Assessment 3

Audiences of Horror

 

A third of horror films now mostly aimed at males aged 18-24 years of age. Approximately 48% of horror movie audiences are 18-24 years and only 14% of horror movie audiences are 14-17 years of age. 61% of the horror movie audiences are male viewers. Horror movie audiences proffer to see films now basing around blood and gore. The target audiences would proffer to see this. A selection of the target audience se how they like to see horror films because the like the fear that they present. They also like the idea of unrealism. Most horror films are aimed at 18 year olds because there excessive use of violence, strong language, sex and gore.

 

My Opening

 

I intend for my opening to be certified as 15. This means that no one under the age of 15 should be able to watch this. This allows me to use certain amounts of violence and explicit language with out going over the top. This also means that I do not eliminate my older audiences.

 

BBFC

 

BBFC stand for the British Board of Film Classification. The BBFC is an independent company and classify cinema films and have been doing so since 1912. They certify films that fit certain criteria such as the amount of violence and strong language.

 

 

Classifications

  

Discrimination

 

This means that the film must not have racist behaviour or language displayed on screen.

 

Drugs

 

Drug taking is acceptable as long as it is not shown in a way which will promote the misuse of drugs. Drugs such as solvents that are highly accessible and dangerous are not aloud to be shown.

 

Horror

 

A strong amount of menace and threat is acceptable as long as it is not sexualised or sadistic.

 

Imitable Behaviour

 

Weapons that are easy accessible should not be glamorised and dangerous behaviour should not go into detail so that audiences may not copy this behaviour.

 

Language

 

Strong language is aloud to be used as long as it is not used excessively. Words such as ‘cunt’ may only be used if it is justified by the context.

 

Nudity

 

Nudity is allowed in a sexual context as long as it does not go into great amounts of detail. If it is educational or non-sexual then there are no constraints. 

 

Sex

 

If the primary aim is to cause sexual arousal or stimulation, then it will not be approved. Sexual activities may be shown as long as they don’t go into strong detail. Verbal references to sex are allowed as long as they are not too strong.  

 

Theme

 

All themes are acceptable as long as they meat the guidelines for a 15.

 

Violence

 

Strong violence is allowed as long as it doesn’t focus on infliction of pain or injury. Strong gory images will are unlikely to be acceptable. Sexual violence can not be displayed but verbal references to sexual violence is okay.

  

 

 

If the material breaches the law then it is a criminal offence.

 

When the explicit images from sexual acts that cannot be justified by context. Such images may be confined to R 18 but some are in ordinary 18 films.

 

Where there are images that risk harm to individuals through behaviour. Such as violence or dangerous acts and harm public health morals.

 

Sex scenes in 18’s can be used in educational circumstances and can be prohibited in that situation.

 

Sex material containing certain images such as normal sex can be passed as 18. However films, which have strong fetish material or incredibly explicit images are also confirmed to R18 films. Material which is unacceptable for R18 films are also unacceptable for ordinary 18 films. 

Genre

The first ever horror movie was The Devil's Castle (English title) created in 1896 by George Melies. Ever since then horror movies have slowly became bigger and bigger films. Horror films have been the longest lasting style of films. They range from serial killers to vampires and werewolves. In the 1930's Universal Studios where known as the king of horror movies from there success with the Frankenstein and Dracula movies. In the 1940's RKO studios became the horror movie central thanks to Val Lewton. Modern Horror movies have not moved far away from their roots apart fro their new style of gore, with modern technology and style horror movies are focusing more on violence and gore. These are now seen to be key factors in horror movies, there are still a few movies who believe that suggestive violence is still better than seeing the violence. It allows the audience to create their own visions of what is happening which can be more frightening that what is actually been showing on screen.