HomeEducation resourcesStudent guideRating ProcessIssuesHorror

Historically, the BBFC has often treated horror as a special case and in the late 1930s actually introduced an H for 'Horror' rating to warn the public of the likely content of such works. Indeed, 'horror' films were banned from distribution in the latter years of the Second World War in case they damaged public morale, often not being released until several years later when their initial power to disturb had somewhat waned.However, critical indifference or censorial intervention were the least of the genre's problems when it was claimed that the more extreme examples - particularly those which had never been submitted for theatrical certificates or may have required cuts - were seized by the police and often successfully prosecuted as obscene works when released on video in the early, unregulated 1980s.Many of these films of the horror variety were subsequently labelled 'video nasties', a catch-all term later refined to mean works which had been successfully prosecuted under theObscene Publications Act 1959. Although many of these works were not legally available in the UK for many years, some have now been classified on DVD, although the content of some of them (egCannibal HolocaustandI Spit On Your Grave, both resubmitted in 2011) means that cuts are still necessary.In the 80s and 90s, theFriday 13th,Nightmare On Elm StreetandScreamseries, as well as recent 21st century remakes ofThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre, (the original having been rejected on film in 1975 before finally being rated 18 uncut on film in 1999), andDawn Of The Deadhave proved hugely successful with newer, younger audiences, restablishing the horror genre as a top box office draw. The successfulSawandHostelseries and other works which would now be described as 'torture porn' illustrate how horror film-makers have raised the bar with ever stronger horror and gory images.

Horror elements in films, especially those aimed at younger audiences, are treated with great caution. Many children enjoy the excitement of scary sequences, but where films are targeted at a younger audience, age rating decisions will take into account such factors as the frequency, length and detail of scary scenes as well as horror effects, including music and sound, and whether there is a swift and reassuring outcome. In 1993, the BBFC hosted a series of test screenings for the dinosaur movieThe Lost World: Jurassic Parkto which an audience of hundreds of children and their teachers were invited. After careful analysis of their reactions, (the vast majority loved the experience), the BBFC opted to rate the film PG with the condition that clear Consumer Advice (now known asBBFCinsight) was displayed on all film posters the first time that this had ever happened.Since then, some notable blockbusters aimed at younger audiences have all contained significant horror elements. Examples includeSpider-Man 2(PG),Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring(PG) andHarry Potter: The Chamber Of Secrets(PG) (the latter film's Consumer Advice (now known asBBFCinsight) contained a warning about a scene featuring some 'scary spiders'! More recently, horror has been an issue in PG rated children's films ranging fromMonster HouseandIgortoCoralineandParanorman.