PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is a US horror film that presents as a case history conveyed through hand-held camera footage seemingly filmed by the performers and which relates how a young American couple are threatened by paranormal manifestations in their new house. It was passed '15' for strong language and threat.

At '15', BBFC Guidelines for language state that 'There may be frequent use of strong language (eg 'fuck').' and this film contains strong language that fits within this guideline and the frequency of which exceeds the '12A/12' rubric.

As for horror, this film's content exceeds the '12A/12' Guideline which states that 'Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.'. This film features frequent strong threat and menace from the opening minutes until the final scene as the couple's camera records offscreen sounds and manifestations that graduate in frequency and intensity to the point where the threat becomes tangible and physical. The film's hand-held camerawork lends the horror and intensity a greater sense of realism and immediacy as the film's power is not reliant on gore or special effects but instead, credibly depicts an unknown force with growing power overwhelming the lives of a young couple in a realistic domestic setting. The lack of sadistic or sexualised elements meant that the film is permissible at '15', but the strength, frequency and sustained nature of the threat and terrorisation meant that it was not allowable at '12A/12'.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY also contains an oblique moderate sex reference to unseen sexual activity, additional mild sex references and mild language.