Movies
Horror is a genre which most pregnant women are probably keen to avoid. Blood, guts and scares are enough to turn anyone’s delicate stomach, let alone someone who has life growing inside of them. However, as bad as the average horror film is for producing stomach-churning side effects, there are some which take particular pleasure in preying on the worst fears of pregnant women.
10. Grace (2009)
Following a grisly car crash which killed her husband and the baby she is carrying, young mother-to-be Madeline vows to carry the fetus to term. It’s tough watching the water birth scene as Madeline knowingly delivers a stillborn baby, but everything changes when the baby miraculously starts feeding from her mother’s breast. However, this being a horror film all is not as it seems and it’s not long before little Grace develops an appetite for more than simple breast milk. Grace is a surprisingly effective low key horror, and it definitely has an unsettling premise which will terrify any mother-to-be.
9. Prometheus (2012)
Ridley Scott’s return to the Alien franchise didn’t turn out to be the sequel fans had been waiting decades for. The spiritual prequel was a jumbled retelling of xenomorph mythology, but the director did manage to prove he still had a knack for alien pregnancy scares. When Noomi Rapace’s archaeologist character discovers that she has been impregnated with alien DNA, she seeks out the ship’s med pod machine for an impromptu abortion. Trouble is, the machine is set to male and the thing inside her isn’t human. Opting for what is best described as a robotic cesarean, her abdomen is sliced open with a laser before being opened up with two small robotic arms. Then a claw-like device pulls out a bloody sac which explodes open to reveal a writhing, bloody squid-like abomination.
8. Braindead (1992)
Canadian horror movie Deadgirl raised some controversy thanks to its central premise about teenage boys having sex with a zombie, but Braindead (titled Dead Alive in North America) had already taken the taboo subject to extreme lengths years earlier. Way before he headed to Middle Earth, director Peter Jackson made a name for himself making off-the-wall, gross horror comedies films in his native New Zealand. In Braindead, Mummy’s boy Lionel tries to keep a zombie outbreak from spiralling out of control in his sleepy small town after his domineering mother is bitten by a ‘rat monkey’. As more and more residents get bitten and infected, he tries to keep them contained in the basement. However, it turns out that zombies retain most of their primal urges when the local vicar and nurse have enthusiastic zombie sex. This results in a disturbing, rubber-faced zombie baby running around causing havoc. Braindead also ends with Lionel being absorbed back into the womb by a 30 ft tall, rat-like version of his zombie mother before he cuts himself back out from the inside.
7. Devil’s Due (2014)
Filmmaking collective Radio Silence helped prove that the found footage genre still had some bite thanks to their contribution to the horror anthology movie V/H/S, but Devil’s Due was a poor follow-up from one half of the directing quartet. Best described as “Rosemary Baby meets Paranormal Activity”, the movie feels like a slog through all too familiar territory with its mix of demonic goings on and shaky cam footage. However, it does have one scene that is legitimately freaky. As expectant mother Samantha sleeps on the couch for a nap, the baby starts moving around in the womb. Unsurprisingly, these are no normal movements and the conveniently placed video camera just happens to catch her stomach grotesquely pushing up out of shape courtesy of her devilish offspring.
6. The Fly (1986)
Pregnant women should generally avoid any movie from the ‘body horror’ subgenre, especially if David Cronenberg is listed as the director. The Canadian filmmaker made a name for himself thanks to his pretty twisted ability of making the human body seem as gross as possible, and he really set a benchmark for himself with his remake of 1958 B-movie horror staple The Fly. Most viewers will remember the gory sight of Jeff Goldblum’s scientist character Seth Brundle gradually becoming more and more disfigured after he accidentally splices his own DNA with a fly, but one of the remake’s most disturbing scenes comes in the form of a dream sequence. Paranoid that the child she is expecting with Brundle will be affected by his altered genetics, Geena Davis’ character Veronica has a terrifying nightmare where she is an operating room suffering through painful labour. The doctors gather round as they pull out a disgusting, bloated maggot from between her legs. Veronica’s worst fears actually come true in the Fly II when she (although Davis, along with everyone else involved in the original, didn’t come back for the sequel) is shown giving birth to a larvae sac in the opening scene.
5. ABCs of Death: Part 2 (2014)
This hit and miss horror anthology sequel saved the best short for last with ‘Z is for Zygote’. A heavily pregnant woman is left alone in her secluded home by her husband, who leaves her with a huge supply of a herb root called portlock which he says will delay the birth until he come back with the midwife. Cut to thirteen years later, the still pregnant woman is living in the now-dilapidated home crawling around on the floor dragging her huge, distended stomach around with her. The seriously disturbing visual gets even worse when the talking child inside says that she needs to “make room” and does so by pushing mother’s organs and bones out through her mouth and then takes her place inside her skin.
4. Human Centipede II (2011)
Human Centipede II tries so hard to be more shocking and controversial than its predecessor that it’s pretty hard to take any of the relentless onscreen torture porn seriously. However, that doesn’t make it any easier to watch. One of the movie’s most shocking scenes sees a heavily pregnant woman, one of the 12 victim’s from the ‘full sequence’ centipede, escape from the hellish horror experiment. She manages to get in a car and start the engine but the apparent stress from the ordeal sees her going into labour. She delivers the baby as her insane captor bangs on the car windows and, apparently traumatised from everything she’s been through and desperate to escape, it slips straight through her fingers onto the car floor. She steps on the newborn when she puts her foot down hard on the accelerator as she drives off. Unsurprisingly, the UK movie classification board the BFFC heavily edited the cruel scene (as well as imposing many other cuts), but even without this shocking visual the constant barrage of torture and body fluids throughout Human Centipede II makes it a tough watch.
3. Three…Extremes (2004)
Three…Extremes is a collaboration project from from three East Asian directors with reputations for not holding back when it comes to shocking subject matter. The anthology opens with Dumplings, a short film courtesy of Hong Kong director Fruit Chan (which was later expanded into a feature length movie). Aging actress Mrs. Li is desperate to try anything that can help her hold onto her fading beauty so that she can keep her philandering husband interested in her once more. She turns to chef Aunt Mei who has a secret dumplings recipe which promises startling rejuvenation results for any woman who eats the delicacy. It’s revealed that the primary ingredient is from newborn fetuses which Mei ‘acquires’ from local clinics and by performing black market abortions. The matter-of-fact discussions the women have about dumplings is pretty queasy (one revelation is that “cursed” inbred children are more potent), but the sight of them chewing on the gloopy, translucent food is absolutely stomach-churning.
2. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Roman Polanski’s seminal 1968 horror is an unsettling psychological slow burner which set the gold standard for antichrist movies. Mia farrow plays the pregnant titular character who suspects not all is how it should be when she starts suffering from intense stomach pains, disturbing visions and a craving for raw meat. Worst still, she suspects her new neighbours are satanic cultists and her husband is in on it. A masterpiece of the genre, Rosemary’s Baby is one of the creepiest takes on expectant mother paranoia.
1. Inside (2007)
Inside begins with a shot of a baby in utero harshly recoiling against the inside of the womb wall after a nasty car crash – and it only gets worse from there on out. Switching up the traditional horror slasher model, Inside features a heavily pregnant protagonist who is being stalked and targeted by a scissor-wielding female killer who is determined to get her baby at any cost. Often credited as being one of the most extreme movies from the ‘New French Extremity’ filmmaking movement, Inside is a seriously bloody and brutal horror which should be avoided by pregnant women. Seriously.
FAQs
Do scary movies affect babies? ›
Researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health also concluded that an excess of movie and television watching, whether of the horror genre or not, is detrimental to a child's psychological development. Even media rated as appropriate for children can sometimes be harmful.
Can a scary movie make you go into labor? ›The idea that you shouldn't watch scary movies in pregnancy doesn't have any scientific evidence.” On the flip side, “If you are looking to watch a Halloween movie to trigger labor, unfortunately you're probably out of luck.”
Can I watch movie while pregnant? ›McLaren suggests pregnant people avoid noises louder than 115 decibels, “which is equivalent to the sound of a chainsaw, as well as very low-frequency sounds that you can feel as a rumble or vibration.” As long as the sound at the theater is below this range, McLaren says going to the movies is generally safe for ...
Is watching horror movie healthy? ›Watching frightening films can give you much more than a good scare, they can also help relieve stress and anxiety.
What can scare a baby? ›In newborn babies, common baby fears include loud noises, falling, separation from parents, and strangers. At this stage, babies can't distinguish between objects accurately enough to be scared by looking at them. However, loud noises trigger the startle reflex.
Is watching scary movies bad for pregnancy? ›The major and perhaps the only reason why watching a horror movie is discouraged during pregnancy is that it might cause stress to the mother. Stress in the expecting mother can cause hormonal changes in her body which, in turn, can affect the unborn child.
Can crying put you in labor? ›Stress levels: Researchers theorize that severe emotional stress — not the kind caused by those raging hormones or a bad day, but the kind that's related to a traumatic experience — can lead to the release of hormones that in turn trigger labor contractions.
Can you cry during labor? ›It's not unusual for a laboring mom to cry at different points of her labor. It could be from pain, frustration, lack of sleep, or from fear that labor is taking too long. She could also be experiencing a trigger of something emotional from the past. Sometimes, a good cry in labor is helpful and even therapeutic.
What happens when a pregnant woman gets scared? ›Stress experienced by a woman during pregnancy may affect her unborn baby as early as 17 weeks after conception, with potentially harmful effects on brain and development, according to new research.
What should I not watch during pregnancy? ›During your pregnancy, you should avoid: Raw meat and shellfish: Uncooked seafood (we're looking at you, sushi), including oysters, mussels, and clams. Also avoid rare or undercooked beef and poultry. These can be contaminated with toxoplasmosis or salmonella.
What should you not watch when pregnant? ›
- Acupuncture and massage.
- Cats.
- Cleaning products.
- Exercise.
- Fake tan.
- Food.
- Alcohol.
- Hair dye.
Television can make your teenager pregnant. Not directly, of course. But the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics is releasing a study today, linking sexual content on television with the teenage pregnancy rate.
Is horror movie good for brain? ›Advanced Brain Activity
The results of multiple studies approve that scary scenes advance the level of adrenaline, releasing neurotransmitters in the brain. Faster reaction, better alertness, improved concentration, and a plethora of other advantages can be witnessed as a result of a single movie session.
Phobophilia, which literally translates to "love of fear," from phobo meaning fear and philia meaning love, would fit in nicely. A person who loves the disturbing and horrifying, then, may be known as a phobophile.
Why do I love horror so much? ›One reason we consume horror is to experience stimulation. Exposure to terrifying acts, or even the anticipation of those acts, can stimulate us — both mentally and physically — in opposing ways: negatively (in the form of fear or anxiety) or positively (in the form of excitement or joy).
Can babies detect evil? ›According to researchers at Yale University's Infant Cognition Center, also known as “The Baby Lab,” babies can actually tell good from evil, even as young as 3 months old.
Does baby feel pain during labor? ›Doctors now know that newly born babies probably feel pain. But exactly how much they feel during labor and delivery is still debatable. "If you performed a medical procedure on a baby shortly after birth, she would certainly feel pain," says Christopher E.
Are babies born afraid? ›We are born with only two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds.
Can fear harm my baby? ›While some studies show that acute, severe stress (like losing a job or a death in the family) can increase a baby's risk for things like premature birth, experts agree that it's all about how you handle the situation.
Can you go to scary houses while pregnant? ›However, the faint of heart are not the only ones who should avoid haunted houses. People with epilepsy and other medical conditions, as well as pregnant woman, should avoid haunted houses for safety reasons. "When we get scared, we develop the fight or flight response in which our bodies release adrenaline," Dr.
Are movies Too Loud for pregnant? ›
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health advises that pregnant women avoid routine exposure to noise louder than 115 decibels (think of the noise a chainsaw makes).
Why is labor so painful? ›Pain during labor is caused by contractions of the muscles of the uterus and by pressure on the cervix. This pain can be felt as strong cramping in the abdomen, groin, and back, as well as an achy feeling. Some women experience pain in their sides or thighs as well.
What makes a baby come early? ›Babies born before 37 weeks are premature. A premature birth is more likely to happen when a mother has a health problem — like diabetes — or does harmful things during her pregnancy, like smoke or drink. If she lives with a lot of stress, that also can make her baby be born too early.
Is it better to have C section or natural birth? ›Which is safer: vaginal birth or C-section? Vaginal birth is much safer than a C-section for most women and babies. Sometimes a C-section is the only safe option, like when the baby is positioned side-to-side in the belly (transverse lie) or the placenta is covering the cervix (placenta previa).
How can I have a painless birth? ›Painless, normal delivery is possible by providing the mother with epidural anesthesia during labor. This is regional anesthesia that reduces pain in a certain part of the body.
What does birth feel like? ›While the experience is different for everyone, labor usually feels like extremely strong menstrual cramps that take your breath away and make you unable to talk. As labor continues and the pain worsens, the pregnant person tunes out stimuli and adopts a tunnel vision, focusing on the labor and getting the baby out.
What happens if I don't push my baby out? ›The truth is that giving birth is a physiological act and it's going to happen as long as the woman feels safe. Even if she's very tired, her body will go through the whole process of birth perfectly, with or without her active cooperation.
How can I pregnant my wife? ›If having sex every day isn't possible — or enjoyable — have sex every 2 to 3 days a week starting soon after the end of your period. This can help ensure that you have sex when you are most fertile. Maintain a normal weight. Overweight and underweight women are at increased risk of ovulation disorders.
Do babies pee in the womb? ›Do babies pee in the womb? While babies most often hold out on pooping until they're born, they are certainly active urinators in the womb. In fact, your baby's pee activity goes into overdrive between 13 and 16 weeks' gestation, when their kidneys are fully formed.
Can a baby in the womb feel your touch? ›Can my baby feel it when I rub my pregnant belly? Touch is the first sense your baby develops in the womb — even before sight and hearing.
What can accidentally cause a miscarriage? ›
- Infection.
- Exposure to TORCH diseases.
- Hormonal imbalances.
- Improper implantation of fertilized egg in your uterine lining.
- How old you are.
- Uterine abnormalities.
- Incompetent cervix (your cervix begins to open too early in pregnancy).
Good evidence suggests that screen viewing before age 18 months has lasting negative effects on children's language development, reading skills, and short term memory. It also contributes to problems with sleep and attention.
What can I eat pregnant? ›Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and protein foods. Choose foods and drinks with less added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium (salt). Limit refined grains and starches, which are in foods like cookies, white bread, and some snack foods.
Is sperm good for the baby during pregnancy? ›Not only is sperm safe, but there may be some benefits to having sex and contact with sperm before and during pregnancy: Sperm and vaginal sex can help induce labor when the time comes. Oxytocin, one of the key hormones involved in progressing labor, is released during sex, and orgasms mimic contractions.
Can U Get pregnant with KISS? ›There's absolutely no way to get pregnant from kissing, no matter how much tongue is involved.
Why is horror so addicting? ›Ultimately, horror is addictive because it is exciting. The build-up and impact tends to be greater than any other genre and it responds much more to human nature than anything else. It's fun to be scared, to push yourself, and to sometimes have something you are told you can't have."
Does horror reduce stress? ›It has been found particularly helpful for treating anxiety disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The treatment works by retraining the amygdala— the fear center of the brain—through a process of activating it via exposure to the feared object or situation.
What happens if I watch too much horror movies? ›The study also found that participants who watched more than 2 hours of TV each night displayed higher levels of depression than those who had shorter viewing times. Binge-watching horror movies also increases the regularity of adrenaline in the body, worsening issues with sleep.
Why is it called horror? ›'Horror' comes from a Latin verb meaning "to bristle" or "to shudder"—the idea being that a horrified person's hair stands on end.
What personality type likes horror movies? ›In general, though, Analysts' combination of Intuitive Energy and Thinking Nature is ideal for enjoying scary movies. Intuitive personality types love to look for hidden meaning and tend to let their imagination run wild, and horror films stimulate those impulses in a way no other genre can.
What is horror emotion? ›
Horror is the feeling of dread and anticipation that usually occurs before something frightening is seen, heard, or otherwise experienced. It is also the feeling one gets after coming to an awful realization or experiencing a hideous revelation.
What age group enjoys horror the most? ›The typical target audience for horror is the group of 15- to 24-year olds and mostly male.
Can horror movies make you smarter? ›It's a well-known fact that horror films improve brain activity. Several scientific studies found that frightening scenes in horror movies help increase the adrenaline level and release neurotransmitters in the brain. Simple words, watching horror films, people not only look at their monitors.
Why are girls obsessed with horror? ›Rather than being characteristically repulsed, or finding comfort in replicating societal roles, women seem to turn to horror for the way it releases them from expected reactions. When women watch horror, we feel more free.
What happens if babies watch horror movies? ›Toddlers and young children who watch violent movies, including Halloween horror films, television shows or video games may be more likely to develop anxiety, sleep disorders, and aggressive and self-endangering behaviors.
Is it OK to watch a movie with a baby? ›Babies under two-years-old should not watch TV or movies. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends NOT putting babies under two-years-old in front of television or movies.
Can a child be traumatized by a scary movie? ›According Min Zhuo, a professor of physiology at the University of Toronto who specializes in fear and anxiety, this isn't hyperbole. That's because watching a horror movie really can cause trauma, and the effects of that trauma — especially when experienced in childhood — can last into adulthood.
Is it bad to let a baby watch a movie? ›Pediatricians generally recommend keeping children under 18 months from viewing screens. Even after that age, parents should always accompany children with TV watching and ensure they don't get too much screen time, inadvertently impacting their behavioral health.
Can babies detect evil? ›According to researchers at Yale University's Infant Cognition Center, also known as “The Baby Lab,” babies can actually tell good from evil, even as young as 3 months old.
Is Scream OK for kids? ›Scream is Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout and some sexual references which means it may not suitable for kids under 17.
What age can watch horror? ›
Age 13. I'll start off with the most obvious answer: the MPAA recommends that children do not watch PG-13 films unless they are at least 13 or have parental guidance. Most horror movies that you start your child out on will most likely be in this category.
Can a 2 year old watch a movie? ›Toddlers 18 months to 24 months old can start to enjoy some screen time with a parent or caregiver. Children this age can learn when an adult is there to reinforce lessons. By ages 2 and 3, it's OK for kids to watch up to 1 hour a day of high-quality educational programming.
How long can a baby be in a movie? ›Babies, just like adult actors, come from casting calls, but they're only legally allowed to work for four hours a day on set, so there's a simple trick used to extend their camera time. Hall: Very often, when you see a TV show or a film, twins are used to play one role.
Do they use real newborn babies in movies? ›After a few hours of labor pains, the movie climaxes with the birth of what looks like a real live baby. Are newborns allowed to work in the movies? Yes. In California, infants can start working when they're 15 days old, provided that they (or their parents) have a work permit and a note from a licensed physician.
Can my 1 year old watch scary movies? ›While there is no absolute age at which scary movies are appropriate, Dr. Dry recommends not introducing them to very young children because of the potential to create long-term anxiety.
Is it OK for kids to like horror? ›Liking scary movies is OK too
There's also nothing inherently wrong with the kids who really enjoy a good scare. Rich suspects that some of us have a primal craving for the adrenaline rush we can get from horror and suspense.
Although horror movies do not directly impact the brain in a positive way, they can have a desensitization effect. If a person repeatedly watches this genre of movies, they repeatedly expose themselves to these threatening images and over time become less emotionally reactive to the images.
What age start watching movies? ›Lots of kids see their first movie around the age of 3 or 4, but some parents wait until kids are a bit older, especially if they're sensitive to loud noises or scared of the dark. Choose the right movie. Obviously, you want something kid-friendly -– usually, animation fits the bill.
Can I take my 1 year old to the movies? ›Overview. Yes, it can be safe to take your baby to the movies—and it'll be good for you, too! Parents complain all the time about missing new movies they want to see. Sure, it's cheaper to wait until everything comes out on DVD or Netflix, but now is the best time to take your baby to the theater.
Why do they let babies cry in movies? ›How They Make Babies Cry In TV And Movies | Movies Insider - YouTube