BBFC Research - Jess

BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification. The point of it is to protect the public, especially children from content which they should not be seeing such as horror films or violent scenes. They also respond to changing social attitudes towards media content and ensure the correct certificate ratings are in place where content may harm the viewer in any way.

All the certifcate catergories are:

U stands for Universal - meaning the content is suitable for all.

PG stands for Parental Guidance - meaning general viewing but parents are advised to consider the contents effect on their children.

12, 15 and 18 mean that this is viewing age from the film/content.

12A stands for 12 Adult - this means that a child below 12 cannot view the content without an adult.

R18 stands for Restricted 18 - this is a legal requirement with content involving strong sexual material. 

However, with horror films the main two are 15 and 18:

15 content includes no discrimination, drugs may be shown, dangerous behaviour and weapons are not glamourised, there may be strong language, some nudity may be shown, sexual activity may be shown, but not in detail, some strong violence may be used. In terms of horror, strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

18 content includes all of the above, but is expressed in a more explicit way which is why it is only for adult viewing.

Our film is going to be a 15 certifcate as a strong threat is introduced but not in a sadistic or sexualised way.