My son (15M) and his friends are really into the Backrooms—if you’re not familiar, it’s basically spooky, liminal-space horror content that started on YouTube. There’s a movie coming out, and they’re all very excited.
When tickets went on sale, my son immediately bought a bunch for himself and his friend group with his own money. He’s been organizing everything himself and just told me about it because he’ll need a ride.
Recently, I was stopped after school by the mother of one of his friends (15M, “Bob”). I don’t know her well, and our interactions have been… a bit odd before, but this was another level.
She told me Bob apparently hasn’t officially committed yet because she’s unsure about the movie. I explained what I knew—that it’s basically a spooky/thriller-type film, not a slasher or anything extreme. She then told me Bob has never seen a horror movie before and she’s unsure if she wants him to go.
She started asking me details like showtime, where they’re sitting, etc., but I told her I honestly don’t know because my son is the one planning it. She seemed kind of taken aback by that.
Then she told me a story about how a horror movie she saw as a kid affected her for years, which felt a bit unrelated but I just listened. Eventually she said she’s still deciding, but if Bob does go, her husband will also attend and sit in the row directly behind the boys.
I didn’t really know how to respond in the moment, so I just nodded, but I’ve been thinking about it since and it feels… strange.
These are 15-year-old boys who organized and paid for this outing themselves. I understand parents being cautious, but having an adult man sitting right behind them the entire time feels awkward and honestly changes the whole vibe of what’s supposed to be a fun group outing.
Part of me wants to tell her I’m uncomfortable with that arrangement, but another part of me feels like I’d sound rude or controlling since she’s just trying to parent her kid.
WIBTA if I said something?