Controversial film from BBFC

Attack the block

Released: March 2011
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Director: Joe Cornish

Rated: 15 (uncut)

Focused on a group of gang, from South London who need to defend themselves against alien invaders due to a meteorite falling from the sky.

Throughout the film there is frequent use of swear words, also a lot of violence is portrayed and moreover there are detailed scenes of gore and pain. These are all justified by the BBFC and given a rating of 15 because the violence is not glamorised and all the actions are in self-defence. Also, the context of the film, where the scenario is fantastical and set in a dystopia along with what some critiques say the presentation of the monsters can be comic and humorous as they are hairy and glow in the dark teeth therefore the use of prolonged and intense violence is acceptable at 15.

Regarding the use of drugs, the film explores issues relating to drugs and has many scenes in which the characters are dealing, taking and producing their own drugs. The debatable topic of the use of drugs, in the end did not affect hugely the age rating as the film does not endorse the use of drugs, it merely represents the culture and context of the lives of the teenage gang. Moreover the fact that the ‘hero’ of the film does not use any drugs acts like a learning curve as the only ‘hero’ did not need drugs.

The use of firework as a weapon is something which the young audience may glorify as well as use themselves because this type of 'weapon' is easily accessible, however according to the BBFC due to the fact that the film is aimed at the older audiences and teenagers this therefore did not affect the overall rating and non of the scenes were modified that involved violence with fireworks.

I agree with the rating as the BBFC code of conduct relating to these issues suggest that in order for a film to pass the 15 rating the use of strong language may be frequent and explicit depending on the context it is used. Also, when it comes to drugs the film deals with issues relating to drugs but does not promote or glamorise it in any way. Also, with impressionable viewers, the weapon used are not as harmful and dangerous to the extent that it will be copied or imitated by it's viewers.