BBFC Classifications

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, non-governmental body funded through the fees the charge others when wanting to get their films or videos to be classified.

Universal-Suitable for all

It is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, but a ‘U’ film should be suitable for all children aged 4 and above. Films that are classified ‘U’ should be within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to and violence, threat or horror.

Parental Guidance- general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children

A ‘PG’ film should not cause any problems to a child aged around 8 or older, so children of any age can watch. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset their child.

Suitable for 12 years

The ‘12’ category only exists for video works. No one younger than 12 can buy or rent a ‘12’ rated film.

Suitable for 12 years and over

No one younger than 12 can see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless they are accompanied by an adult, a film classified as ‘12A’ is not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take any younger if they believe that the film is suitable.  

Suitable for only 15 year and over

No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema, no one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated film.

Suitable only for adults

No one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ rated film in a cinema, no one younger than 18 may rent or buy and ‘18’ rated film. At this age adults should be free to choose their own entertainment, hard use of drugs and strong violence/sex references along with strong sexual activity is generally allowed.

To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, and to adults of not less than 18 years

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works. films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas.

Conventions Of A Horror Film

Horror films are designed to:

·         Frighten and panic the audience

·         Cause dread and alarm

·         Invoke or hidden worst feelings

·         Make the audience uneasy and startle them

Settings

The usual settings for horror films are dark. This is because it creates a better atmosphere and immediately creates tension and fear to the audience.

The locations can be from:

·         Small communities or isolated areas

·         Dark streets and narrow alleyways

·         Large cities or run down ghost towns

Often places with ‘dark’ history, like abandon houses, hotels and mental asylums.

Characters

There is always a villain in a horror film; the villain is often a monster, alien, serial killer or even ‘spirits’.

Most of the ‘innocent’ people in the film are usually killed with maybe one or two surviving, there can also be creepy children and police officers who can be good or bad.

Music

The music/sound effect used in horror films play a huge part in creating the tension and uneasy feel to the audience.

There can be:

·         Silence

·         Big bangs

·         Screeching/high pitch noises

·         An orchestra

All these types of sounds create tension and create chills for the audience; it is also used to create a climax for when something big is going to happen.

Themes

There are many different themes that run through horror films, they can be:

·         Good versus evil

·         Religion

·         Childhood issues

·         Revenge

·         Supernatural

·         Beyond death

·         Science gone bad/wrong

·         Nightmares

Iconography

The visual style in a horror film is usually dark with dark colours like red and black ; which is linked to evil, blood and danger ect.

There is usually dark lighting which helps to create shadows and unfamiliar shapes in the blackness.

Props used can also help the audience identify that it is a horror film; specific props can be linked with certain characters or villains. E.g., chainsaws, machetes, knifes ect.

The iconographies of the monster help to connote fear and terror to the audience. E.g. werewolves, vampires, mummies ect.

Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity was very successful. In the US Box Office alone it earned nearly $108 million and $194 million worldwide.

Paranormal Activity was such a success because of the way it was filmed and because of the storyline. The storyline was very realistic that is why it attracted a lot of people.

What’s conventional?

-      The horror

-      Suspense

-      Scenes that make you jump

-      Mysterious

What’s not conventional?

-      The storyline

-      The camera style

-      The opening (special thanks to police and family, making it realistic)

Audience Profile

Company Name: Time Films

Genre: Horror, Drama

Audience Age: 16-25

Similar films (which we want to achieve):

-Sixth Sense

-Others

-Hannibal

-Bone Collector

-Jeepers Creepers

-Final Destination

-Paranormal Activity  

The House of Horrors

Actors:

Federico Lentini              Fred

Tommaso Rinversi          Tom
Pasquale Scarpone         Johnny

Daniel Steinfield            Psychotic

Produced and Directed by: Daniel Steinfield

Released: 10^th June 2007

Genre: Horror

Summary:

Three young boys come to a house to stay for the weekend not knowing what is in store for them. They enter the house and looking around, they do find it a bit suspicious, as Tom and Fred are looking for the house owners Johnny lags behind. Suddenly, a man attacks him from the back and kills him. The two boys then realise that he is not there and go looking for him, finding him dead hidden in the garden. Shocked, scared and panicking they rush to the car to get out of there but Fred had left the keys inside; he rushes back into the house and gets the keys but then the doors are locked. As he rushes out through the other exit the psychotic man kills him. Tom then gets impatient and finds a knife in the car, he goes out looking for Tom and finds him also dead, the psychotic man then attacks him but Tom tackles back and manages to kill him.

Everything done in this short film have the usual conventions for a horror films, it did not break any. Some of the conventions are:

-      Young kids come to stay at a place for a weekend in a spooky house

-      There is a killer on the loose, killing the teenagers there.

-      Ending with the villain dying and 1 or 2 surviving.

Using the expected conventions of a horror film and not being original does affect the quality of the film, it does not improve it  because it is not unique or original; but simply doing what most horror movies do.

The group of young boys are represented in a very typical manner for a horror film, the group usually come to place to have fun and are always young and naive; not knowing what they are about to embark on.

Torodov theory is used in this short story. At first there is equilibrium and the young kids are excited and then it is disequilibrium and the psychotic man is out killing the young. Finally, it goes back to equilibrium when the psychotic man is killed.

I think that this short film was targeted for teenagers because it is the typical horror storyline that attracts that audience. The film maker had used good effects to certain scenes in the short film such as, brightening certain scenes. He also added suitable sound affects to the scenes which draws the audience in more and keeps it in suspense.

My overall personal impression of the film was not so great, i thought that the storyline was very common and there wasn’t anything original about it. I also thought that the actors’ acting was not so great, and they did not put in their full potential into it; this made me lose interest in the film.