Target Audience

The target audience for many thrillers are 18+.
Ths is because they include a lot of violence, and psychological issues and events which can be distrubing for viewers of a younger age.

The BBFC rated the thriller 'Seven' an 18.
However the psychological thriller, 'Limitless' was rated a 15! 

This is what a classified 18 film would include:

• Where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• Where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• Where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context.

Wheras a classified '15' film could include;

• Discriminatory language or behaviour
• Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable
• Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised
• Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised
• There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest  terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable
• Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context
• Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable
• No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds
• Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification

I feel that our opening sequence should be rated a 15, as there will be subtle hints, but will not dwell on the pain caused in the murder. On the other hand, I feel our opening sequence could be on the border line for an '18', as the material is in breach of a criminal law.