THE 18 CERTIFICATE

AN OVERVIEW
No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at
the cinema or buy / rent an 18 rated video
19821985: the period when the 18 rating was
introduced. Was renamed after being known as
the X rating

WHAT SORT OF ISSUES MIGHT I FIND IN AN 18 FILM

OR VIDEO?
very strong violence
frequent strong
language and/or very
strong language
strong portrayals of
sexual activity
scenes of sexual
violence
strong horror
strong blood and gore
real sex (in some
circumstances)
discriminatory
language and behavior

HORROR FILMS
Normally, horror films are rated 15 or 18. This is
because they may contain very strong horror, gore or
sustained threat.
On the previous slide, most of the films shown were
horror films
Human centipede 2 and its rejection of certification due
to violation of Obscene Publications Act. The film was
eventually passed 18 after cuts were made.

REJECTED BY THE BBFC?

Manhunt 2, a video game by Rockstar games
was appealed after it was rejected by BBFC
There was a lot of controversy on the release
of the second game being released with the
first game being linked to a murder of a teen in
Leicester.
Another film that was rejected was The Last
House On The Left because of its sexual nature
of the violence.

IF ADULTS CAN WATCH WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT MIGHT

BE CUT FROM AN 18 WORK?
where the material is in breach of the criminal law
where material or treatment appears to us to risks harm to
individuals or, through their behaviour, to society for example, any
detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use,
which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include
portrayals of sexual violence which might, for example, make rape
look appealing, reinforce the suggestion that victims enjoy sexual
violence or which invite viewer complicity in sexual violence
where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot
be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in R18

STUDIES
A study commissioned by the UK games industry found that parents let children
play games for adults, even though they knew they were 18-rated.
The research showed that parents were more concerned about children
spending too many hours playing games, rather than about what type of title
they were playing.
And to a certain degree, sticking an 18-rating on a game made that title more
desirable.
"We called it Magic 18," said Mr Freund. "The 18+ label was seen as promoting
the content, promising adult content rather then saying 'my parents will stop me
playing this.'
The number of games aimed at adults has increased in recent years, as the
average age of gamers has risen.
Games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, last year's best-selling title, tend to
receive most of the media attention.

CAUSE OF CONTROVERSY?
To me it is not surprising at all. I work in a children's ward and I have trouble
remembering how many times I have asked an eight year old to switch off GTA
(Grand Theft Auto - rated at least 15 if not R/18) because there were younger kids
in the same room. Their answer? "My mom and dad let me play at home'.

It is up to the parents to decide whether their child is mature enough to play these
games. The game manufacturers cannot be blamed, because they fully comply with
all regulations. The parents are to blame if they misjudge their child's maturity,
because under-age children can not buy games with an age-rating they do not
meet. The current system works, it allows parents to be directly involved in
choosing what their child plays.