Research Portfolio: Film Regulation/ Certification

Sex & Nudity

An elderly woman is shown nude from the back, but the scene is very dark, so it's hard to see.

After crawling around quickly, an elderly woman turns around to reveal that her dress is ripped and part of her buttock is exposed. Played for laughs.

The mom of the children is often seen with low neck tops showing much cleavage.

Violence & Gore

Several dead bodies are shown towards the end of the film.

Several violent deaths

A stabbing with a mirror shard

Profanity

1 use of "f---", pretty hard to hear however. (Any of you bitches wanna f--- with me now?), said by a 13 year old boy, after he kills the main villain.

A middle finger gesture and some uses of "shit" is also present.

Various uses of "G-damn", "Jesus" "douche", "ass", "shit", "hell", "bitch", "ho" in dialogue and in crap songs

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking

Grandmother smokes a cigarette at one point in the film.

Frightening/Intense Scenes

Towards the end of the film, a boy who is severely germophobic has a used adult diaper smeared on his face. We don't see the direct act happening but we hear the noise and see the aftermath.

An psychotic old lady vomits blood onto a young girl and she cries.

A young girl is going through a basement and briefly sees the corpses of her real grandparents in a dumpster.

A girl opens a door to leave the house and sees a corpse hanging from a noose.

An elderly man is seen putting a rifle in his mouth before pulling it out when he realizes he is being watched.

An elderly woman asks a young girl to climb inside of an oven to clean it. This happens twice, but nothing comes of it.

These are the things that had to be considered for the rating of The Visit. Due to the fact that my short film is loosely based around this film.

There will be violence and gore involved in my short film this is because there will be a brutal death within my short film.  

What does the 12A symbol mean?

Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child. To help them decide, we recommend that they check the BBFCinsight for that film in advance. Watch our video about 12A.

What's the difference between 12A and 12?

The 12A requires an adult to accompany any child under 12 seeing a 12A film at the cinema. This is enforced by cinema staff and a cinema may lose its license if adult accompaniment is not enforced for children under 12 admitted to a 12A film. Accompanied viewing cannot be enforced in the home, so the 12 certificate remains for DVD/Blu-ray, rather than the 12A. The 12 is also a simpler system for retailers. It means they cannot sell or rent the item unless the customer is over the age of 12.

Is there a lower age limit for a 12A film?

No. However, the BBFC considers the content of 12A rated films to be suitable for children aged 12 and over, and we would not recommend taking very young children to see them. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.
Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child. To help adults make this decision, we provide BBFCinsight for all films.

How important is the tone of a film at 12A or 12?

The overall tone of a film or video, and the way it makes the audience feel may affect the classification. For example, a work which has a very dark or unsettling tone which could disturb the audience would be less likely to be passed 12A even if the individual issues in the film were considered acceptable under the BBFC Guidelines. Similarly, if a work is particularly positive or reassuring this may stop it being pushed up a category from 12A to 15.

Will there be uses of strong language in a 12A or 12 work?

The BBFC's Guidelines state that strong language (e.g. 'f***') may be passed at 12 or 12A, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency and any special contextual justification. Aggressive uses of strong language may result in a film or DVD being placed at the 15 category. There is some allowance for puns on strong language at this category.
There may be moderate language (e.g. uses of terms such as ‘bitch’ and ‘twat’ at 12 or 12A).

What about discrimination?

Any discriminatory language or behaviour will not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language (for example homophobic or racist terms) is unlikely to be passed at 12A or 12 unless it is clearly condemned.

Do 12A films contain sexual behaviour?

Sex may be briefly and discreetly portrayed at 12A or 12. Verbal sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Comedy may lessen the impact of some moderate sex references or innuendo but frequent crude sex references are unlikely to be accepted at this category. There may be nudity in 12A films but nudity in a sexual context should only be brief and discreet.

Sex and sex references are treated the same irrespective of sexuality

What sort of violence can I expect in a 12A or 12?

At 12A, moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be justified by their context (for example brief sight of bloody injury in a medical drama).

Action sequences and weapons may be present at 12A or 12, and there may be long fight scenes or similar. Weapons which might be easily accessible to 12 year olds (such as knives) should not be glamorised in 12A and 12 works.

Sexual violence, such as scenes of rape or assault, may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated at 12A and 12. Such scenes must also have a strong contextual justification.

Can horror films be passed 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 horror sequences are not too frequent or sustained and the overall tone is not disturbing.

What about other issues like imitable behaviour or drugs at 12A or 12?

Dangerous behaviour (for example hanging and suicide) may be present in 12A or 12 works but will not dwell on detail which could be copied or present those activities in a manner that children are likely to copy.

Anti-social behaviour should not be endorsed.

There may be infrequent sight of drugs misuse in a 12A or a 12 but the portrayal should not be glamorised or provide instructional detail.

How can I find out more about a specific 12 or 12A work?

Please check the BBFCinsight for the film or video you are thinking of watching. You may find BBFCinsight on this website or on our free App as well as on film posters, DVD and Blu-ray packaging, and on some listings. You will also find it attached to some film and video content which is available to download. It provides comprehensive information on exactly why a film or video has been given a particular category. All the issues are discussed in detail and parents in particular can use this information to make informed decisions when choosing viewing material for their children.

In my short film there will be violence but very mild so therefore this will be suitable will be acceptable 12 years and above to be able to watch this. The minimum age for people to watch my short film should be 12 and upwards as this is the age that is allowed small violence in the film and they will be able to watch it.

As this is a horror film there will be gory scenes but not to cryptic that the scenes will make people uncomfortable especially at this age. This is why it will full into this catogorey. However they do 12 year olds do not tend to go on youutube to watch short films, so therefore it may not be passed as a 12. This then means that the target auidence will have to be above this age rating, 


As I had conducted research of my own I found out that there was a wide range of people that watch short horror films on YouTube, this means that there is a wider variety of people that have watched this. However this will be for a much more older target audience so therefore I would make it a 15.As this person lthat makes his own films looks as if he is 15 years of age so theefore it will be rated as a 15 because i have to think of the audience that watches it.