This document discusses reasons why films are banned and provides examples. It notes that films are typically banned for political, moral, or explicit content reasons. Specifically, films are banned for graphic violence, sexual violence or content that endorses harmful behaviors, child abuse imagery, or imitable dangerous acts. Examples of banned films are provided that depict graphic torture, child rape, incest or were poorly timed relative to real world events. The document suggests banned films often take their themes or portrayals too far and cross viewers' comfort levels.
1. Censorship-
Banned Films
SOME OF THE CLIPS MAY BE FOUND OFFENSIVE OR
INTIMIDATING, SUITABLE FOR VIEWERS 16 YEARS OR OLDER, VIEW AT
YOUR OWN RISK
2. Violence
For nearly the entire history of film production, certain films
have been banned by film censorship or review organizations
for political or moral reasons. Typically, a banned film goes
through editing to remove explicit scenes, and is then re-
released.
Cannibal Holocaust- As well as being labelled as a 'Video
Nasty', it was originally believed to be a snuff film and the
filmmaker was forced to prove that nobody had died during
its production.
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III was banned
due to graphic violence, which particularly focused against
women
Though 18 films and DVDs may cover difficult and strong
subjects and themes, harm is still a consideration. Very
dangerous or criminal behaviour (for example, behaviour
which if copied poses a credible harm risk to viewers) will be
cut.
4. Sex/Nudity
If a submitted work raises issues or concerns that cannot be
addressed by rating at a particular category, cuts or other changes
may be required as a condition of rating, this can include portrayals
of children in a sexualised or abusive context or sexual violence or
sexualised violence which endorses or eroticises the behaviour.
The Bunny Game was banned due to a high level of sexual
violence. The kidnapper takes pleasure from humiliating and making
his female victim suffer, which is shown to significantly endorses
sexual violence.
A Serbian Film is arguably one of the most controversial films of all
time. Contributing factors of the ban were scenes of child
rape, incest and murder.
Grotesque was banned due to a high level of sexual torture. Unlike
other torture films like Hostel and Saw, the film lacked context or any
purpose behind its content.
5. Language
The amount of abusive language in banned
films are usually over used but they usually don’t
contribute to the banning of the film. This is
because an 18 rated movie is allowed to have a
lot of strong language and not get banned.
6. Imitable Behaviour
Portrayals of potentially dangerous behaviour
(especially relating to hanging, suicide and self-
harm) which children and young people are
likely to copy, will be cut if a more restrictive age
rating is not appropriate.
7. Themes
The theme of banned films are varied a lot but they usually
take it too far and cross the line completely, therefore
breaking the viewers comfort area.
Upon release in 1992, Mikey was banned in many countries
and is still banned today in the UK. Many graphic scenes of
torture and murder contributed to the ban however it
wasn’t banned in the UK just for its violence but the timing
of which the movie was released was close to the James
Bulger murder, where two young children tortured and
murdered a toddler.
8. Examples of banned films
Rambo – banded in Burma due to poor portrayal of Burmese
soldiers (2008)
Saw 3D – banned in Germany because it broke the violence act
(2010)
A Serbian Film – banned in New Zealand due to objectionable
content (2012)
The Human Centipede 2 – banned in Australia for extremely
horrific, violent, disturbing and sexually-explicit content (2011)
I Spit On Your Grave – this film was banned because it showed
lengthy scenes of of gang rape and scenes of very graphic material
(2010)
