Does a horror film need the flexibility of a high rating to be truly scary?

[Iceman]

How could you create tension and fear without excluding a younger audience? Can you help me out by giving any examples of films that scare you that are rated below 18 (NC-17) but more importantly, any that are rated below 15 (R).

 

[Mr.Webs]

I don't know how many would agree but The Ring, the American film, scared me the first fime I saw it.

 

[Darth Elektra]

Well some movies that are rated pg-13 are:

Ring
Ring 2
Grudge
Grudge 2
Pulse

But none of them are scary, just mainly crap.

 

[Iceman]

I don't know how many would agree but The Ring, the American film, scared me the first fime I saw it.

Parts of The Ring scared me on first viewing (certainly the TV scene) and it had a lot more potential. I heard the Japanese version was very scary but that could have a higher rating as a result.

 

[Henry Hill]

No, an R rating isn't required to make a horror film scary/creepy (Poltergeist, IT, The Ring), but if used correctly, it can help a great deal.

 

[Majik1387]

I'm gonna be blunt. Yes. It releases a lot of limits that would hold back a movie. I will say there are few that don't need it.

 

[Iceman]

Well some movies that are rated pg-13 are:

Ring
Ring 2
Grudge
Grudge 2
Pulse

But none of them are scary, just mainly crap.

I've only seen Ring and Grudge from that list and I didn't realise they were PG-13. I think with the level of potentially frightening imagery that was used in those films (whether succesfully or not) it shows that it could be possible to create a scary film at the same rating.

 

[Iceman]

No, an R rating isn't required to make a horror film scary/creepy (Poltergeist, IT, The Ring), but if used correctly, it can help a great deal.

Good examples

I'm gonna be blunt. Yes. It releases a lot of limits that would hold back a movie. I will say there are few that don't need it.

Yeah, there must be certain sacrifices that have to be made solely as a result of the rating. Without those restrictions an already scary film may have the chance to be even more effective.

 

[Darth Elektra]

I've only seen Ring and Grudge from that list and I didn't realise they were PG-13. I think with the level of potentially frightening imagery that was used in those films (whether succesfully or not) it shows that it could be possible to create a scary film at the same rating.

Personally I disagree. I hope Pulse proves me wrong it looks pretty good/scary . I would love Hollywood to prove me wrong but it hasnt happened yet. However Im here to help you.

 

[The Dark Defender]

It's not 100% necessary, but it certainly helps. Strong PG-13 horror films are few and far between. The only one I can think of that I love is The Ring.

The less you hold back, the less boundaries you set, the scarier and more intense it is. The more you hold back, the more boundaries you set...

 

[Iceman]

Personally I disagree. I hope Pulse proves me wrong it looks pretty good/scary . I would love Hollywood to prove me wrong but it hasnt happened yet. However Im here to help you.

Maybe I scare more easily than others. I want to incorporate horror elements into a book I'm writing without excluding a younger audience as horror will not be the main focus of the book. I thought films might provide inspiration for that and I'm interested to see how possible it is to scare people with your hands tied.

 

[Iceman]

It's not 100% necessary, but it certainly helps. Strong PG-13 horror films are few and far between. The only one I can think of that I love is The Ring.

The less you hold back, the less boundaries you set, the scarier and more intense it is. The more you hold back, the more boundaries you set...

It seems from the answers given that it is possible but very difficult to achieve "horror" without the freedom to do whatever is required.

 

[Darth Elektra]

and I'm interested to see how possible it is to scare people with your hands tied.

Thats a great way of putting it. Good luck on your book.

 

[Joe Kerr]

How old do you have to be to see rated R movies?

 

[Majik1387]

^17 and up.

 

[Darth Elektra]

How old do you have to be to see rated R movies?

17.

 

[WorthyStevens]

Jaws. Rated PG. It's probably is the scariest non-R rated horror flick IMO.

 

[Joe Kerr]

17.

thanks...
but whats the diff. between NC-17 and R?

 

[The Dark Defender]

Jaws. Rated PG. It's probably is the scariest non-R rated horror flick IMO.

Yes, though at that time PG and R were the only ratings, R ratings weren't as common.

 

[Majik1387]

NC-17 is able to be more graphic, mostly in the sexual area.

 

[Iceman]

Thats a great way of putting it. Good luck on your book.

Thanks

 

[Darth Elektra]

thanks...
but whats the diff. between NC-17 and R?

Nothing really except NC-17 is mostly #### flicks. NC17 most theaters wont accept, Thats mainly it.

 

[Joe Kerr]

NC-17 is able to be more graphic, mostly in the sexual area.

but why do they need more than one rating.... i mean just cuz it has sexual content doesnt mean that will keep someone out of an NC-17 movie..
i dunno... :/

 

[The Dark Defender]

thanks...
but whats the diff. between NC-17 and R?

If a movie is rated R, people under 17 are allowed in if accompanied by someone 17 or older.

If a movie is NC-17, noone under 17 is admitted, whether accompanied by a guardian or not.

 

[Joe Kerr]

If a movie is rated R, people under 17 are allowed in if accompanied by someone 17 or older.

If a movie is NC-17, noone under 17 is admitted, whether accompanied by a guardian or not.

Okay.... I see
Good explanation...