To urge parents not to take their underage children to see the FNAF movie?

[Ahsoka2001]

Today it was announced that the new "Five Nights at Freddy's Movie" has been classified 15 by the BBFC for "strong threat, violence" - https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/five-nights-at-freddys-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdeznzy4

I know there's a large fanbase for the FNAF franchise aged 10-14. I'm sorry that they won't be able to see the highly-anticipated movie version on the big screen. But at the same time - as someone who works in a cinema - reading this news has me dreading the release of this film.

A 15 certificate means that NOBODY who has not reached their 15th birthday is allowed into the auditorium. This is enforced by UK law and applies even if the parent accompanies their child. No one underage being in the screen is a condition of the cinema operating. It's just like alcohol - sell alcohol to anyone underage, the venue loses its license and won't be able to remain in operation.

So, if I turn away your under-15 from the FNAF film, I am just following the law. Underage patrons being let into the screen could mean not only legal action against the cinema, but legal action against me - I could also potentially lose my job.

Many people think, "It's not like it's alcohol, it's just a film." No. It's treated almost just as badly as alcohol and other age restricted products. Please be kind to cinema workers who have no choice but to turn away underage customers. It's a shame I have to say this but please don't become aggressive or verbally abusive (it's happened to my colleagues before). I'm sure this isn't the vast majority of people but it's one of the prime sources of customer aggression in the exhibition sector.

Oh - and if your child genuinely is 15 or over, please make sure they bring valid photo ID :) If you don't want them taking valuable documents like passports out then a clear photo of these should suffice. The last thing we want to do is turn away people who ARE within the law but if we do have to...we have no choice and it's absolutely nothing personal.

One of the Alex Rider books (that some 7-yr olds were reading) said "Let's shoot that bitch". I was shocked, don't know about the kids!

I was surprised when I first looked it up as the advert caught my interest, to see it was down as a PG13 so they must have upped it or IMDb was wrong

It looks really creepy, I'd have been terrified as a younger child, of the fox especially. I want to watch it but it doesn't look very child friendly, although I un the game is marketed at younger children than that. Also isn't this where that tall blue thing with the mouth full of sharp teeth originates from? It seems to be sold everywhere and I've seen many a young child with one

Yes, I always think people have a weird blind spot for games, maybe because then don't play themselves. I think if you'd said they watched Saw when he was very young, there might have been a different reaction. But in reality it's the same thing.

Some parents tend to think 'it's just a game' and 'games are for children' - they're not. Games are actually worse than movies if anything because they actually put you in a position where you are a character in an unfolding series of events, you are part of the story and making choices. If anything, they are worse.

WiB was 100% a 15 here. We went on my sons 15th birthday and had to go home to get his ID! That’s the film this thread made me think of straight away!

So many parents seem to take pride on their kids watching or playing inappropriate material, maybe they think the children appear more mature, or more intelligent because of it? They don't.

This. My kids aren't going near this stutf until they are old enough to earn the money and pay for it themselves, e.g. 16+.
My dC is 7 and I've been utterly gobsmacked at what some parents allow or even encourage. They seem almost proud that their "mature" DC are into this crap. I'm quietly thrilled that mine is happily into pokemon and mainly likes the cute ones like pikachu.

Wheres “here” @StonwEd because it was a 12A in the uk though admittedly that was eye dvd.

The games seem much more tame compared to the film.

I let my 11yo play the games (these are 12 rated, not 15) and he loves them and was so excited to watch the film, has been counting down the days. However after watching the trailer and seeing it's a 15, it's a firm no from me. He's gutted

It's annoying they've made a film a 15 knowing that their target audience is kids between 10-15

So naive !

Also, in addition to all the great points about neglect and abuse, what will your child do when they're older? There are loads of 15 rated films I'd like to share with my dc. But they're 11, so we've just graduated to 12s. And even that's on a case by case basis. The 15 rated films can come later, when they're mature enough to deal with some of the themes. But if I let then watch all the 15s now, what will we watch when they're 14/15/16?

@breadandbutterpudplease choosing to shield a child from Films that contain adult and disturbing themes such as paedophillia and murder does not mean you have a “timid” child FFS. It means you’ve used your adult brain to risk assess, realise they don’t need to be exposed to such content, decide they won’t be watching it until they are older. Yours is a simplistic view at best.

A good reminder for everyone.
I still regret going with the crowd and taking my two to see Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. That attack in the chapel went on and on, unsettling.

The film is a PG-13 in the US - specifically as that's the target age. They are also far more relaxed about violence as long as nobody shows a nipple.

The confusion comes from 'translating' that rating to the UK. A PG-13 is the same as a 12A where parents can choose to take their DC regardless.

A 15 is a 15 and parents have no veto power.

TWIB is not a great example of certifications. A 15 cut and a 12A cut were made available initially to distributors but then they generally widely released the 12A cut to capitalise on DR/Harry Potter links.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/13/bbfc-rewrite-horror-rules-woman-black-complaint-gore-sexualisation

It's one of the most complained about 12A films ever.

As for FNAF - of course it's a 15. Unfortunately much like with Stranger Things some parents see child characters or teddy bear robots and think it's fine.

@breadandbutterpudplease it would be worth you using your mat leave to do some on line parenting and safeguarding training so you don’t repeat the mistakes your parents made. Showing your children inappropriate adult content isn’t something to wear as a badge of pride and referring to children as “timid” because they don’t want to be exposed to it is very odd.

Woman in Black is terrifying at points! Loads of jump-scares too. My 12 to ds (who loves horror) asked us to turn it off.

There are quite a few older films rated 15 that we've let him watch, providing we've watched them first and know they're OK. He's almost 13. But no I wouldn't let him watch a newly released 15 rated film at the cinema.

That was missing the point. I’m not a massive fan of censorship but recognise the need for age ratings. I’m old enough to remember pre cert films, and because ratings were so new there was absolutely no policing of what I watched as a child in the 80s

I suspect Mandela effect here.

Films have been classified by the BBFC since 1912, and before that there was a mishmash of local council restrictions. In the 80s, it was U, A, AA and X.

Videos were however not formally rated until 1984 - but the film classification was of course known, just not printed on the box.

Most 15 year olds don't have photo ID?

I watched it as a child (on tv, plus it was American cable so rated PG13 which I was still young for), it's a favourite of mine. I do still get a shudder when I hear that particular version of Do You Hear What I Hear though

That's an odd take.

Then they're going to be a bit stuffed.

Because yes it's enforced, I can remember my DC being checked at that age, and they used to take their passports along until they got driving licences (remember they'll check anyone who looks as if they might be u15, so it might not stop until a few years older)

My husband used to work in a shop that sold video games, and of course would help customers who weren't sure what to get etc. He told me that there were a number of parents/grandparents who saw the age rating as some sort of difficulty rating.

Shocking there are people like this in the world who can just freely breed.

Right?

My DD got a bit upset during the Paw Patrol movie when Chase was scared and alone in the city. She isn't timid, she's sweet, kind and empathetic. Why you'd want to desensitise your children to violence is beyond me.

When you were 9 did you know about Freddie Kruger? It? Jason? I sure as hell did. Kids in the late 90s knew about Ghost Face from Scream It's called pop culture. Kids know about whatever the popular scary thing is, even if they've never seen the movies/played the games.

Then you will be completely failing in your duty as a parent to protect your children. I am shocked.

FWIW my DD aged about 4 had terrible nightmares about zombies after watching scooby doo which I had judged to be harmless fun for a small child. I got it wrong and it led to many sleepless nights. So good luck with a peaceful sleep routine.

My kids have never played this game but they watch Minecraft YouTubers and suggested videos like those often contain fnaf. Not a fan.