Published: 23 Dec 2024
While adults might buy tickets to experience the gory horror of films such as Longlegs or Evil Dead Rise, they’re not the only ones drawn to fear on the big screen. Children’s films have long included their own share of scary moments.
We look at the film Coraline as we explore how the BBFC approaches horror when it’s made for younger viewers.
Coraline is based on the popular, award-winning, children’s book by Neil Gaiman and uses the stop-motion animation technique similar to The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride. The film tells the story of Coraline, a feisty young girl whose busy parents often leave her on her own. One day, whilst exploring her new house, she finds a door that takes her to another world, an alternative universe where she lives with her ‘Other Mother’ and ‘Other Father’. These ‘Other’ parents seem perfect – they cook delicious food and lavish attention on ‘their’ daughter, and yet they are also slightly sinister with their buttons for eyes and desire to keep Coraline with them.
Coraline was first submitted to the BBFC in 2009 with a PG category request.
In line with our Classification Guidelines, which are the result of large-scale public consultation, there may be some unsettling and frightening sequences PG but we will always consider the duration, frequency, intensity and context of these scenes for younger audiences. Coraline is rated PG for mild scary scenes, rude humour, language.
Classification Issues
Scary Scenes
The BBFC noted a general air of spookiness running through the film. The eeriness starts in the opening credits which show close-up images of a raggedy doll being taken apart with medical precision and continues with the first sight of the ‘Other Mother’ and her button eyes. They also noted that as the film progresses the creepiness becomes increasingly menacing. Coraline is asked to consider replacing her own eyes with buttons so she can stay with the ‘Other Mother’ forever and when she refuses the ‘Other Mother’ reveals her true self, the Beldam, a huge spider-like creature. As Coraline tries to escape, everything becomes scary and dark – the garden full of snapping plants, her friendly Circus Master revealed to be a bundle of clothes filled with rats.
At PG our guidelines allow some element of ‘horror’ provided it meets the criteria that ‘scary scenes’ are not ‘prolonged or intense’. Our current guidelines, updated in 2024, go into even more detail about scary moments in children’s films:
‘Where content is targeted at a younger audience, classification decisions will take into account factors such as frequency, length and detail of scary and otherwise unsettling scenes as well as factors such as the impact of music and sound, and whether there is a swift and reassuring outcome.’
Despite the scariness, Coraline features a number of ‘mitigating factors’ – elements which lessen the intensity of the more frightening scenes. These included moments of comedy and fun like silly songs, performances by dancing mice and the strange behaviour of the amusing and colourful neighbours. Additionally, a lot of emphasis is placed on the reassuring happy ending.
The characterisation of Coraline also offers a strong argument for the PG rating. Coraline is shown to be a resourceful, courageous girl who, although she may occasionally be scared, always manages to find a way out of a tricky situation and eventually succeeds in not only defeating the ‘Other Mother’ but also saves her own parents and returns home safely. The biggest consideration, perhaps, was the fact that in Coraline some of the scares come from people or places that should feel safe to children, for example their homes and parents. This was one of the reasons the BBFC felt the U category would not be suitable.
At PG our guidelines also state that: ‘Fantasy settings or the inclusion of humour may lead to a lower age rating.’ Coraline certainly fits into the category of a fantasy film. The BBFC recognised that the film’s central idea of a parallel world would be a familiar idea for a child audience well used to similar plot devices in fairy tales. The film’s fantastical elements: the talking cats, performing mice, and mothers with buttons for eyes, plus the fact that Coraline features animated models rather than human actors, all make it very clear that Coraline’s world is very different from the real world of the audience.
Language
As well as the scary moments, we also noticed that there was one use of mild language as Coraline’s mother describes some rat droppings as ‘rat crap’ and scenes in which retired burlesque dancers have accentuated breasts and buttocks.
A film with a PG classification is suitable for ‘general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG should generally not unsettle a child aged around eight, although parents and caregivers should be aware that some scenes may be unsuitable for more sensitive children.’
To ensure parents have the information needed to make informed viewing decisions for their families, our content advice for the film details elements that might scare younger, more sensitive viewers.
At PG, our content advice notes ‘mild scary scenes, rude humour, language’. You can view our extended content advice for the film on our website.
Public Feedback
Our Classification Guidelines, on which BBFC age ratings are based, are the product of extensive research with thousands of people from across the UK which we refresh every 4-5 years. And, we also respond to any feedback we get from the public regarding specific BBFC ratings.
At the time of the film’s release, we received feedback from some parents who did not agree with the PG classification for Coraline. They noted that their children had been scared by the film – with some of them having to leave the cinema.
Everyone who contacted us about our age rating and content advice for Coraline received a reply detailing the reasons for the PG classification decision. Check out the BBFC Guide to Threat and Horror to find out more about our research and how this shapes our age ratings.
Coraline was also released in a 3D version, and the BBFC watched and classified this too, as sometimes the format of a film may change the viewing experience. In the case of Coraline, both versions were rated PG.
