We've all been there. You take the kids to the cinema or rent a DVD on a rainy afternoon, only to find yourself confronted with scenes that are unexpectedly rude, raunchy or horribly traumatic - guaranteeing nightmares for weeks to come.
Here are 10 family films that deliver more than you bargained for...
10 family films that aren't innocent
- Pretty Woman (15)<p> It's a classic, fairytale love story, isn't it? Except for the fact that the female lead sells sex for a living and the male lead happily pays for it. Without going into all the nitty gritty, it's hard to explain to your kids exactly why a rich businessman would want to pay a woman for her, erm, 'company'. And Vivian's job inevitably starts to seems like a pretty cushy deal - especially when he takes her shopping on Rodeo Drive. All things considered, this one's a bit of a minefield.</p>
- Ghostbusters (PG)<p> Even though it's a comedy, Ghostbusters is scarier than you remember. The big dogs with glowing eyes that possess two of the characters are fairly nightmare-inducing, as well as the ghost of an old lady that turns into a terrifying, skeletal ghoul. There's also some supernatural sex: a ghost appears to perform oral sex on Dan Aykroyd's character, and when Sigourney Weaver's character is possessed by a demon she levitates and tells Bill Murray "I want you inside me". You'll have fun explaining that one.</p>
- Watership Down (U)<p> Yes, it's an animated film about cute, little fluffy bunnies. But it's also about death, violence, betrayal and disease, which is just what you want from a family film, isn't it? The story is all about a group of rabbits that leave their warren to find a new home and female rabbits to mate with. But there's a lot of graphic violence and bloodshed which is guaranteed to upset small children - and most adults.</p>
- Dirty Dancing (12)<p> It's the 80s classic with the great dance sequences that's been turned into a West End show. And while the dancing doesn't seem particularly 'dirty' these days, the scenes about unwanted pregnancy and illegal abortion might take some explaining - although younger kids will probably just accept that 'the lady isn't feeling very well'. Thinking back, I'm not sure that I really understood that part of the storyline the first time I saw it - and I was 14.</p>
- The Hunger Games (12)<p> These books are hugely popular with tweens - so it's no surprise that kids have been desperate to see the movie version. But the whole plot centres upon violence - a group of teens are forced into gladiatorial combat and more than 20 die in various ways through the course of the film. One girl is killed by a swarm of giant bees, another boy gets his neck snapped and plenty more are knifed or shot with a bow and arrow. If your kids are under 12, it's definitely not family viewing.</p>
- Star Wars (U)<p> Watching Star Wars is a rite of passage, especially for boys who are usually desperate to see it by the age of five or six. But those of us who haven't seen it since we were kids might have forgotten that the plot is actually pretty dark. Darth Vader is a menacing character and, although the violence is quite cartoonish, some of it can be disturbing for little ones - especially the scene where Luke's aunt and uncle are murdered and he finds their burnt skeletons. Fortunately, most kids are only interested in the light sabers.</p>
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (U)<p> If you've read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with your kids, then you know roughly what to expect. But the original movie version is surprisingly dark and Willy Wonka is very creepy. He really seems to enjoy punishing all those badly-behaved children and the scene where they take a psychedelic boat trip through the scary tunnel isn't very nice at all, thanks to the images of a flying monster, a huge centipede and a decapitated chicken.</p>
- Little Shop of Horrors (PG)<p> Yes, it's a fun, campy musical - but kids tend to find this one quite disturbing. That's not really surprising when you consider that there's a scary dentist who tortures his patients, a huge, flesh-eating plant that eats people and some domestic abuse thrown in for good measure. Definitely one to avoid if your child is nervous about going to the dentist - or if your home is full of large houseplants.</p>
- Grease (PG)<p> I was five years old when I went to see Grease for the first time - and I loved it. Fortunately, the numerous references to sex and teenage pregnancy went right over my head - but that didn't stop me singing, "Look at me I'm Sandra Dee, lousy with virginity" on an endless loop. Fortunately, my six-year-old daughter was equally oblivious. She didn't ask me what 'gang bang' means, didn't question the broken condom scene or ask whey they call their car a 'pussy wagon'. I'd already planned to tell her that they used it to drive the cat to the vets...</p>
- Bambi (U)<p> There's always a dark side to Disney films, but Bambi is so upsetting that it frequently reduces grown men to tears. If you're even slightly worried about how your kids will cope with Bambi's mother being shot (it happens off-screen, but still) then stay clear. I've only watched it once, and that was more than enough. I get misty-eyed just thinking about it.</p>
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