Blumhouse’s ‘Black Christmas’ Was Written For R Rating, Then Test Screenings Forced PG-13

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After releasing box office hits like “Happy Death Day 2U” and “Ma,” Blumhouse will return one last time in 2019 for the holiday horror movie “Black Christmas.” The latest remake of the 1974 horror classic is directed by indie film favorite Sophia Takal (“Always Shine”) and co-written by film critic April Wolfe. The MPAA has given the new “Black Christmas” a PG-13 rating, making it the first version of the horror property not to be R rated. Some horror fans are scoffing at a PG-13 “Black Christmas,” but Wolfe took to social media to defend the more restricted rating.

“Here’s the deal: We wrote it with an R in mind,” Wolfe wrote. “When they did the test screenings, [it] 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!”

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Wolfe continued by addressing the benefits of releasing a PG-13 horror movie tailored for young women. The screenwriter even re-tweeted a message from fellow director Jovanka Vuckovic noting that horror films like “Jaws,” “Poltergeist,” and “The Others” managed to become classics of the horror genre without an R rating.

“My little sister is reporting to me from Michigan that friends of hers who aren’t normally into horror (both male and female) are saying they’re excited to see this movie,” Wolfe added, “and they don’t even know her sister made it. If we can evangelize horror freakdom, we’re doing our job.”

Blumhouse’s “Black Christmas” is opening in theaters December 13 from Universal Pictures.

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! https://t.co/UMOdU3HQ4E

— April Wolfe (@AWolfeful) November 13, 2019

LET GIRLS SCREAM IN HORROR IN A SAFE SETTING! THEY NEED THE RELEASE!

— April Wolfe (@AWolfeful) November 13, 2019

Anyway, my little sister is reporting to me from Michigan that friends of hers who aren’t normally into horror (both male & female) are saying they’re excited to see this movie, and they don’t even know her sister made it. If we can evangelize horror freakdom, we’re doing our job

— April Wolfe (@AWolfeful) November 13, 2019

Oh, and I know people are gonna use “female empowerment” a lot surrounding Black Christmas. That’s fine, but I really hate “lady buzzwords” that lose meaning over time. And I’ll never tell you you HAVE to see our movie to support women. See it if it piques your interest!

— April Wolfe (@AWolfeful) November 13, 2019

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