HAMNET, THE HOUSEMAID and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple were among some of the films whose age classifications have prompted complaints from cinema-goers so far this year.

The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) today published 12 pieces of correspondence it received from members of the public in the first quarter of the year in relation to six different films.

IFCO is responsible for certifying all films, trailers and DVDs distributed in Ireland.

The office classified 188 films and 186 trailers for cinema release in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 192 films and 146 trailers in the same period last year. 

However, not all audience members were happy with the classifications it chose, with some contacting them to voice their opinions. 

Here is some of the correspondence. 

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (16)

IFCO received three complaints about the 16 classification for the horror film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

One person, a fan of the franchise, said they saw the film at their local cinema and were “left shocked by the sadistic graphic violence in the film which in my view, went far beyond what I expected to see in a 16 rated film”. 

“The previous film in this franchise was also rated 16 and while violent and gory, it was mostly quick and against the infected characters, whereas this time around much of the violence is perpetrated against human characters,” they said. 

They felt that a rating of 18 “would be more appropriate” when the film is released on DVD. 

Another person said they had never emailed IFCO before and “generally never have a problem with film classifications.” but said they “sincerely think that you made a mistake with the classification” for the horror film. 

They said that while they enjoyed the film and thought it was well-made, “I was quite disturbed by several scenes and did not sleep well last night”. They went on to cite the film depicting “grizzly decapitations” and a torture scene that takes place in a barn.

I have no interest in censorship, but as a 51-year-old parent of two teenage boys I would be worried at the impact of these scenes on developing young minds.

Another person also wanted to know how the 16 classification was decided upon, saying they felt “in this case, it was insufficiently lenient and the outright 18 is a more accurate warning, particularly for the especially sensitive.”

In response to all three people, IFCO assistant film classifier David Power noted that consumer advice published on its website in relation to the 16 classification said it contained “strong gory violence with graphic bloody injury detail”, scenes of torture “consistent with the franchise”, nudity and strong language, and drug use.

“I agree the sequence of sadism and cruelty in the barn that you refer to was particularly
challenging, but it was felt that as it was mostly confined to just this one sequence it was
acceptable within the 16 category,” Power wrote.

“This is in line with other horror titles like Weapons and Longlegs that have also been classified at 16 in recent times.”

He also confirmed that as the 16 category is not available for DVDS, “this title will be rated 18 when released in that format”. 

Hamnet (12A)

Two people contacted IFCO about the 12A classification given to Hamnet, the historical drama for which Irish actress Jessie Buckley won an Oscar in March for her performance.

One person said they did not understand how the classification was decided and asked the office to explain the reasoning behind it “given the explicit sex scene in this movie”. 

Power responded by saying IFCO’s website advised that the film contained some distressing scenes, scenes of a sexual nature and a bereavement theme. 

Another person who disagreed with the rating cited the same scene, writing that while they understood the 12A rating allows for sexual content presented without explicit detail, “the scene in question felt significantly more mature than what is typically expected for a 12A/PG-13 audience in Ireland”. 

“While the scene avoids full nudity, the depiction of the encounter in the woodshed is quite visceral and intense for a pre-teen audience,” they added.

In response, Power said: “To be honest, the scene you reference did cause some back and forth between our classification team.

“We try and classify off the basis of the film as a whole rather than as a result of one short image or scene. In a film about the character of Hamnet, who he was and where he came from, it was felt this short scene of sexuality was justified at 12A.”

The Housemaid (15A)

IFCO also received correspondence from two people over The Housemaid, the psychological thriller which it classfied as 15A. 

One cinema-goer said they were not complaining about the rating, but said their partner had previously experienced domestic violence “and found the film extremely distressing”. 

“I usually keep an eye on reviews just in case it may contain this kind of content but this one somehow slipped through, totally my own fault,” they wrote.

They asked if “an accompanying warning to this kind of content” could be given along with the age rating, adding that others who had experienced domestic violence may find it helpful.

Power said the consumer advice published to accompany the release of The Housemaid stated: “Strong violence with graphic injury detail. Depiction of domestic violence, sexual assault and coercive control”.

He added: “If you consult our website in advance of future cinema visits, I hope we’ll be able to provide all the info you need.”

Another person who saw the film with a friend said they felt it necessary to contact IFCO about the classification after they were “surprised” to see a young mother with “at least” four children attending the same screening. 

I honestly thought at first that either we, or they, had gone into the wrong auditorium! The film had several scenes of both a sexual and violent nature. The children stayed for the whole film.

They said that after the film, they asked the manager why the young girls were allowed in to see the film and were told that according to IFCO rules, as the children were accompanied by an adult, “he had to let them in”. 

“Surely, whoever is making these rules, needs to be questioned and give details of how they choose the age appropriateness of each film,” the wrote, adding that they were “Very Upset and Dismayed at the presence of Such YOUNG CHILDREN in the auditorium”.

In response, Power said 15A films have been deemed suitable for children of 15 and over but can be viewed by younger children if accompanied by a parent or guardian who knows that child best.

“In such instances we strongly recommend that parent makes an informed decision by availing of the consumer advice on the IFCO website,” he wrote.

“While it does not appear to have been the case in this instance, our general experience is that parents appreciate having the ultimate call about what their child can view and take their responsibilities serious in this regard.

“I’m sorry to hear to caused you an upsetting experience at the screening.”

IFCO also received complaints about the classifications for Emerald Fennell’s remake of Wuthering Heights (15A), Oscar-winning action thriller One Battle After Another (15A) and action comedy Anaconda (12A). 

All of the complaints and feedback can be found here.