Horror movie ads may have gone too far

NEW YORK, March 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is once again taking a look at the Hollywood practice of marketing horror films to children.

The commission is following up a September 2000 report on the marketing of violent movies, music and video games to kids, the New York Times reported. They will look at the way the entertainment industry has become increasingly dependent on marketing horror films to children, said the Times.

The film industry almost had federal regulations forced on them seven years ago, after the Columbine High School shootings, but a congressional committee decided to let Hollywood police itself.

If the FTC finds that the movie industry has violated or outgrown its own standards, then the issue may be kicked back into the hands of politicians just ahead of the next presidential election.

If that happens, there could be calls for regulations, or even a call to stop the marketing of horror movies to children in general.