Details of the film rating system

As mentioned in an earlier post thrillers are typically rated between 12a and 18. I will describe the features of these ratings and any in between.


12a. Discrimination- Langauge or actions that appear discriminatory can not be endorsed by the peice of work, agressive discriminatory langauge in unlikely to be condoned by characters so to have such behaviour the acts must be clearly condemmed.

Drugs- Any use or sale of drugs cannot be glamourised or supported by the bulk of characters.

Horror- A moderate ammount of physical or psychological threat is allowed, this is provided that disturbing sequances are not frequant or lengthy

Langauge- Moderate langauge is permitted, any strong langauge (e.g f**k) must not be regular

Nudity- Nudity is allowed but in a sexual context must be discreet and must be brief

Sex-Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed.Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely
to be acceptable.

Theme-Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.

Violence- Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if
justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and
discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual

15.

Discrimination- The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

Drugs-Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example,
aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Horror-Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

Imitable behaviour- Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language- There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘f**k’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘c**t’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated
use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity-Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but withoutstrong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex-Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable
unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

Theme- No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

Violence-Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also
unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

18

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s publicconsultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally overridethe principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the
following areas:

• where the material is in breach of the criminal law,or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals.This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or
endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category. In the case of video works (including video games),which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.

Sex education at ‘18’
Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may
be permitted.

Sex works at ‘18’
Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other
very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex workat ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.

Information is from http://www.bbfc.co.uk/ Matt Simmons