#11 Research/Planning – How Five Nights at Freddy’s Tested Modern Media Regulation

Hey everyone, Adrian here. For my media regulation case study, I looked at the 2023 film Five Nights at Freddy’s. It’s based on the popular horror game and was heavily discussed because of its violent and disturbing themes aimed at a teen audience.

How It Was Regulated

The film was rated 15 by the BBFC in the UK for strong threat and bloody images, and PG-13 by the MPA in the U.S. for violent content and dark themes. Regulators said it was too intense for younger viewers even though it avoided extreme gore.

Theories and Regulation

The Hypodermic Needle Theory applies because regulators feared younger viewers might copy harmful behavior. Cultivation Theory fits too, as repeated exposure to violent stories could affect how audiences think about fear and violence. Reception Theory shows how fans and parents viewed the film differently, some saw it as fine for teens, others thought the rating was too low. Curran and Seaton explain how companies pushed for a lower rating to reach a bigger audience. Livingstone and Lunt show the challenge of protecting audiences while giving them choice.

Was It Effective?

The rating mostly worked, but streaming made it easy for younger viewers to watch anyway. The rating also created more buzz, which drew more attention to the film.

What I Learned for My Production

This case taught me that even short horror scenes, like in Slaughter Shed, need careful thought about age ratings and audience reactions. I need to balance creating suspense with being responsible, and make sure my work follows platform rules if I share it online.

What’s coming next?

The new website for my A Level project is currently in development. It will follow a similar style and layout to the fadingintoyou.com site I created during my AS Level course, keeping a clean, cinematic look. Here’s a quick sneak peek of what’s coming.