Similar situation in my house. My 9yo is starting to form curiosity on it. Understandable due to myself being a large-ish Alien fan. I have some figures about, a plush 'Burster and 'Hugger (from the old think-geek days), various figures and books (RPG etc).
I had coded up a passable replica of the opening title and showed my family. The opening title itself was enough to cause some distress. Our boys are both super sensitive to video born anxiety from scenes of peril or anxiety.
I personally strongly remember when I first encountered the Alien franchise. I was about 7 and being looked after by my paternal grandmother. She was… hands off? I was up late watching the TV movie that was Aliens. I remember the scene when the marines were entering the reactor and encountering aliens for the first time. The scene with the colonist spit-welded to the wall while the 'burster explodes out of her chest.
I was temporarily (or maybe not temporarily) traumatized. I didn’t talk to anyone about it for years as I knew I shouldn’t have been watching that movie at that age. But it left an imprint for sure. At one point during my bachelor days, I would put on Alien in the evening and fall asleep to it.
After growing up and discovering the background to the production, development and symbology in Alien (both intended and later read into it) My enjoyment of it expands.
I want to share that with my kids, but… on their time.
