Classification with the BBFC
The BBFC, or the British Board of Film Classification, is an independent organisation dedicated to the moderation and classification of films for cinema release in the UK which has been in effect since 1912, coming into effect for DVD and Video releases in 1984. Much like almost any company at large in the film industry, the BBFC is independent, meaning that it operates free of any Government or film institute that may influence the applied metric with a bias, for example, if the BBFC was paid by a distributor, a film featuring inappropriate content such as intense violence, sexual themes or drugs would be encouraged to be rated lower to sell more tickets. The loophole they've netted themselves is that a film must legally have a rating from a company approved by a body of governing authority in order to be released, therefore they can calculate a charge appropriate to whatever film they moderate.
U - Universal - A film rated under the category of U is a film deemed by the BBFC to be suitable for anyone over the age of 4 and at a maximum, can contain infrequent mild language and romantic, none-sexual references such as kissing and hugging. There are no horror films classed as a U as you'd expect since the horror genre is not particularly tailored to that demographic, not only that but violence must be portrayed in its softest strokes such as the implication of danger and harmless contact combat. In fact, the only time that a U rated film can even hint at more moderate portrayals of violence or narcotics are for educational services that very clearly telegraph an Anti-Object in Question message.
PG - Parental Guidance - A film rated as a PG is, as the name would imply, rated under the assumption that parents evaluate the film and look into it before sharing it with their children, a PG film is not secondarily aimed at children however since films like Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws and many of the Harry Potter films are ascribed this badge, meaning that they are family friendly by the BBFC's standard despite their intentions towards maturer audiences. Sexual references and innuendo are aloud more frequently than in a U and if under the guise of comedy can be slightly more daring but there still cannot be explicit content, as is the case with the use of swearing which can be used more liberally, although not in aggressive ways towards other people. Violence, in a turn I found especially baffling, cannot be displayed as glamoured or ever condoned as a good thing to do which, provided that the films be staged in a distinctly none-repeatable settings such as the distant past, fantasy or Sci-Fi, is pretty much the only limiting factor to its portrayal.
12A and 12 - Advisory - This rating is applied most commonly as it hits that marketing sweet spot for summer block busters of allowing for enough action, adult themes and content for older crowds but still appeals to the huge child based demographic at large. A 12 film cannot be viewed by someone under the age of 12 period as it can get away with more which may come across to children in a damaging way, such as the light portrayal of violence, language, sex and drugs. Darker themes are allowed to be toyed with but once again, they cannot contemplate any degree of sincere goodness, a fight scene is all well and good but if the impacts are lingered on and the gorier features are displayed as anything other than wrong, the rating will jump. A 12A is a film the BBFC have deemed watchable by any age so long as their parent is complicate in the viewing experience and, as a media entity, is the goal almost every highly grossing property been labeled by, in the number of which ranks Titanic, The Avengers, Jurassic World and Lord of The Rings: Return of the King.
15 - The 15 age rating is where most horror films nowadays strive to hit since it allows for more graphic depictions of violence, more aggressive language and for actual depictions of nudity, meaning that the check list for getting the male led demographic in the cinema seats can be ticked off in its entirety. The juicy swear words are still off limits in excess but there can be an abundance of the B, F and S word whilst violence can be pushed harder and with more detail meaning more blood, more gore and more brutality which gives almost every horror film the greenlight to go crazy. This isn't to say that the dazzlingly vulgar heights of Saw, Human Centipede and Seed can be achieved since the sadistic infliction of pain is still reserved for the upper echelons of the brackets but more implicit violence, both of a physical and sexual nature, can be displayed.
18 - At the limits of cinema level rating, you have the rare 18 mark which I think is best realized in the BBFC's own words:
'At 18, horror films may contain very strong horror, gore or sustained threat'
Getting your film rated here is a tricky game as on the one hand, proper horror films with explicit content mandate the R rating, however, by axing out the younger audiences (who are naturally more inclined towards the horror genre for it's forbidden sex and violence) you shrivel your potential market substantially; there is a reason that the blockbusters of today that reap dollar by the billions are rated 12A.
'At 18, horror films may contain very strong horror, gore or sustained threat'
Getting your film rated here is a tricky game as on the one hand, proper horror films with explicit content mandate the R rating, however, by axing out the younger audiences (who are naturally more inclined towards the horror genre for it's forbidden sex and violence) you shrivel your potential market substantially; there is a reason that the blockbusters of today that reap dollar by the billions are rated 12A.