UPDATE, April 30: An Event Cinemas spokesman said it was investigating the incident.
“We are aware of this issue and it is certainly being investigated internally to ensure situations like this do not occur again,” he said.
“As soon as the staff onsite were made aware of the situation in question, the trailers were taken off-screen immediately and all patrons were given complimentary tickets as a gesture of goodwill.”
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READ NOWEARLIER: An Innaloo cinemagoer has detailed the moment the trailer for a horror film played to a cinema filled with children.
The woman, who did not want her name published, said she attended Event Cinemas Innaloo this week with her five-year-old grandson to see Peter Rabbit.
“The usual trailers for PG coming films were shown then Hereditary preview screened,” she said.
“The scenes would be pretty scary for young children but I managed to divert my grandson viewing them by telling him it was an adult ad and to look at me until the Peter Rabbit movie came on.
“Younger children may not have been as easily diverted and about eight to 10 parents left the cinema with their children – there was no screaming involved.”
The MA15+ rated film was described as “the most traumatically terrifying horror movie in ages” by entertainment website AV Club.
She said the screen went blank after a minute or so and a cinema employee arrived, who “apologised profusely” to the audience.
“It was obviously an oversight by programmers that this was shown to a junior audience and replacement tickets were offered to everyone as they exited the theatre after the film,” she said.
“I feel it was handled as well as could be expected and actually felt sorry for the employee who had to face the parents.”
Event Cinemas has been contacted for comment.
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