A summary of BBFC age ratings as well as discussion involving the age ratings of "THE THREE".

1. THE THREE:
BBFC Age Ratings
By Emma Weeks

2. Text
The BBFC (British board of film classification) has created several age
categories which a film or television program may fall into depending
on the themes and content of the product. These guidelines help to
form the age restrictions which are commonly used in cinemas and on
DVD packaging. The aim of these restrictions is to ensure that the
media product is being consumed by the desired age demographic.

3. Rating: U
U stands for Universal and
should be suitable for ages 4
and over. Infrequent mild
language, Mild sexual
behaviour (kissing and
cuddling), no reference to
drugs.

4. Rating: PG
Stands for parental guidance
and allows for the parents of
guardian to determine whether
or not the film is suitable for
their child. Innuendo may be
used as well as bad language,
there may be mild violence as
well as reference to drugs.

5. Rating: 12A and 12
Only suitable for people over the
age of 12. Those under 12 may
see a 12A in the cinema if
accompanied by an
adult. Discriminatory language is
unlikely to be mentioned in a 12A
or 12, there may be brief sexual
content, there may be moderate
violence, easily accessible
weapons should not be glamorised,
horror films may pass as a 12A or
12, dangerous behaviour (suicide,
drug abuse) should not be dwelled
upon.

6. Rating: 15
A 15 may only be viewed by a
person aged 15 years and
over. It may contain sexual
nudity, frequent strong
language, drug taking, sexual
references, sexual
nudity. Dangerous topics
(suicide, self harm) should not
be dwelled upon however drug
taking is acceptable. Horror
works may feature strong gore
and horror but should not be
overly sadistic.

7. Rating: 18
An 18 may only be viewed by
an individual over the age of
18. It may contain strong
horror, strong nudity, strong
sexual imagery and strong
language.

8. Our film: The Three
After researching the requirements of each set of age categories
presented by BBFC it has been determined that our film opening
sequence will be either a 15 or an 18. This has been decided as
even though the opening of the film will not be excessively gory
the concept for the whole film is that of a psychological
horror featuring the antagonist of a serial killer. This concept
would likely force the film into either a high 15 or low 18
certification according to the guidelines of the BBFC.

9. Reasons to classify as a 15
According to the BBFC a 15 may contain "strong threat and
horror as long as there is no sustained focus on sadistic or
sexualised threat." It also states that " violence may be
strong. It should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury,
however, and the stronger gory images are unlikely to be
acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be
acceptable.”

10. Reasons to classify as an 18
According to the BBFC an 18 can contain “At 18 horror films may
contain very strong horror, gore or sustained threat at 18 violence
can be strong and be portrayed with strong detail. There may
even be dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury, or scenes of
strong sadistic or sexual violence. The strongest gory images are
permitted at this category.”

11. Final age classification
In conclusion the only thing that would prevent this film from
being classified as a 15 would be the sadistic nature of some of
the horror elements of the film. It is this inclusion of sadistic
threat and horror which would mark our film as an 18 despite the
fact that other characteristics of an 18 will not be featured such
as intense gore and strong sexual scenes.