HALLOWEEN is all about being scared, but these five films were classed as so disturbing that they were banned by the UK film industry.
The UK National Viewers’ and Listeners’ Association even coined the phrase ‘Video Nasties’ to highlight videos which it believed featured obscene content.
The following films should come with a warning so make sure you read the list on an empty stomach!
The Human Centipede 2 (2011)
The Human Centipede was gruesome enough but when Dutch filmmaker Tom Six decided to make a sequel a few years later, it turned out to be even more disturbing than the original.
Inspired by the gruesome events of the first film, the sequel stars Laurence R. Harvey as Martin Lomax, a man whose obsession with the original film leads him to recreate it for himself.
The sequel focused on the more graphic and gruesome elements of the franchise, causing it to be banned in the UK by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) until major cuts were made.
Hate Crime (2013)
The film follows a group of crystal meth-crazed neo-Nazis who invade the home of a Jewish family and subject them to unimaginable levels of violence, including torture, rape, and murder.
As a found footage horror the film was so violent that the BBFC refused to issue a certificate for the film’s release due to its racially-aggravated violence.
Director James Cullen Bressack later defended the film, saying that as a Jewish man he was motivated to make a film which depicted the very thing that haunts his dreams.
I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
I Spit on Your Grave is a gruesome revenge thriller. It follows fiction writer Jennifer Hills (Camille Keaton) as she enacts a violent plot of revenge against the men who violently sexually assaulted her.
It was unclassified by the BBFC until extensive cuts were made in 2001.
However, horror fans regard the film as a cult classic and it was remade in 2010 with a sequel released a few years later.
The Evil Dead (1981)
The Evil Dead is a supernatural horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi. The film follows five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in the woods, where they find an audio tape that, when played, releases a legion of demons and spirits.
The BBFC requested various cuts to the most graphic scenes before giving the film an X certificate.
But it was The Evil Dead’s controversial video release that led to the creation of the 1984 Video Recordings Act, which subjected home releases to a stricter criteria than theatrical ones.
A full uncut version of the film was finally released in 2000.
Best horror films to watch this Halloween
Halloween is the perfect time for horror movie to fans to indulge in all the scares, shocks and thrills.
Whether old favourites or a new chilling tale, here are some top picks to watch this Halloween.
- Alien (1979): Starring Sigourney Weaver, this film follows a spaceship crew who investigate a derelict spaceship and are hunted by a dangerous extra-terrestrial creature.
- The Shining (1980): Based on Stephen King’s novel, the movie stars Jack Nicholson as a recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who takes a a job as winter caretaker for a haunted resort hotel. Meanwhile, his young son possesses clairvoyant powers.
- Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Wes Craven’s horror classic introduced audiences to legendary villain Freddy Kreuger. This movie also notably marked Johnny Depp‘s film debut.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): An independent horror film, the story follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals. It also introduces the character Leatherface.
- Friday the 13th (1980): Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, this film kicked off a franchise and introduced Jason Vorhees. follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer. Among the cast is a young Kevin Bacon.
- Scream (1996): Written by Kevin Williamson, this film sees Wes Craven pay homage to horror classics – including his own Nightmare on Elm Street. The beginning of a long-running franchise; the cast includes Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.
- Poltergeist (1982): Directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, this supernatural horror film focuses on a family whose home is invaded by ghosts who abduct their daughter.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Finally, Cannibal Holocaust is a 1980 Italian cannibal film directed by Ruggero Deodato and written by Gianfranco Clerici.
It follows Harold Monroe, an anthropologist who leads a rescue team into the Amazon rainforest to locate a crew of filmmakers that have gone missing while filming a documentary on local cannibal tribes.
It was banned in 50 countries .
If that isn’t enough horror then Diehard fans can immerse themselves in more with the premiere of a highly anticipated documentary this Halloween.
Narrated by celebrated actor Charles Dance OBE, Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters offers exclusive insight into the figures who brought Hammer Horror’s unique vision to life.
