Blumhouse and Universal Pictures' upcomingBlack Christmasis back in the headlines after the rating for the holiday horror flick about a group of sorority sisters terrorized by a masked killer was revealed. This latestBlack Christmasis written byApril Wolfe, directed bySophia Takal(V/H/S), and starsImogen Poots. PreviousBlack Christmasversions include the first from 1974 starringMargot Kidderand the 2006 version starringMary Elizabeth Winstead.
According toBloody Disgusting, the 2019Black Christmashas earned a PG-13 rating, making it the first of the three versions to not earn an R-rating. The PG-13 rating was given for “violence, terror, thematic content involving sexual assault, language, sexual material and drinking.” For comparison, the 2006Black Christmaswas rated R for “strong horror violence and gore, sexuality, nudity, and language.” Now, the MPAA ratings systems is hardly flawless and the vague reasons for why is a film is given its rating doesn’t necessarily speak to the quality of the film or the ways in which certain factors affecting its rating figure into the story. So, just because the 2019Black Christmashas a PG-13 rating doesn’t mean we should automatically assume this version is going to be softer on the horror than previous takes.
To shed even more light on this matter, Wolfe took toher Twitteron Wednesday to explain how the PG-13 rating was arrived at. Per Wolfe:
“Here’s the deal: We wrote it with an R in mind. When they did the test screenings, was clear that this movie needed to be available to a younger female audience because the subject matter is timely. Also I want to indoctrinate girls into horror. Doesn’t make it any less vicious!”
Given that the first trailer forBlack Christmashas already strongly implied, if not revealed, that the sorority girl group led by Poots' character will be kicking ass right back at the killer(s) terrorizing them, it makes sense that there would be interest in figuring out a way to show it to a necessary demographic. Should we be worried this newBlack Christmasis going to play it safe? Hell no. If anything, this specific case of a rating being doled out and surprising us all should reveal there is a concerted effort to make sure this horror remake with a heart of gold is seen by those who really need to see it the most.
Black Christmasarrives in theaters December 13. For more, check out theofficial trailer here.
