What is the job of the BBFC?
The job of the BBFC is to protect children from unsuitable content within films, videos and even games. It also gives consumers an insight into the content of a particular film, video or game allowing them to choose whether or not they would like to purchase it. The BBFC age rates these videos before they are released for public viewing. The films are rated by using the Classification Guideline criteria.
For horror the main ratings we look at are 12, 15 and 18. There is no point aiming for lower than a twelve rating as it means that your film is not scary and will not be able to contain the blood and guts that people crave from horror. However there is also no point in aiming for a rating of 18R as this means it is a adult film, which contains too many adult themes. This means you will not have as wide an audience as you would with an 18. Although the most popular rating to aim for in horror would be a 15. This is because it relates to a wider audience of people who might be interested in your film.
(EP)
(EP)
The Guidelines:
Suitable for 12 years and over
Discrimination:
Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.
Drugs:
Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail.
Horror:
Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.
Imitable Behaviour:
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
Language:
Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent.
Nudity:
Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.
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 justification.
(CB)
Discrimination:
Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.
Drugs:
Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail.
Horror:
Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.
Imitable Behaviour:
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
Language:
Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent.
Nudity:
Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.
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 justification.
(CB)
Suitable for 15 years and over
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, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) 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 without strong 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.
(GH)
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, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) 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 without strong 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.
(GH)
Suitable only for adults
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:
(RW)
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the 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 work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.
(RW)
Overall, we have decided to make a opening title sequence with a rating of 15. This is because we feel it will appeal to a wider audience while also allowing us to keep in the level of violence and gore needed for a good horror.
(CB)
(CB)