There are few children’s movies that are as infamous for traumatizing viewers as Watership Down. The 1978 animated film based on the classic British novel by Richard Adams, while based on a community of rabbits, is an unflinching look at some of the more brutal and tragic aspects of nature. Let’s just say that if you aren’t ready to see bunnies gruesomely murdered by their fellow bunnies and other predators, Watership Down should get a hard pass.
Well, whoever runs the schedule at Channel 5 in England decided to add a little trauma to everyone’s Easter Sunday and air the film that afternoon. You know, when families would be gathering around the telly to fall into a comfortable sugar coma. Instead, they were treated to psychotic rabbits and lots of adorable woodland creatures being slaughtered. Poor, poor Hazel. Parents were, uh, not pleased, but people on Twitter managed to see the irony in the situation.
Someone at Channel 5 has a brilliantly twisted sense of humour for putting Watership Down on for Easter Sunday. It's a horrifying film.
— Mark Dowling (@MarkFDowling) March 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/rebhoward1/status/714131339096801281
Ah, good to hear Watership Down is still traumatising generation after generation #BunnyOfDeath #FieldsOfBlood
— Aron Smith (@TheBruthaVoodoo) March 28, 2016
Watership Down described as 'adventure-thriller' has made my day.
— Parker Foye (@parkerfoye) March 28, 2016
I caught the last minute and cried – again – at Hazel's death. El-Ahrairah is still disturbing as hell! #watershipdown
— Rachael Eyre (@Alrightpunk) March 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/barefootmower/status/714373774045478914
Watership Down – Yes it's brutal, but nature is. Watched that and The Animals of Farthing Wood as a kid and I'm alright.
— Sam Hodkin (He/Him) (@HoddersUK) March 28, 2016
Honestly, after devouring a few chocolate rabbits, this movie couldn’t be more on the nose. A lot of people came down hard on parents over-sheltering their children, but is there really anything wrong with wanting to avoid Easter nightmares? Leave that to The Passion of the Christ.
(Via The Independent)
