I don't like the look of Manhunt 2, but I'm not sure how comfortable I am with the BBFC's reasoning today. Greg has already quoted the board's concerns about the unremittingly bleak and sadistic tone. Sounds a lot like, oooh I don't know, Eli Roth's Hostel or the Saw series or Passion of the Christ or a dozen other 18 certificate movies of torture and transgression.
Is it the interactivity that makes Manhunt 2 more potentially harmful than those cinematic examples? Not according to a major report released in April, which suggested that watching violence on TV could be more upsetting than playing violent video games. And which body published this report? The BBFC. (More here).
Our board of film classification needs to provide specific instances of unacceptable violent content - as it would with movies. I can understand the reasoning behind the decision and I can understand Greg's argument - but, as with the Manchester Cathedral case, I feel there are preconceptions and prejudices - or fears of preconceptions and prejudices - working behind the scenes, perhaps unconsciously, perhaps not.
Common sense exists somewhere between the guileless grindhouse mentality of Rockstar and the finger-wagging arch-conservatism of the tabloid press. But I'm not sure that sense is ever served by outright censorship. It's important to realise that disgust is transitory and open to historical ridicule. No doubt those who banned Fanny Hill or Lady Chatterley's Lover, or felt society would fall apart thanks to Romans in Britain or Cannibal Ferox felt that they were making timeless decisions. They were not.
Update: here's BBFC's justification for its ruling. And here's Rockstar's response. A snippet:
"We are disappointed with the recent decision by the British Board of Film Classification to refuse classification of Manhunt 2. While we respect the authority of the classification board and will abide by the rules, we emphatically disagree with this particular decision.
Manhunt 2 is an entertainment experience for fans of psychological thrillers and horror. The subject matter of this game is in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers."
