Legality and ethics

 

BBFC

For my thriller, I would aim for a BBFC age rating of 15. This rating allows me to include the level of psychological tension, violence, and unsettling themes that are essential to the tone and impact of the story, without crossing into the more graphic or disturbing content associated with an 18 certificate. The film will include strong threat and occasional scenes of violence, such as the murders and the final beating of the killer, but these will not be excessively gory or sadistic. The violence will be impactful and disturbing, but it won’t dwell on suffering or include prolonged scenes of injury detail, which keeps it within the boundaries of a 15 rating. The psychological aspect of the thriller, particularly the unreliable and increasingly unhinged narrator, adds a chilling edge, but it’s the suggestion and tension that do most of the work, rather than explicit content. Additionally, the themes of obsession, trauma, and moral ambiguity are mature and thought-provoking, suitable for older teens and above. The dark comedy elements, especially the absurd accusations made by the narrator and the subversion of the typical crime genre structure, will also appeal more to a 15+ audience who can appreciate irony, satire, and layered storytelling. A rating of 15 strikes the right balance: it allows the thriller to be intense and unsettling while still being accessible to a wider teenage and adult audience. It offers creative freedom to explore darker narrative themes while remaining within a responsible and age-appropriate limit for content.