Leave sexual antics where they belong. It isn’t in family entertainment

I’ll never forget the horror of sitting down with my father to The Handmaiden (2016), the much-buzzed Korean film version of Sarah Waters’s 2002 novel Fingersmith. As we sat in the darkened cinema, side by side, and the most graphic lesbian sex I have ever seen began to roll across the screen, I felt a mixture of wanting to scratch my eyes out (and his), run screaming, or just hide under the seat until it was over.

This was in a slightly more innocent time. Now, TV and film is packed with fetishes and sexual predilections of the most extreme variety, largely plucked from the sadism and masochism (BDSM) repertoire. BDSM was vaulted into the mainstream after the success of the Fifty Shades of Grey novels, the first published in 2011, and by now has become utterly standard in everyday sexual practice and entertainment. To the older generation, this is no doubt all filed under the heading of “way too much information”. Hence the high risk of squirming now when watching anything contemporary with one’s elders.

There used to be such a thing as family-friendly films that were nonetheless critically acclaimed. That day is no longer. Nothing has exemplified this better than the experiences of festive watchers of Saltburn, Emerald Fennell’s hit satire about aristocracy and sexual obsession. Hundreds took to social media to share horror stories; one said watching it with your parents made you “braver than marines” – others issued stark warnings. “If you’re home for the holidays and looking for a family film night do NOT, I repeat NOT under any circumstances watch Saltburn with your parents,” went one typical post online.

If Saltburn is anything to go by, mainstream primetime viewing may now involve watching depraved shenanigans in graveyards. Funny to think a few passionate kisses used to do the trick.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.