Not having to worry about kids and being long past the age where I might not be allowed into a film I wanted to see means I may not be the best person to answer. That said I felt it was more of a thrill ride than scary. There's a brief bloodless severed limb, a stab wound and a bit of creature grue, but otherwise the film light on the claret. Not sure I'd take an 8 yo, but then I wouldn't let one play GTA (which many parents seem happy to do).

@M. LeMarchand said:

Not having to worry about kids and being long past the age where I might not be allowed into a film I wanted to see means I may not be the best person to answer. That said I felt it was more of a thrill ride than scary. There's a brief bloodless severed limb, a stab wound and a bit of creature grue, but otherwise the film light on the claret. Not sure I'd take an 8 yo, but then I wouldn't let one play GTA (which many parents seem happy to do).

Thanks, like I said he's ok with mild stuff and yeah, we're pretty strict with most things so definitely no GTA games or films that are too violent/swearing/nudity - for example, we saw Skyscraper last night (me and the wife) and were surprised at the violence for a 12a rated film (the same rating as The Meg) and that would definitely not be suitable for him..! Maybe it's a sign of the times...

@bluersun said:

we saw Skyscraper last night (me and the wife) and were surprised at the violence for a 12a rated film (the same rating as The Meg) and that would definitely not be suitable for him..!

I'd say that Skyscraper was felt milder than The Meg. My wife happily watched the former but I had to fly solo for the latter. Though I guess that the violence in Skyscraper was mainly between humans (and so feels more "real") while in The Meg it was mainly inflicted by/on a CGI shark.

I did find this (which of necessity includes spoilers, though this isn't the sort of film that has a cleverly written script that you want to surprise you): https://kids-in-mind.com/m/meg.htm

Thank you! That was very informative, I'll show the wife and take it from there... :)

@bluersun said:

... my 8yo really wants to see this, but after reading the parental guide on (cough cough) another site, I'm a little sceptical... He's ok with the violence in Jurassic World, Rampage, Jaws etc but Kong: Skull Island was a bit too much and that was also a 12a/PG13... So, to those who have seen The Meg, can you advise me if this is particularly strong for its rating..? Thanks in advance!

Jaws was far scarier and bloodier that The Meg. If he coped well with Jaws, then this should be fine for him. I can see why Kong might have scared him, but The Meg is mild compared to that. There's no blood or gore and you know when the Meg is coming.

@Michelle_Dessler said:

@bluersun said:

... my 8yo really wants to see this, but after reading the parental guide on (cough cough) another site, I'm a little sceptical... He's ok with the violence in Jurassic World, Rampage, Jaws etc but Kong: Skull Island was a bit too much and that was also a 12a/PG13... So, to those who have seen The Meg, can you advise me if this is particularly strong for its rating..? Thanks in advance!

Jaws was far scarier and bloodier that The Meg. If he coped well with Jaws, then this should be fine for him. I can see why Kong might have scared him, but The Meg is mild compared to that. There's no blood or gore and you know when the Meg is coming.

Thank you! My friend and his wife saw it last night and he said much the same thing... He hasn't watched Kong, I think that might be a bit too much for him especially that scene with the white creatures amongst the bones with the bloodied skulls...!

@bluersun said: ... He hasn't watched Kong, I think that might be a bit too much for him especially that scene with the white creatures amongst the bones with the bloodied skulls...!

Yea, they were pretty scary. It's a shame, because your boy would have loved Kong himself. Amazing effects. I watched Jaws when I was about 5 years old. That scene when Quint is half way in Jaws mouth was horrific ,especially after hearing his monologue about the war and him stranded in the ocean full of sharks. I still close my eyes at the scene. But it is a great film. Your son has good taste. I watched quite a lot of 18 rated films when I was young. No idea how I manged to like The Terminator, RoboCop, The Predator, Rambo, Die Hard (Christmas Movie) and also The Omen. For me the 70s and 80s came out with the best action and thriller films.

@Michelle_Dessler said:

@bluersun said: ... He hasn't watched Kong, I think that might be a bit too much for him especially that scene with the white creatures amongst the bones with the bloodied skulls...!

Yea, they were pretty scary. It's a shame, because your boy would have loved Kong himself. Amazing effects. I watched Jaws when I was about 5 years old. That scene when Quint is half way in Jaws mouth was horrific ,especially after hearing his monologue about the war and him stranded in the ocean full of sharks. I still close my eyes at the scene. But it is a great film. Your son has good taste. I watched quite a lot of 18 rated films when I was young. No idea how I manged to like The Terminator, RoboCop, The Predator, Rambo, Die Hard (Christmas Movie) and also The Omen. For me the 70s and 80s came out with the best action and thriller films.

Yeah thanks! I was the same - remember my dad finding a copy of Nightmare on Elm St in my room when I was about 13... He wasn't too happy...!! I'm doing my best to hook him with the classics, ET, Star Wars, Goonies - he loves them all as well as older monster flicks... One day we'll get round to Alien, The Thing, Predator and all the other 15/18 rated classics... And yes! Die Hard is as Christmasy a classic as It's a Wonderful Life

It's a funny thing that 12A rating - let's them get the biggest crowd available in whilst simultaneously resolving themselves of any responsibility re suitability. I remember when The Force Awakens came out there was all these little kids in their Captain Phasma outfits excitedly waiting for the film to come on when unbelievably stupidly a 12A rating trailer for the 15 rated film Room came on! So you've got these wee kids sitting watching a trailer about a mum and her child being held captive 😂 Just crazy... Anyway just an example that it's not just the actual film you want to see that you've got to consider.

Re The Meg itself - Like others have said, mostly there's nothing too graphic, and I was going to say it was probably on a par with Jurassic World in terms of what you actually see, but then I remembered there was one pretty gruesome bit where they fish a blooded, severed arm out of the water...

@bluersun said: And yes! Die Hard is as Christmasy a classic as It's a Wonderful Life

Right on!!  I felt betrayed when Bruce declared Die Hard was not a Christmas movie. How dare you Bruce!!!

.. One day we'll get round to Alien, The Thing, Predator and all the other 15/18 rated classics...

He's in for a treat.

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

It's a funny thing that 12A rating - let's them get the biggest crowd available in whilst simultaneously resolving themselves of any responsibility re suitability. I remember when The Force Awakens came out there was all these little kids in their Captain Phasma outfits excitedly waiting for the film to come on when unbelievably stupidly a 12A rating trailer for the 15 rated film Room came on! So you've got these wee kids sitting watching a trailer about a mum and her child being held captive 😂 Just crazy... Anyway just an example that it's not just the actual film you want to see that you've got to consider.

Re The Meg itself - Like others have said, mostly there's nothing too graphic, and I was going to say it was probably on a par with Jurassic World in terms of what you actually see, but then I remembered there was one pretty gruesome bit where they fish a blooded, severed arm out of the water...

Nah he'll be fine with a severed arm! The 12a system is a bit of cop-out like you said, too close to a 15 in terms of content these days...

@Michelle_Dessler said:

@bluersun said: And yes! Die Hard is as Christmasy a classic as It's a Wonderful Life

Right on!!  I felt betrayed when Bruce declared Die Hard was not a Christmas movie. How dare you Bruce!!!

.. One day we'll get round to Alien, The Thing, Predator and all the other 15/18 rated classics...

He's in for a treat.

I think Bruce just likes being obtuse...! Watching films again with my boy is like watching them for the first time all over again - looking forward to seeing his face when the Alien pops out of John Hurt..!!!

@bluersun said: I think Bruce just likes being obtuse...! Watching films again with my boy is like watching them for the first time all over again - looking forward to seeing his face when the Alien pops out of John Hurt..!!!

OMG!!! He is going to be shocked. The actress in the background when that happened didn't even know they were going to do that. Such a classic scene.

Yep, Veronica Cartwright - she went in thinking she'd got the Ripley part as well... Imagine how that would've turned out for her career!

@bluersun said:

Yep, Veronica Cartwright - she went in thinking she'd got the Ripley part as well... Imagine how that would've turned out for her career!

Gosh I didn't know that. I think the part was made for Weaver.