If you’ve spent any time near a PC gamer or a YouTube-obsessed teen in the last few years, you’ve probably heard a sudden, blood-curdling scream coming from their bedroom. Chances are, they were watching Markiplier or Jacksepticeye play The Mortuary Assistant (game).

The premise of both the game and the new movie is simple but effective: Rebecca Owens is a young woman starting an apprenticeship at River Fields Mortuary. She thinks her biggest challenge will be the clinical reality of death—the fluids, the incisions, the silence. But the mortician, Raymond, has a secret. The mortuary is a focal point for demonic entities. Rebecca gets locked in and told she must identify which of the bodies is possessed by a demon and perform a specific ritual to banish it before the demon takes her over.

The movie, hitting theaters this February, takes that "locked-in" claustrophobia and cranks it up. It’s a mix of clinical "gross-out" realism and supernatural dread.

You might be wondering why on earth a 15-year-old would want to watch a movie about a mortuary. It comes down to the "Lurk" factor. The original game became a cult favorite because of its "reactive" scares. Unlike a lot of horror where you know the monster is coming, this story uses subtle, psychological tricks—a body sitting up when you aren't looking, a face in the window for just a split second.

Teens love the "challenge" of horror. In middle and high school, being the kid who can sit through the "scariest movie of the year" is a badge of honor. Plus, the lore of the demons and the ritualistic puzzles (finding sigils, burning specific items) appeals to the same part of the brain that loves escape rooms or Phasmophobia.

Let’s get into the weeds. This isn't a "fun" spooky movie like Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. It’s designed to be deeply uncomfortable.

Because the protagonist is a mortician, the movie doesn't shy away from the embalming process. We’re talking about needles, trocar drains, and the cold, clinical reality of preparing a corpse. For some kids, the "medical" gore is actually harder to stomach than the "monster" gore. It feels real. If your kid is squeamish about blood or medical procedures, this is an immediate "no."

The game was famous for having hundreds of potential "scare events" that could happen at any time. The movie tries to replicate this by keeping the audience on edge for the entire runtime. There is very little "safe" time in this film. It’s a relentless assault on the nervous system.

The "villain" isn't just a monster; it's a demon that feeds on trauma. Rebecca’s backstory involves a history of addiction and the loss of her parents, and the demon uses those memories to haunt her. The movie touches on themes of guilt, suicide, and substance abuse. It’s heavy stuff that goes beyond just "demons are scary."

Based on Screenwise community data from early 2026, we’re seeing that roughly 22% of 9th and 10th graders have already engaged with The Mortuary Assistant via YouTube "Let’s Play" videos. However, only about 5% of parents feel comfortable with their kids seeing the R-rated film adaptation. There is a massive gap between what kids are seeing in "censored" YouTube clips and the raw intensity of the full movie.

See more stats on what horror movies teens are actually watching

Ages 0-13: Hard No. There is zero reason for a middle schooler to be watching this. The combination of demonic possession, self-harm themes, and graphic embalming is too much for developing brains to process without some serious nightmares.

Ages 14-16: Parent’s Choice (But be cautious). If your teen is a "horror veteran" who has seen Hereditary or The Conjuring, they might handle the scares, but the clinical gore is a different beast. I’d recommend watching the trailer together first. If they flinch at the "medical" stuff, the movie will be a miserable experience for them.

Ages 17+: Generally Okay. By this age, most teens who are interested in horror know their limits.

If your kid is feeling "FOMO" because their friends are talking about it, try these "gateway" horror options instead:

If your teen is begging to go see this with friends, don't just say "it's too scary." That’s a challenge to them. Instead, talk about the nature of the content.

Try saying: "I’ve looked into this one, and it’s not just 'scary monsters.' It’s really graphic about how bodies are prepared for funerals, and it deals with some pretty dark stuff like suicide and addiction. I don't think it's the 'fun' kind of scary you usually like. Let’s look at the WISE score for it together."

You can also ask them:

The Mortuary Assistant is a well-made, terrifying film, but it is "hard" horror. It’s not meant for a casual family movie night, and it’s certainly not for the "Skibidi Toilet" crowd. This is a movie that stays with you—and for a lot of kids, that’s not a good thing.

If you decide to let your older teen see it, be prepared for them to want the hallway lights left on for a few nights. And maybe don't schedule any career day trips to the local funeral home for a while.

Learn more about the impact of horror on teen anxiety Ask our chatbot for a curated list of 'Safe' horror movies