Vampires Suck

VAMPIRES SUCK is a US comedy spoof lampooning the TWILIGHT series of vampire films. As in the original series, a young woman (called Becca here rather than Bella) falls for vampire Edward, whilst also being courted by her friend, Jacob, a werewolf. The film was originally classified '12A' for cinema release, after cuts, for one use of strong language, moderate sex references and violence. This DVD version comprises the US 'PG-13' version of the film, incorporating some of the material that was originally cut in order to obtain a '12A' in the UK. It was classified '15' for frequent crude sex references and moderate violence. The films contains numerous moderate sex references, both visual and verbal. These include references to large breasts, sperm, losing one's virginity, wanting to have sex, plus sight of a somewhat ridiculous inflatable sex doll that acts as a 'companion' to Becca's father. Within the context of a comic spoof, the majority of these references are permissible at '12', where the BBFC's Guidelines state that 'Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable'. However, this DVD version reinstates some of the material that was cut for the film's UK cinema release, including a sequence in which Becca tells Edward that she "likes it rough", pulling off her clothes to reveal sexy underwear with flashing lights pointing to her crotch. These references exceed the terms of the '12A'/'12' Guidelines and are more appropriately classified at '15' where 'There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour'. There are two different kinds of violence in the film - real life violence, with comic blows being delivered to the face and body, and supernatural violence in the form of vampire attacks. All the violence is presented in a deliberately over-the-top, slapstick comedy fashion, rather than in a credible or disturbing fashion. Even when the violence is bloody, it is so ridiculous and implausible, with poor and unconvincing special effects, that any impact is significantly mitigated by the comic context. Accordingly, these moments of moderate comic violence would have been acceptable under the Guidelines at '12A'/12', which state that 'Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context'. The vampire attacks occur during daylight and lack any convincing sense of threat or menace, being played strictly for laughs. However, this DVD version reinstates one scene that was cut from the film's UK cinema release, in which a young woman opens a flick knife and threatens Becca with it. The opening of the knife is seen in close up and is accompanied by a verbal threat. This scene is more appropriately classified at '15'. A single use of strong language is heard at the end of the film, as a girl utters an expletive when she sees a vampire. At '12A'/'12' the Guidelines state that 'The use of strong language (for example, 'fuck') must be infrequent'. The film also contains moderate language, including directed uses of 'bitch' and 'skank'. The Guidelines at '12A'/12' state that 'Moderate language is allowed'. The film also contains a few oblique drug references - one to the 'heroin chic' look of the pallid Edward, another to Becca's nose bleed being the result of 'partying' with Lindsay Lohan, and a passing mention of coke being 'all the rage in the 80s'. The film also contains some milder bad language. Additional information about the content of this film is available on www.pbbfc.co.uk. VAMPIRES SUCK is a US comedy spoof about a young woman caught in a love triangle between a vampire and a werewolf. There is infrequent use of strong language ('f**k'), and occasional use of moderate and mild bad language including 'bitch' and 'skank'. Frequent moderate sex references include verbal or visual comic references to breasts, sperm, losing one's virginity, wanting to have sex, and sight of an inflatable sex doll. There are occasional scenes of comic slapstick violence, including some occasional bloody moments in which the effects are intentionally over-the-top and implausible. Infrequent drug references, such as referring to a pallid character displaying "heroin chic" and cocaine being popular in the 1980s, also occur.