I did some research into the BBFC's age rating system and this is what I found:
U Classification
- Suitable for everyone
- No discrimination
- Occasional nudity with no sexual content
- Very mild sexual behaviour
- Very mild violence
- Very mild threat
- Very mild bad language
PG Classification
- Parental Guidance
- No discrimination
- Mild bad language
- Nudity with no sexual content
- Mild violence
- Mild threat
- Mild sexual behaviour
12/12A Classifications
- 12A accompanied by adult
- Sexual activity may be discreet, moderate sex references allowed
15 Classification
- Suitable for everyone
- No discrimination
- Occasional nudity with no sexual content
- Very mild sexual behaviour
- Very mild violence
- Very mild threat
- Very mild bad language
PG Classification
- Parental Guidance
- No discrimination
- Mild bad language
- Nudity with no sexual content
- Mild violence
- Mild threat
- Mild sexual behaviour
12/12A Classifications
- 12A accompanied by adult
- Sexual activity may be discreet, moderate sex references allowed
- Moderate violence
- Moderate threat
- Moderate language
- Infrequent use of drugs
- May be strong language
- Nudity but not in strong detail
- Sexual activity may be portrayed but not in great detail
- Violence may be strong
- May be strong threat and horror
- Dangerous behaviour not in strong detail
- Drug taking may be shown
- Suitable for only adults
- Sex works - Contains only material which may be simulated.
- Sex education - If it informs and educates then explicit images are allowed.
- Only allowed to be shown in specially-licensed cinemas
- Explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults.
- R18 titles are filtered out from main public search as they can have explicit and/or offensive titles.
Existing Slasher films' BBFC Ratings:
Halloween:
BBFC rating: 18
Bride of Chucky:
BBFC rating: 18
Jennifer's Body:
BBFC rating: 15
Scream/Scream 2:
BBFC rating: 18
Friday the 13th Remake:
BBFC rating: 18After doing research into the age ratings of existing slasher films I decided that my film opening would be most likely have an BBFC age rating of 15. By clicking the link below, you will see that the age rating of 15 includes the following:
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/15
- Language (There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification).
- Sex (Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail)
- Nudity (There may be nudity in a sexual context but usually without strong detail).
- 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 violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context).
- Discriminatory language or behaviour (The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language).
- Drug taking (Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse, for example, through instructional detail. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances, for example, aerosols or solvents, is unlikely to be acceptable).
I also did some research into general genre films to see how genre affects the BBFC rating:
This Is England:
BBFC rating: 18
The Girl On The Train:
BBFC rating: 15
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo:
BBFC rating: 18
The Boss:
BBFC rating: 15
Pulp Fiction:
BBFC rating: 18
Wild Child:
BBFC rating: 12
BBFC rating: 12
