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.

DS age 10 is desperate to see it. I'm glad it's a 15 so he can't go to the cinema to watch it.
I've looked into it because he was so interested. The story is dark, which in itself isn't a major problem, but he's too young to watch the themes brought to life on the big screen.
It'll be interesting to see what necessitates the 15 rating.

What I mean is dark themes in themselves aren't an issue, nor is older kids being curious in them (within reason and with careful monitoring). But seeing it on a screen is for viewers below the age rating.
I do think it's irresponsible of film makers to target older audiences knowing the main fanbase is below the age rating though. This could have been a 12A if they'd wanted it to be.

I’m not on about children. Someone on here was even pulling their face about adults playing on FNAF. So a poster said well what about programmes like Broadchurch that has critical acclaim and had a paedophile on it? Are the thousands of people who watch that sick in the head too for enjoying the programme?

So I said that unless you watch U rated stuff ONLY, then you can’t pull your face for what adults choose to watch and play on.

And the FNAF games are PEGI 12, not 15. Hence why until now, the game has attracted a younger audience and parents have let it happen. So l don’t know why people are up in arms about it. The movie might not be suitable, but the games have been a 12 for years. And I would take off 2/3 years depending on the child.

I think people should research this, and anything else their kids may show an interest in for themselves, and not just rely on the information on here. While discussion is useful to raise awareness, not everything you read is factual. For example, there is no paedophilia depicted or suggested, but some people have decided that is definitely the motive behind what happens. I think that says more about the individuals that think that.
I'm not defending FNAF which certainly has dark themes, but don't believe everything you read, some people literally make stuff up or run with an idea without researching it for themselves.
Which is similar to the idea that other parents are definitely allowing their kids to watch things you deem unsuitable. While I'm sure some kids were allowed to watch Squid Game, many will say or imply they have to appear 'cool' to their friends. They may sound like they know what they're talking about, but that's thanks to YouTube (a whole other discussion in itself) and their friends. People must remember this having been a kid once themselves.
My point is not everything you read and hear is true, do your own research, rely on facts, and make decisions for your children based on that.

But then you run the risk of losing the adult fanbase who would want to see the film because they enjoy a darker or more gruesome experience. Putting it at a 15 is perfect IMO because it allows all the mid-teen and up fans to see the film while keeping away the younger fans like the 10 and 11 year olds who really shouldn't be playing the games anyway.

Jaws was marketed as a family film. It was the first summer family blockbuster type film.

Can't speak for the hotel employee but most kids at the time watched jaws.

I hadn't thought of it from that angle

Just jumping in to say that Five Nights at Freddy's has not got any themes about pedophilia. That seems to be a common misconception.

Doesn't make what everyone else is saying any less relevant. I just want to clarify that the main villain isn't a pedophile.

Shh, don't let facts get in the way.

My older sister (9 years older) told.me the story of Chucky from Child's Play when I was about 5. I don't remember if it gave me nightmares but I was scared for years that Chucky would jump out of a bush and kill me. I got over that and love the movie franchise. In early 2000s, I got freaked out by Samara coming out of the screen at the end of Ring (1st movie) and again my older sister had a hand in that too but I rewatched it a couple of years ago and didn't think it was that bad. I now love horror movies. I know some children cope better than others but I think it should be down to parent discretion. Nobody knows their child's ability to handle things better than a parent.

Jaws was and is pretty scary though! My point is had I got upset or distressed (reckon I was probably 9 or 10 I was on my tod really except for Waiter Chap

Sorry. You cannot present a photo. It has to be original document

At the cinema chain I work at we do accept clear photos - this has been confirmed by team leaders and managers. I'm not sure if it's the same for all chains, though.

Missing the point of the thread but what if your child doesn’t have a passport?? How can to prove their age?

Some kids will have photo ID for school or school bus, over 16s might have a young person’s rail card?

If the cinema won’t accept anything like that or the kid doesn’t have anything with a photo on, I guess they’ll have to wait for the film to start streaming online.

In Scotland most places will accept a young Scot card, which almost all dc have. Elsewhere, you can apply for a provisional driving licence from 15 and 9 months, which is cheaper than a passport.

My 23 year daughter still has to take ID to watch 15 rated films lol! And 18 rated films! This is at the cinema..

Our local Showcase (Derby) is always asking teens for ID to see films when they look under age. They're very strict as they should be 🫡

However the real frightening stuff and violence can be seen at any age on the News.. Sadly 😪

No from me too ..

also a mum to an 11 year old desperate to see this but I have to disagree the whole point of the game the movie is based on is violence and gore it’s in the back story everyone so they aren’t isolating half the fan base, that half really shouldn’t be watching or playing it anyway we choose to let them

I used to love the TV edited versions of films they used to do so they could lower the certificate rating for broadcast. I suspect this will happen to this one.

A teacher has to take ratings very seriously and it's been all over the papers about some kid seeing an age-appropriate trailer for a 15! Parents seem to think rules don't apply in the home. I wish you luck with all the abuse you're bound to face 😞

Just checked the backstory again, agree pedophile is not mentioned but it is a serial killer who targets children.by luring them to the pizzeria basement - link here https://gamerant.com/five-nights-at-freddys-lore-explained-william-afton-animatronics/

"The pizzeria itself is in a state of disrepair thanks to a series of tragedies associated with it, namely the kidnapping and likely murder of five children by a man named William Afton. It is rumored that the victims' bodies had been stuffed inside the many animatronic mascots of the pizzeria, named Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, which had led to a widespread boycott of the business and directly led to its demise."

And another installment not related to the murderer :

"Five Nights at Freddy's 4 is one of the most unique installments to the franchise, taking place within a child's bedroom instead of the norm of a security office within a facility. With the player taking control of the child, it is revealed that the protagonist has an intense fear of the animatronics at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, indicating that the title takes place before the events of the first game.

The game's story chronicles the infamous "Bite of '83", in which a child was tragically killed in an accident involving one of the animatronics at the facility. It is revealed that the protagonist of the game is the victim of this event, being relentlessly bullied by his friends and brothers over his irrational fear of the pizzeria's characters. During a birthday party at the location, his head was stuffed into one of the animatronic's mouths, with his tears causing a technical fault that caused the animatronic to bite down, killing the boy."

So still not for 10 and 11 years olds i would say.

Adults can enjoy whatever they want, I enjoy horror etc but still think these themes are not for children.
.

I'm aware. A big fan of the franchise. I agree it's definitely not suitable for 10- 11 years old. I just wanted to bring light to the situations that the killer is not a pedophile. Just felt using it as a valid arguement was wrong is all.

Sounds like there are no paedophiles murdering children in the games though, like the poster kept claiming.

100%..
what’s up with people these days not parenting!!… no wonder so many kids are messed up.
my 13 year old wanted to watch a 15 recently at the cinema… she was told not a chance!…. A simple ‘it’s illegal and rated 15 for a reason’ is more than enough of an answer!

Not rated here yet (all the cinemas show as tbc).

My 10 year old hasn't played the game but has read the books/graphic novels which are sold through scholastic brochures which primary schools get. The game/franchise is clearly marketed to children even if they've pitched the movie more at late teens.

FYI - he won't be seeing the movie even once streaming but I suspect lots of his friends will. Can't believe the number of kids who've watched squid games, stranger things and various horror franchises (and not just exaggeration, confirmed by parents). My elder son's school show last year (age 11/12 classes) did an interpretation of stranger things as part of it (very well done but clearly enough kids had seen it to develop the scenes).