Difference between 15s and 18s?

R

RobiCZ

New member
Since the BBFC changed their rules a lot of horror and violent films are now passed at 15. I watched Wrong Turn last night which had an 18 cert and saw nothing that I haven't seen passed at 15.

What is the difference between the two categories when it comes to horror? Films like Halloween: Resurrection and Jason X were passed at 15 (and although I haven't seen it House of Wax was passed at 15 for "strong horror and violence" What does a horror have to do to get an 18 cert?

Indeed, specifically, if anyone has seen Wrong Turn what made it an 18?
 
I don't know about Wrong Turn, but something that's always guaranteed to crank up the rating is a) how realistic something is and b) the copy-ability factor, aka the rewind factor. 'Fantasy' horror, i.e. that which is clearly un-realistic and possible only in the movies is treated less harshly by the censors than horror which could actually be perpertrated in the 'real world', and anything that could potentially have people constantly re-winding the scene and getting enjoyment, excitement and maybe ideas from it is always a no-no for the censors.
 
Wrong Turn was made an 18 because of

Contains strong bloody violence and horror, I think it's more realistic violence and sudden shocks of violence that get an 18 rather than 15.


Go to the bbfc website for more information.
 
Sexual Content and Graphical Violence are the big factors, I would have thought.

In, Be Cool, Travolta's character mentions that in order for a film to get PG-13, you can only use the word 'f*ck' once. And he does only use it once, while saying that sentence. Be Cool is a PG13 film.
 
Correct. In fact, it's common practise for filmmakers to deliberately use the word twice precisely so they don't get the more family friendly PG13. The thinking being that if your target audience is cool college kiRAB, they may be turned off a film that their much younger siblings are also able to see. No problem. Just add at least two f*cks and bingo; instant R rating to keep out the kiddie-winks (usually; some parents will still take their young charges regardless).
 
It's not necessarily violence or nudity either. The Buffy episode Dead Man's Party got cut for its R2 release - they removed the section when Giles hot wires his car in order to get a 15 certificate (well the set got a 15, the episode got a 12 in the end). The reason was that apparently kiRAB will copy Giles.
 
Hilarious. The thing that's most stupid about it is that 16-year-olRAB can shag who they like, move out, do whatever they want as adults.. apart from watching '18' rated movies. Nonsense.
 
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