Say What? Where the Grouchy Things Are

October 13, 2009

"I would tell them to go to hell. That's a question I will not tolerate."

— Maurice Sendak, author of the classic children's book-turned-movie Where the Wild Things Are, when asked "What do you say to parents who think the Wild Things film may be too scary?" I guess this is artistic integrity, but it's kind of a valid question, no? Unless it's simply not a children's movie . . .

Source: Getty

17 Comments

3 years 29 weeks

is this for kids

3 years 30 weeks

Wow, he sounds really harsh : / But as other people pointed out he's probably been asked that question a million times and is just plain sick of it. That aside, if someone asked me that question I'd probably just laugh uproariously. The book did not scare me one bit when I was a kid; I only remember hating Max because he was such a spoiled brat (he reminded me too much of my spoiled brat cousin : P) I think parents are overreacting to the term "wild thing" here. If your kid is afraid of things like the sky and his breakfast cereal and the vacuum cleaner, then yes this movie might scare him. But for everyone else it's fine.

ali321 3 years 31 weeks

I don't see why they're so scary. They're happy monsters. Besides I was scared by E.T. and C3PO. And even the ewoks creeped me out a bit. I think it was just the fact that they were all sort of foreign, but I got over them and now I like them all. It sort of taught me that even though things are different and seem weird that doesn't mean they always are. I always loved Where the Wild Things Are though.

tlsgirl 3 years 31 weeks

Amen Maurice.

tlsgirl 3 years 31 weeks

Amen Maurice.

runningesq 3 years 31 weeks

I heard on the radio this morning that this whole "too scary for kids" thing started when the book came out over 40 years ago ! It's not up to him to decide who sees the movie. If you feel your kids will be fightened, don't take them. NEXT !

runningesq 3 years 31 weeks

Yogaforlife 3 years 31 weeks

If the children can read the book - why can't they see the movie? I loved this book when I was little and can't wait to see it and I'm taking my 5 year old niece with me. I too saw Aliens as a little girl, and Predator, Jaws, Terminator, and Nightmare on Elm Street. I can remember peeking out from my blanket watching Freddy Krueger rip his shirt open and all those faces screaming from his chest (I was like 7 when I saw that!) Did it scare me - yeah, but they were also some of my favorite movies growing up. Kids will survive!

Yogaforlife 3 years 31 weeks

spacekatgal 3 years 31 weeks

Oh, totally, Leslie. I am not saying they are comparable - Aliens is an adult horror movie, one is a children's movie. I totally agree. I am just saying that movies can traumatize you when you are younger, so it's not a completely inappropriate concern.

leslievanhouten 3 years 31 weeks

It's not the artists' job to say if a movie is too scary for kids, it's the parent's job. And seeing Aliens at 8 is not comparable, that is a movie obviously not meant for kids. Coraline is more on point, but it is still the parent's responsibility to, you know, parent.

Hiding55 3 years 31 weeks

I little fright never hurt anyone. It builds character. ;)

obamamama 3 years 31 weeks

Oh, I think he's probably just tired of dealing with these type of stupid questions for the past 30 years. Like Spacekatgal says, dumb comments are eye-rollingly annoying. Hooray to Maurice for being honest and trying to cut out the bullsh*t.

spacekatgal 3 years 31 weeks

I saw Aliens when I was like eight and still have nightmares to this day of being impregnated by Facehuggers. Movies can definitely traumatize you. When I saw Coraline, it scared me, and I can't imagine it didn't freak some kids out. That's a pretty snarky response, but I get where he's coming from. I was once asked in a phone interview about my art if I thought it promoted "unrealistic and unattainable body types." I pretty snarkily responded that the girls in my art had my same body type, and I felt pretty realistic. When you're an artist, dumb comments about your work can be grating.

spacekatgal 3 years 31 weeks

Smacks83 3 years 31 weeks

Rock on! Unless they eat little Max or have blooding dripping from their teeth, i can't see how kids would find them scary (I mean the same can be said about Monsters, Inc. Oh, no! That little green one with one eye will scare the kids!) Come on

mamasitamalita 3 years 31 weeks

amen Maurice, kids are too sissy today

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