Film Rating Evaluation And Overview

12A
12A means that you are only allowed to watch a film rated this if you are 12 and over or if you are with an adult over the age of 18. It means that it is not allowed a dark or unsettling tone as this isn’t allowed as it may affect the younger kids that may watch it and it is allowed may be some minor swear words but not used aggressively or too frequently and discriminatory words would definitely not be allowed. Sex can also be portrayed for a brief while but not what’s more suitable for an average teenager and the same is stated for violence and other more serious thing may be shown but not used too often. We would be unlikely to use this rating because the overall tone of the film would be quite dark as this is in relation to the film.

15
A 15 film is not acceptable for viewing for anyone under the age of 15 and even if accompanied by an adult. In a 15 you are allowed to view/ be acceptable to have strong violence, stronger language and this would be allowed to be a lot more frequent. Also in relation to sex nudity is allowed and common references to sex are allowed as well and discriminatory behaviour. It also allows for a lot more serious and dark tone as well. This means that this is the one that we are more likely to use as it allows use more room to use darker tones and themes in our film.

18
An 18 film is a lot open but you are only able to watch this if you are 18 years of age or older as this makes you an adult. An 18 is more likely to have very strong language and violence and can be frequent and also allow portrayals of sexual activity and violence. It also allows more horror blood and gore and strong discriminatory behaviour that allow more room. But we are unlikely to use all of this because due to budget and script we don’t need a lot of this but are more likely to need the room given to us by a 15.

For instance an 15 film would be a film like shutter island which is a film all about the criminally insane in a hospital on an island and the idea of this film in particular making it a 15 is so that people are aware that is has dark undertones and is a scary film but it is not so bad that its a 18 as the content is not that strong.