I'm there in November. Enjoy!!!! (they're going to go crazy over Hamilton) :)"
This whole trip kind of came about because I wanted my daughter to see Dear Evan Hansen. We are taking another friend of hers to New York over Labor Day, and I wanted to take them but like you learned that it would not still be running. So then I decided to ask her boyfriend to come. I figured these two shows would help him understand my daughter's love of theater pretty well. :)
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#12American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 4:20pm
I understand what ya'll are saying about the uncomfortableness of it all sitting with a parent, but somehow, that's not bothered my kids and I. A blessing or a concern? Who knows.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
rebeccmam31
Featured Actor Joined: 10/21/15
#13American Psycho for teens?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 4:25pm
dramamama611 said: "I understand what ya'll are saying about the uncomfortableness of it all sitting with a parent, but somehow, that's not bothered my kids and I. A blessing or a concern? Who knows."
In our case, the uncomfortableness would likely not be present with just us--my daughter and I have watched some intense things together and done well talking about it. But I don't think she (or I) would necessarily be comfortable sitting and watching sexual content (depending how in-your-face--innuendo would be fine) with her first boyfriend.
