Black Phone is a horror movie released in 2022, directed by Scott Derrickson and based on a short story by Joe Hill. The movie follows the story of a young boy named Finney Shaw who is kidnapped by a serial killer known as the “Grabber” and trapped in an abandoned funeral home.
The movie has a rating of R, which means that it is not suitable for children under 17 years old without parental guidance. The reasons for this rating are related to the violent and disturbing content of the movie, which includes scenes of abduction, torture, and murder.
In this essay, we will explore in more detail the reasons why Black Phone has been given an R rating and the implications of this rating for the audience.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is the organization responsible for rating movies in the United States. The MPAA has a rating system that classifies movies according to their content and age-appropriateness. The ratings are as follows: G for general audiences, PG for parental guidance suggested, PG-13 for parents strongly cautioned, R for restricted, and NC-17 for no one 17 and under admitted.
The R rating means that the movie contains material that is not suitable for children under 17 years old without parental guidance. According to the MPAA, movies with an R rating may contain “adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously.”
In the case of Black Phone, the R rating is due to the intense and graphic violence depicted in the movie. The movie contains scenes of abduction, torture, and murder that are designed to be disturbing and unsettling. These scenes are not only violent but also psychologically disturbing, as they depict the psychological manipulation of the young boy Finney by the serial killer known as the “Grabber.”
The movie also contains strong language, which adds to the overall intensity of the movie. The characters in the movie swear frequently and use explicit language, which may be offensive to some viewers.
Furthermore, the movie contains scenes of sexual content and nudity, which are also factors in the R rating. These scenes are brief but may still be disturbing or inappropriate for some viewers.
The R rating of Black Phone has important implications for the audience. First, it means that the movie is not suitable for children under 17 years old without parental guidance. This is an important consideration for parents who are deciding whether or not to allow their children to watch the movie.
Second, the R rating indicates that the movie is intended for a mature audience. The themes and content of the movie are not suitable for all viewers and may be too intense or disturbing for some. This is important for viewers to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to watch the movie.
In conclusion, Black Phone is a horror movie rated R due to its intense and graphic violence, strong language, and brief sexual content and nudity. The R rating indicates that the movie is not suitable for children under 17 years old without parental guidance and is intended for a mature audience. Viewers should consider these factors when deciding whether or not to watch the movie.
