Horror & the 15 certificate

[vincenzo]

Originally Posted by 42ndStreetFreak

'18' films now actually have a bigger pull for me because I know that '15' certs are given to films that contain what was once '18' material and '18' certs often contain stuff that would have had the film cut to get an '18'....if not banned outright.

In many ways the UK '18' has becomes the same as the American 'Unrated' tag.

Absolutely agree 42nd (and I'm 43).

[Rob Strange]

True. When I see the release of an 18 cert horror flick, I automatically think Martyrs or Inside levels of gore. Unless sexual violence is involved - or very strong sex - a gore film really has to go the extra distance to get an 18 cert these days.

Saying that, I'm in no way put off when I see the 15 cert on a horror film. The Shining, Evil Dead 2, Ringu and An American Werewolf In London (recent cinema release) are all 15, and they're still some of the best horrors out there. And I actually prefer these particular films to the nastier Martyrs or Inside, for example.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by Vampix

Some of the more surprising movies to be passed 15 fully uncut are formally banned video nasties such as Contamination,Don't Look in the Basement and the upcoming release of Xtro.Anyone know of any other nasties that have been passed 15 uncut?

Xtro Was never a Video nastie and for that matter Tobe Hooper's Funhouse and Don't Go in the Woods... Alone! (James Bryan) were passed as 15

[vincenzo]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Xtro Was never a Video nastie and for that matter Tobe Hooper's Funhouse and Don't Go in the Woods... Alone! (James Bryan) were passed as 15

There was never an official video nasty list until the DPP 39 was drawn up. The original 74 was simply a brief guide.

There are already two threads for Video Nasties.

[Daemonia]

Xtro was briefly on the DPP's list of prosecutable films, although it never was prosecuted. It appeared uncut on VHS in the UK in 1987. Nevertheless, it did enjoy a brief moment as a banned 'nasty'.

[42ndStreetFreak]

It was never on the official DPP 39 list though.

It just appeared on early unofficial lists...along with typos ("Zombie Flesh Easter") and cock ups ("The Devil and Max Devlin")

[vincenzo]

Originally Posted by 42ndStreetFreak

along with typos ("Zombie Flesh Easter")

'When the earth spits out its eggs, they will return to eat the yolk of the living'.

Which of the original 74 nasty list also deserve a 15 today?

[Angel]

I would give Terror Eyes a 15 after watching it again recently.

[vincenzo]

So would I. Ditto for Blood Feast and Pranks.

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Slightly off-topic but something I remember from a few years back involving certificates was when Starship Troopers got a cinematic release (in 1997 I think). It was classified as a 15 and me and a couple of mates went to see it, but when it was released on DVD soon after it earned an 18 rating for the theatrical print. Bizarre!

You don't really see that too often; it's usually the other way around: Look at Jaws - a PG now!