Based on Gillian Flynn's bestselling 2012 book, Gone Girl concerns the disappearance of Amy Elliot Dunne (Rosamund Pike) from her marital home in Missouri. On their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy's husband Nick (Ben Affleck) reports that she has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick's portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble and his behaviour soon has people wondering if he could have killed his wife.
Classification Issues
- Violence
- There is a scene of strong violence, which features a significant focus on blood and injury detail. There is also a scene of domestic violence, and references to sexual violence and abuse.
- There is a scene of strong violence, which features a significant focus on blood and injury detail. There is also a scene of domestic violence, and references to sexual violence and abuse.
- Language
- There are over 50 uses of strong language ('f**k), as well as four uses of very strong language ('c**t') in quick succession, accompanied by some violence.
- Additional issues
- The film also contains several strong sex scenes, strong visual and verbal sex references, and breast nudity.
- The film also contains several strong sex scenes, strong visual and verbal sex references, and breast nudity.
Classification history
The distributor sought advice from the BBFC ahead of the film’s formal submission for classification, stating that they would like to release the film at the 15 category. In August 2014, they invited BBFC Compliance Managers to view an unfinished version of the film. This is an example of the BBFC's advice service, through which we may provide guidance during the editing process to help distributors achieve their preferred age rating. The print screened had credits and green screen effects still to be added and an incomplete sound mix. However, key scenes were complete and the Compliance Managers were able to advise on the likely category.
The Compliance Managers agreed that, for the most part, the film was acceptable at 15, for over 50 uses of strong language, some strong sex scenes, strong visual and verbal sex references, as well as visual and verbal references to sexual violence and abuse. However, a scene of strong and bloody violence during sex raised the film firmly into the 18 category.
The scene in question – when Amy lures her admirer Desi Collings into rough but consensual sex and then cuts his throat during the act – is extremely bloody, with some focus on the wound to his neck, as well as on the blood spraying all over both their bodies. In addition to the significant dwelling on blood and injury, and the callous and sadistic nature of the attack, the 'sexualised' context meant the scene would have been unprecedented and inappropriate at the requested 15.
The 18 category was further reinforced by the late appearance – in quick succession – of four uses of very strong language ('c**t') in one scene. The first, used by Nick to Amy, is aggressive and accompanied by both violence and threat. This is followed by three more uses of the term as she spits them back at him. The BBFC’s Classification Guidelines at the time stated that “aggressive uses of 'c**t' coupled with aggravating factors (including, but not limited to, violence or racial abuse), or four or more uses of 'c**t’, are unlikely to be acceptable at 15.”
The Compliance Managers advised the distributor that, should they wish to alter the film for a 15 certificate they would have to make changes to the throat-cutting scene as well as removing the uses of very strong language.
The distributor submitted Gone Girl for formal classification on 25 September 2014, with its UK release scheduled for 2 October. It came with an 18 request and was passed at that category, for : strong bloody violence and very strong language.
