The BBFC is an independent organization that assigns age ratings to films and educates about their rating decisions. They were established in 1912 and fund their operations through fees paid by film companies. Films are given ratings of U, PG, 12A, 15, and 18 based on increasing levels of violence, language, sexual content and other factors. Several laws like the Obscene Publications Act and Video Recordings Act establish restrictions on publishing obscene or harmful material and require all video releases be rated by the BBFC.

1. BBFC
The BBFC are an independent organisation that produces legal restrictions for
film and TV to the public UK. They are independent, and have no involvement
with the government because they didn’t want to be seen as bias or unfair in
their judgement. They are a certifier who gives age restrictions to films and are
also involved in education in order to run training days to inform people of why
they make their film cutting decisions. The organisation was set up in 1912, and
is a non- profit organisation therefore the fees that all film companies have to
pay fund them. Film companies pay for someone working for the BBFC to
approve of their film and certain scenes, before they produce the actual film or
scene.
The certificate U stands for universal and basically means that is
suitable for viewing for all ages 4 and over. This is because the film
will not contain anything indecent or damaging to a child. Overall,
these kinds of films will usually be family based such as cartoons or animations.
This certificate is parental guidance, which means that the parent of
the child needs to have approval of the film before the child is able to
see it. Mild negative language can be displayed in the movie,
however the context of the language is carefully considered. For example if the
language is used in an aggressive scene, it will be upgraded to a higher certificate
rating.
This film requires an adult to accompany a child under 12 when
watching a movie in the cinema that has this rating. This certificate is
specifically for cinema viewing and doesn’t exist for DVD’s. 12A
allows nudity in the correct context, such as education rather than
sexual nudity. On the other hand, sexual nudity that is discrete and used for
humour is accepted. Strong language is accepted in 12A and so is moderate
violence, however not if the violence is too concentrated or gory.
12 has the same principles of 12A, however is used for DVD rating
certificates instead of cinema ratings. Moderate violence is allowed in
12 rated films, however there cant be gory detail. Nudity is also
permitted, but only in a humorous sexual manner or in a discrete
manner. Mild strong language is also allowed frequently

2. 15 Films can contain adult themes, hard drugs, regular use of negative language
and very little use of very strong language, strong violence and strong sex scenes
as well as nudity without graphic detail. 15 rated certificate movies are a big
step up from 12 because more mature themes are mentioned.
18 rated movies are usually a lot more explicit sexually, contain
mature themes and frequent abusive, violent and inappropriate
language and actions. This is for adult viewing so there are not
restrictions on these types of films, only legal implications. Strong
sexual language and full nudity can be shown, strong and gory violence can be
added aswell.
The obscene publications act 1984
This is a legal implication that stops morally incorrect views to be shown
publically, however, no crime is committed if it is justified as being for the public
good on the grounds that it is in the interest of science, art, literature or leaning
or other objects of general concern.
The video recordings act 1984
This law puts legal restrictions on movies that maybe be offensive,
inappropriate and may have harm that may be caused to potential viewers or,
through their behavior. Such topics include illegal drugs, criminal behavior,
horrific incidents or human sexual behavior. All of these topics are carefully
considered and analyzed before they can be published.
Child protection act 1978
It is illegal to make, or show indecent photographs of a child. It is also illegal to
make or show indecent images of children, which have been derived from a
photograph (for example, by tracing). A child is defined as a person under the
age of 18.

3. The video nasties are a term that is used for films that are redeemed to be
inappropriate and unsuitable for home viewing. It caused havoc in the UK in the
early 1980’s. A moral campaign led by Mary Whitehouse and NVALA began to
charge against films that they felt were indecent. Shortly after, the Video
recordings act of 1984 came about and all video releases had to go through the
BBFC in order to have certificate rating. An example of a film that was banned is
‘The house on the left’ which was an American horror movie, the story line was
about two teenage girls who were taken into the woods and tortured by a gang.
The extreme violence and indecency of the film caused it to be banned and later
on heavily censored. Another example is ‘straw dogs’ which is a psychological
thriller that was banned for its violence and rape scene. The second rape scene
was completely cut from the film and was finally re-released in 2002. A more
recent film that has been banned is called ‘hate crime’ which was banned for its
physical, sexual abuse and murder of a Jewish family from a Nazi member who
intruded in their home.
The Descent has a certificate of 18 mainly because of its gruesome and violent
nature. According to the 18 criteria, no theme is prohibited therefore there is no
restriction on what can be legally seen. Some themes that can be included are
strong horror, very strong violence, strong blood and gore and strong sexual
reference. The first three themes I have mentioned are specifically related to The
Descent because those themes are very present in the film, specifically blood and
gore and violence. On the other hand, blood and gore, and very strong violence
aren’t in the criteria of the 15 rating. A point of interest is Sarah’s death, which
would be cut out or even banned if the film actually visibly showed her death,
which was supposedly very similar to Pauls. The fact that Sarah’s death was off
screen and doesn’t have a lot of detail, allows her death to be mentioned in the
film. Overall The Descent didn’t have any scenes that needed to be cut or edited,
because they didn’t go against the Child protection act or videos recording act. I
feel that the main reason that The Descent was categorized with an 18 certificate
is because of its blood, gore and violence. The gauging of the eye, the broken leg
scene and the extreme violence used with the weapons, are all scenes that prove
why The Descent belongs in an 18 certificate.