Horror Film Classification

  Horror Film Classification

Children are vulnerable to violence and horror in films; this is proven by the theories and research that has been done. Examples of the theories that I have researched are theories such as the Hypodermic needle, this theory is about how people watch or read media texts and believe every part of the message they are told. The audience, who believe everything that is shown to them is consumed like a drug, goes straight to their brain and this is a effect of brainwashing, if the hyperaemic needle is believed by the audiences, they are passive, meaning that they believe everything they see. This applies to children, for example if they watched a horror film they may see something violent or scary happening and they will believe that what s happening is real as they are too young to understand that what is really going on is fake. Another theory that I have studied is the two step flow theory, this is when people who write the reviews for films or TV are read by audiences. The person who writes the review will decide weather a film is worth watching, they will then simplify the content of the film and tell the audiences what they think about the film or show. This helps passive people decide weather they should watch a film or not. Opinion leaders are active except for deciding which opinion leaders to believe. This doesn’t apply to young children but is another example of how easily influenced people can be.

Most horror films are classified between the two age categories 15 and 18. This is because 15+ year olds can decide themselves weather a film is too scary to see. Another reason why films are classified as 15’s or 18’s because the viewers who will watch the horror film will know that what is going on isn’t real and that is it put on. Horror films that are classified as 15’s will have different contents to horror films that are classified as an 18.

What makes  horror films classified as a 15?

• ·         Frequent use of strong language, including the strongest terms.
• ·         Violence is allowed, but may not dwell on the pain that has been inflicted.
• ·         Detailed infliction of pain is unacceptable.

What makes horror films classified as an 18?

• ·         Any detailed portrayal of violence or dangerous acts which is likely to promote the activity. This includes also instructive detail of illegal drug use.