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Rated "R" : A New Breed of Horror

Restricted is no longer ridiculous!

Many horror movies today easily avoid this rating without sacrificing any momentum or psychological intensity. This is a monumental positive because the focus is once again where it should be: the story.

During the 1970s and 1980s, this rating was reserved to moves that simply contained sex, nudity, and/or language. The fourth sequel to, "Nightmare on Elm Street," was the first commercially popular movie to initially be given an "X" rating due to nothing more than gore and graphic violence. After much editing, the rating was reduced to "R."

The movie, "Joy Ride," is perhaps the first widely watched movie that was rated "R" for nothing more than terror.

This proved to be a welcome change. It is now common to see movies that have this rating for various relevant reasons: violence, imagery, terror, etc.

This rating should no longer be perceived as a poor plot. Read the fine print underneath the rank and you can see the reasons behind the rating.

It is important that any fan of good horror will not want to pass these gems up. The suspense and psychological rush these films typically have is well worth your time.