Research into certificates of films with examples

Using the genre of horror with examples I will relate different films to the BBFC website.

U- U is seen as fun films of the horror genre.

Is horror permitted in a U film?

There may be brief scary scenes and moments where the characters are placed in danger. ‘Baddie’ characters may carry or use weapons, but there will be no emphasis on these. Child or ‘hero’ characters are unlikely to use any kind of weapon outside, for example, historical settings. Potentially dangerous or imitable behaviour, particularly those which come across as safe or fun, will not be present.

Examples of U horror films- 

• Hotel Transylvania (2012)- Summary-The last thing Simon Van Helsing, the youngest in a long line of monster hunters, wants to do is fall in love with Dracula's daughter, Mavis. Upon discovering that they are natural enemies, the doomed couple attempt to bring peace between the warring monsters and humans.

I think the film is a U as it aimed at young children and has no moments that include frights or swearing or violence. 

PG- PG is a mild threat comedy of the horror genre.

What about horror at PG?

Allow some 'Jump' moments and scary scenes.

Examples of PG horror films- 

• Scooby -Doo (2002)- Summary- After an acrimonious break up, the Mystery Inc. gang are individually brought to an island resort to investigate strange goings on. 

I think that Scooby Doo is a PG as it is aimed at children and has been for many generations. 

• Paranorman
• Frankenweenie
• Corpse Bride
• Frankensteine
• Hocus Pocus (1993)- Summary- After 300 years, three sister witches are resurrected on Halloween night, and it us up to two teenagers, a young girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to the witches reign of terror once and for all.

Hocus Pocus is a PG as it contains mild language and violence and contains many children friendly mythical creatures.

• The Witches (1990)- Summary-A young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.

I believe that it is a PG as it is aimed at young children as it was first a Roald Dahl book, that children would read. And when the film cam out they may want to see that too so the film had to have less explicit language and violence so young children can see it.

• Nightmare before christmas (1994)- Summary- When Halloween Town's Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, gets bored, he attempts to take over the festive Christmas season for a change of pace. Against the advice of Sally, the lonely rag doll who has secret feelings for him, Jack enlists three trick-or-treaters Lock, Shock, and Barrel to help him kidnap Santa Claus. But even when Jack realizes his mistake, he'll have to contend with the evil Oogie Boogie before he can turn things around and restore the holiday's cheer.

12 is more fright and peril threat.
Can horror be passed at 12 or 12A?
Yes, some horror films are passed at this category. Moderate physical and psychological threat is permitted at 12 or 12A as long as disturbing sequences are not too frequent or sustained.

 

Examples of 12 horror films-

• Gremlins(1984)- Summary- A boy inadvertantly breaks 3 important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.
• Ghostbusters (1984)- Summary- 28th Fans will be able to see their favorite paranormal psychologists back on the big screen as they save the world from ghosts, ghouls, and Mr. Stay Puft. 

Ghostbusters is a franchise: http://www.ghostbustersinternational.com/list.htm It is known by many and has been since the earky 80's, children, adults and families everywhere loved ghostbusters and the fun feel it gave to the horror genre of ghosts. Therefore when the film came out in cinemas families everywhere wanted to see it, cinema's rated the film a 12A and therefore with parents and guardians families could see it together.

The Woman In Black (2012)- Summary-  Working alone in an old mansion, Kipps (Radcliffe) begins to uncover the town's tragic and tortured secrets and his fears escalate when he discovers that local children have been dying under mysterious circumstances. When those closest to him become threatened by the vengeful woman in black, Kipps must find a way to break the cycle of terror.
The film stars the likes of Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Ciaran Hinds (TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY) and Janet McTeer (TUMBLEWEEDS), was adapted from Susan Hill's novel for the screen by Jane Goldman (KICK ASS).
The woman in Black may have been a 12A for many reasons, such as the fact it stars Harry Potter main man, Radcliffe, therefore many Harry Potter and Radcliffe fans would want to see the film. It also may have been a 12A as it starred young children and the film was created by Jane Goldman's Kick Ass, which is one again a film for children.
But this film is no doubt a frightful horror to watch, people who are easily scared should be wary of the film and many would say the frequent frightful scenes should have been given at least a 15.

• The Others (2001)
• Van Helsing(2004)

• Dark Shadows(2012)- Tim Burton film-Starring- Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz, Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee, Alice Cooper-Summary- An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.  
• Dark Shadows is a 12 which means it is aimed at children 12 and over and also younger ones under parental guidance. The film stars Johnny Depp who stars in such films as Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissor Hands and Edward Scissorhands. It also stars Helena Bonham Carter who stars in many of Tim Burtons films, Tim Burton films include, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd, Frankenweenie, The nightmare before christmas and Frankenweenie. 
• The film is a 12 as it includes mild horror, little explicit language, and no violence. Fans of Johnny Depp and other Tim Burton films would probably be the ones to go to see Dark Shadows, as it is much like his other horror films and is aimed sat the same audiences. 
• http://darkshadowsmovie.warnerbros.com/index.html

15 is more the paranormal and psychological side of the horror.

What about horror works?

Many horror films are rated 15. At 15 there can be strong threat and menace (as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised), although the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.

Examples of 15 horror films-

• Let me in (2010)- Summary- A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.
• Sinister (2012)-  Summary- A true-crime writer finds a cache of 8mm "snuff" films that suggest the murder he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose career dates back to the 1960s.
• Cabin in the woods (2011)- Summary- Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods. The cabin in the woods is a 15 as it includes gore and mild nudity. 
• Insidious (2010)- Summary- A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.  Insidious is a 15 as it is brought by the same producers of the SAW franchise and other horror films of the age range of 15 to 18. The film is more psychological and only frightening in that sense. 
• Paranormal activity 1 (2007)- Summary- After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence. Paranormal activity doesn't star major actors and is filmed on hand held cameras to give it a realistic effect, the film includes paranormal activities and demons. There are many jump scenes that scare the audience, no matter what age. This film is a 15 as it may not include violence or sexual scenes but it psychologically effects the audience. 
• Orphan (2009)- Summary- A husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she claims to be.

18 is the gore side of the horror.

What about horror works?

The strongest horror works are passed at 18, they may contain strong horror, gore or sustained threat and menace which exceeds the boundaries of 15.

Examples of 18 horror films-

• Last house on the left (2009)- There was a 70's version that was banned due to the scenes being unsuitable to audiences at the time- After kidnapping and brutally assaulting two young women, a gang led by a prison escapee unknowingly finds refuge at a vacation home belonging the parents of one of the victims - a mother and father who devise an increasingly gruesome series of revenge tactics.
• Nightmare on Elm.St (2010)- A re-imagining of the horror icon Freddy Krueger, a serial-killer who wields a glove with four blades embedded in the fingers and kills people in their dreams, resulting in their real death in reality. This fi0lm is an 18 as it includes a lot of blood and violence, for example the cutting and fires and burning. 
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)- Summary- A group of friends passing through are stalked and hunted down by a deformed killer with a chainsaw in order to sustain his poor family who can only afford to eat what they kill.
• The Human Centipede (2009)- Summary- A mad scientist kidnaps and mutilates a trio of tourists in order to reassemble them into a new "pet"-a human centipede, created by stitching their mouths to each others' rectums.This film is an 18 as it is very explicit and the ideas for the film and what is based upon is very strange and abnormal. There is nudity and sickening scenes. 
• Audition- Japanese film (2001)- A widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be after all.