IT Chapter Two age rating: Is IT too scary for teenagers? How old should you be to see IT?

It Chapter Two is out, which means Pennywise the dancing clown is back wreaking havoc in the town of Derry. The Losers Club, this time including James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain, return to Derry to defeat him after he reawakens from his slumber. But with some terrifying horror effects, is IT Chapter Two a little too scary for teenagers?

How old do you have to be to see IT Chapter Two?

According to the British Board of Film Classification, the film is classed as a 15, meaning anyone under the age of 15 can not see the film in cinemas.

In the ratings info, the film is listed as having strong gory violence, horror, bad language and discrimination.

IT Chapter Two also has flashing lights, so it may affect those with photosensitive epilepsy or other such conditions.

Which parts of the film are violent and discriminatory?

**WARNING IT CHAPTER TWO SPOILERS**

At the start of the film, there is what the BBFC calls ‘prolonged beating of a man’ when a gang of youths beat up a gay couple in a brutal way.

Later in the film, the adult bully Henry Bowers tracks down the Losers Club and stabs Eddie in the face with his knife, at which point Eddie quickly hides in the shower.

As Bowers goes towards him, Eddie thrusts the knife in his chest, leaving him heavily bloodied.

And, of course, Pennywise bites into bodies when he attacks his prey – both children and adults – which is naturally accompanied by bloodshed.

The BBFC also comments on the amount of threat from Pennywise, as the main characters spend “much of the film being stalked and hunted by the demon, which has the ability to transform itself into a myriad of horrific forms, shapes and sizes, and is able to induce life threatening situations and hallucinations.”

Finally, the discrimination comes in the form of homophobia, with the couple who are beaten at the beginning also abused with homophobic slurs.

The character of Richie is also forced to deal with similar language later in the film, when a flashback sees him playing video games in an arcade and being bullied by older boys.

Is IT Chapter Two too scary for teenagers?

With any film, this is very much dependent on your child and their fears.

Needless to say, if they have any fear or clowns, spiders, and demonic creatures, this will not be the film for them.

Even though the running time is fairly hefty at two hours and 50 minutes, some parents may feel it is appropriate to see the film first before letting their teenagers view it.

IT Chapter Two is in cinemas now