Disfigurement charity requires warnings on portrayals in horror movies

A charity has urged streaming websites equivalent to Netflix, Apple TV and Disney+ to incorporate an on-screen warning earlier than exhibiting damaging stereotypes about disfigurements.

Changing Faces, a UK charity that represents these with a disfigurement or seen distinction, has written to broadcasters and streaming providers warning of the damaging portrayals of individuals with disfigurements in horror movies within the run-up to Halloween.

“Halloween is a particularly stressful time for some people with visible differences, where villainous characters with scars, marks, burns or conditions are often recreated as costumes, as well as becoming terms of abuse in everyday life,” the letter mentioned.

The charity mentioned dozens of movies, from the Nineteen Seventies to the current day, “portraying evil characters” are scheduled within the run-up to Halloween on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, All4 and ITVX.

“We have contacted content officers at these streaming platforms with a number of asks,” the letter mentioned.

“Consider updating individual film listings information to include a description in the copy that highlights the film contains a negative portrayal of those with visible differences.

“Consider integrating an on-screen caveat before the film plays that highlights the film does contain harmful tropes that portray negative perceptions of those with visible differences,” it prompt.

“Consider signposting to support for those affected or seeking more information about the experiences of those with visible differences at the end of the film.”

Evil characters with disfigurements are a standard trope in movie historical past.

Several villains in James Bond, the Joker and the murderers Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger from the Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street franchises all have facial scarring or disfigurements.

Heather Blake, the chief government of Changing Faces, mentioned: “We know that Halloween can be an anxious time for those with visible differences.

“The movie trade performs a task on this by reinforcing old school and dangerous stereotypes. These carry by means of to on a regular basis life for these with seen variations in methods that may have a long-lasting affect.”

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She added: “Streaming platforms may help increase consciousness and transfer the trade ahead by acknowledging these movie stereotypes, for instance, including a caveat to content material that explains that these are current and dangerous to these with seen variations.”

The letter is a part of the charity’s I Am Not Your Villain marketing campaign, which was launched in 2018 with assist from the British Film Institute.

The BFI mentioned it could not fund movies during which villains seem with facial scarring.