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ABSURD (Italy, 1981) Directed by Aristide Massacessi
(as ‘Peter Newton’)
Although the (slightly cut) cinema version of this demented Italian
part-Halloween clone, part sequel to Anthropophagus from Italy’s
greatest cinematic jackdaw received a BBFC 18 certificate in 1982,
the subsequent Medusa video, with BBFC cuts re-instated, was banned.
No sign of a re-release yet, Absurd is available across Europe in
a bewildering array of titles. Although some of the gore is graphic,
there’s actually little here that would trouble the present
BBFC regime.
ANTHROPOPHAGUS THE BEAST (Italy, 1980) Directed
by Aristide Massacessi (as ‘Joe D’amato’)
Massacessi’s cannibal fable moves at a snails pace and contains
more stock footage than a Greek tourist board advert, but is also
graced with some of the most eye-popping gore in any of the so-called
video nasties. Never previously viewed by the BBFC, Anthropophagus
was released in an uncut form by ViP, and as a cut version by Radio
Shack. There’s some confusion as to whether or not it was
just the uncut version that was banned, but both were eventually
withdrawn. The cut US version (known as The Grim Reaper) was passed
by the BBFC on the 30 January 2002. This version runs at 82 minutes
and is available as The Grim Reaper on Hollywood DVD.
AXE (USA, 1977) Directed by Fred Friedel
This dark but amateurish home invasion rape/revenge drama had already
been passed ‘X’ with cuts by the BBFC for a theatrical
release in 1982. These cuts were re-inserted into the VRO video
release that ended up banned. The movie was eventually dropped from
the DPP list and was passed by the BBFC as ‘The California
Axe Massacre’ after cuts of 19 seconds in 2001. This version
(longer than the previously passed ‘X’ version) is now
available on the Exploited video label.
THE BEAST IN HEAT (Italy, 1977) Directed by Luigi
Batzella (as ‘Ivan Katansky’)
Sleazy, stupid and almost unbelievably bad nazi exploitation flick
culled from an equally dull war film with extra scenes added involving
the obligatory sadistic female SS doctor and a crazed nymphomaniac
midget! It first appeared on video on the JVI label, a very small
company who only released a limited number of copies (with a Spanish
cinema certificate!) which might explain why original copies of
the film go for hundreds of pounds on the black market. Banned by
the DPP, and most unlikely ever to be released in the UK again.
THE BEYOND (Italy, 1981) Directed by Lucio Fulci
Lucio Fulci’s most accomplished film is part zombie movie,
part Lovecraftian haunted house mystery. It was passed ‘X’
by the BBFC (with around 2 minutes of cuts) for a theatrical release
in 1981 and it was this version, released by Vampix video that was
banned. Two versions (Elephant Video and VIPCO) were subsequently
certified on home video with even more cuts. Finally passed uncut
by the BBFC on 31 January 2001. The Beyond is currently available
on VIPCO/Horror Video.
BLOODBATH (Italy, 1971) Directed by Mario Bava
Bava’s celebrated film could almost be described as an Agatha
Christie whodunnit with added gore and jet-black comedy. It was
also the prototype body count movie, taken to its zenith by FRIDAY
THE 13TH. As ‘A BAY OF BLOOD’
(one of its many alternative titles), Bloodbath was rejected for
a cinema certificate in 1972, so it’s hardly surprising that
the Hokushin Video version ended up on the DPP list. A cut version
was released by Redemption Video in 1994 (also as Bay of Blood)
and the same version was re-certified for a Film 2000 release in
2002.
BLOOD FEAST (USA, 1963) Directed by H. G. Lewis
The oldest film on the DPP list, this campy, barely professional
but historically significant gore movie first saw the light of day
in the UK on Astra home video. How such a patently amateurish effort
could ever be considered likely to deprave and corrupt even the
most timid viewer is anyone’s guess but it found itself on
the DPP list, where it remained. It was eventually passed with 23
seconds of cuts by the BBFC in June 2001 and is available on Tartan
Video.
BLOOD RITES (USA, 1967) Directed by Andy Milligan
The most gory of Andy Milligan’s period-piece horror movies
shot on Long Island, this has all the Milligan hallmarks –
wonderful costumes, terrible acting and a paper-round budget. Initially
released on Scorpio Video, it was prosecuted and is one of the titles
that remains in uncertified limbo although truth be told, there’s
little in it that would upset the present BBFC. Blood Rites was
remade by Milligan as Legacy of Blood in 1972, which was just as
bad, but lacks any gore whatsoever.
BLOODY MOON (Spain, 1981) Directed by Jesus (‘Jess’)
Franco
Jess Franco’s Spanish bottom-of-the-barrel slasher giallo
(complete with the requisite Franco zooms to nowhere and endless
disco grooving) was passed ‘X’ with cuts by the BBFC
in 1982 for a theatrical release. Released by Inter-Light video
in cut and uncut versions, it was the uncut version that ended up
on the DPP list, although both were eventually withdrawn. Bloody
Moon was re-issued in 1994 by VIPCO with 1 minute and 20 seconds
of cuts.
THE BOGEYMAN (USA, 1980) Directed by Ulli Lommel
Former Fassbinder pupil and assistant Lommel produced this professional
and eerie combination of HALLOWEEN and THE
AMITYVILLE HORROR. Passed ‘X’ and uncut by
the BBFC (as The Bogey-Man) for a theatrical release in 1980, the
same version released on VIPCO video was later banned. It was re-issued
by the newly re-formed VIPCO in 1992 with cuts. Finally re-issued
uncut in 2000 by VIPCO/Horror Video.
THE BURNING (USA, 1980) Directed by Tony Maylam
Tony Maylam’s uneven but graphic variation on FRIDAY
THE 13TH (complete with Tom Savini make-up effects) was
the release that resulted in all Thorn-EMI’s subsequent horror
movie videos being butchered prior to certification. Passed with
cuts for a theatrical ‘X’ in 1981, Thorn EMI mistakenly
issued a version on home video that re-instated the BBFC cuts. This
version was banned (on the list the movie appears as ‘The
Burning – (un-cut)’), but the cut version remained available
until Thorn-EMI ceased trading. The Burning was finally passed uncut
by the BBFC on August 2002 – released by VIPCO/Horror Video
(the first VIPCO release in 1992 was 19 seconds shorter than this
version, and was the same as the Thorn EMI cut version).
CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE (USA/Italy, 1980) Directed
by Antonio Margheriti (as ‘Anthony M Dawson’)
Margheriti’s cannibal film is a gory exploitation flick that
is part Vietnam parable and part bloodthirsty action movie and owes
less to the other banned cannibal atrocities and more to George
Romero’s zombie movies. Never viewed or certified by the BBFC,
the Replay home video had an unofficial ‘XX’ certificate
and was uncut. Listed by the DPP, Cannibal Apocalypse remains uncertified
and unavailable in the UK.
CANNIBAL FEROX (Italy, 1981) Directed by Umberto
Lenzi
Lenzi’s quicky rip-off of the altogether more professional
Cannibal Holocaust is one of the most gruesome and unpleasant films
on the DPP list, all the more so for the excess of real animal mutilations.
Replay issued the uncut version of the film initially (it had never
been viewed by the BBFC) with an unofficial and self-imposed ‘XX’
certificate, and later issued a heavily pre-cut (by about 7 minutes)
version with an 18 certificate, though whether this certificate
was ever officially issued is subject to debate. The movie appears
on the DPP list as Cannibal Ferox – (un-cut), but both versions
were prosecuted and ended up banned before eventually disappearing
from the list (probably because Replay ceased trading). Cannibal
Ferox was finally passed by the BBFC with 6 seconds of cuts by VIPCO/Horror
Video in 2002, though the company pre-cut it before submission by
around 7 minutes!
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (Italy, 1978) Directed by Ruggero
Deodato
By turns intelligent, brutal, haunting and unwatchably graphic,
Deodato’s vicious critique of the ‘mondo’ style
of documentary film-making is one of the most contentious films
on the DPP list. Its notoriety was enhanced by the fact that the
UK video label that released it (Go Video) sent a copy to Mary Whitehouse
with a mock letter of outrage, thus helping to kick-start the whole
video nasty phenomenon. It had never been viewed by the BBFC when
released, pre-cut (although the film is available in a bewildering
variety of versions around the world, so the uncut version is difficult
to identify). Considering the smorgasbord of atrocities on view
(including real animal mutilation) it is no surprise that the movie
ended up prosecuted and banned. It remained uncertified and unavailable
until finally passed by the BBFC in July 2001 after cuts of 5 minutes
44 seconds and released on the VIPCO/Horror Video label.
CANNIBAL MAN (Spain, 1971) Directed by Eloy De
La Iglesia
This dark and beautifully shot melodrama owes nothing to the other
cannibal movies on the DPP list, being an Iberian take on Polanski’s
Repulsion. Released on video by Intervision uncut, it was successfully
prosecuted and banned, probably because of the exploitative title
change. Passed in November 1993 with 3 seconds of cuts (in order
to ensure that the 18 certificate version was different from the
prosecuted version) and released by Redemption.
CANNIBAL TERROR (Spain, 1981) Directed by Julio
Tabanero (as ‘Allan W. Steeve’)
Utterly amateurish and inept cross between a Euro-crime drama and
cannibal splatter movie that’s a lot less interesting than
it sounds. Released initially on Modern Films Video, Cannibal Terror
found itself banned partly because of its association with the other
banned cannibal movies and partly because of some barely professional
gore. After a short spell on the list, the movie was eventually
dropped and was finally passed uncut (the film contains none of
the animal mutilation or sexual violence that made Ferox and Holocaust
so problematic) by the BBFC in March 2003 and released on Screen
Entertainment DVD.
CONTAMINATION (Italy, 1980) Directed by Luigi
Cozzi (as ‘Lewis Coates’)
Argento buddy and occasional associate Cozzi directed this jolly
and reasonably entertaining variation on ALIEN
and INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. Originally
released pre-cut on video by ViP video (it had never received a
BBFC certificate), this version was banned after being successfully
prosecuted. A severely cut version was passed by the BBFC and released
by European Creative Films in the mid 1980’s. Recently (Summer
2003) passed uncut by the BBFC and given a 15 certificate!!??! Not
released as yet (July 2003).
DEAD AND BURIED (USA, 1981) Directed by Gary Sherman
Certainly the biggest budgeted and one of the most professional
films on the DPP list, Dead and Buried is a haunting and graphic
zombie movie with an unsettling atmosphere. Passed uncut for a British
theatrical release in 1981, Thorn EMI must have been surprised when
the same version found itself prosecuted and banned! Dead and Buried
had a short stay on the list before being dropped. Re-released cut
(by about 5 seconds) in the late 1980’s and released on the
Video Collection label. Finally passed uncut for release by Polygram
in 1999.
DEATH TRAP (USA 1976) Directed by Tobe Hooper
Hooper’s first film after The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a
weird southern-gothic black comedy with more graphic violence than
is present in Hooper’s brilliant debut. Certified ‘X’
with cuts by the BBFC for a theatrical release in 1978, VIPCO released
an uncut version on video that ended up banned, partly due to the
video cover drawing comparisons with Hooper’s previous movie
(that strangely never appeared on the DPP list) and partially due
to a campaign by Mary Whitehouse. VIPCO released a cut version (by
25 seconds) in the mid 1990’s. The BBFC finally passed Death
Trap uncut in November 2000 for the most recent VIPCO/Horror Video
release.
DEEP RIVER SAVAGES (Italy, 1972) Directed by
Umberto Lenzi
Lenzi’s dry run for his later Cannibal Ferox is a jungle re-make
of A MAN CALLED HORSE (1970) starring Ivan Rassimov,
an ex-British game show hostess called Me Me Lay and the usual array
of animal slaughter. Refused a cinema certificate by the BBFC in
1975, it should have surprised no-one to see the uncut Derann video
release appear on the DPP list. Eventually dropped, the movie remains
uncertified and unavailable in the UK. It would require cuts to
the obligatory scenes of animal cruelty if re-issued, even in these
more lenient times.
DELIRIUM (USA, 1979) Directed by Peter Maris
A stupid vigilante thriller about a group of quazi-fascists who
hire a Vietnam Vet psychopath to clean up the streets. Barely professional
and never interesting, Delirium was a video premier in the UK (no-one
with any business acumen would have picked it up for a cinema release)
on VTC, and ended up on the DPP list thanks to some pretty inoffensive
and brief gore shots. Picked up by Viz (no, not the comic) and re-released
with 16 seconds of cuts with the title ‘Psycho Puppet’
in the mid 1980’s.
THE DEVIL HUNTER (Spain, 1981) Directed by Jesus
(‘Jess’) Franco
Another Franco effort (which he took on when original director,
Armand De Ossorio walked off set – no doubt after reading
the script for the first time) containing his customary frantic
zooms and female nudity, this extraordinary effort manages to cross
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) with ANTHROPOPHAGUS!
Unsurprisingly a video premier in the UK, The Devil Hunter was released
by Cinehollywood and ended up banned, probably more to do with Franco’s
obsession with naked women being whipped than the very little gore
on display. The Devil Hunter remains uncertified and therefore banned,
and is so poor, that it’s unlikely to be picked up for re-release
– although there’s little in the content, other than
some of Franco’s fetishistic whipping scenes, that would cause
the BBFC sleepless nights.
DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE (USA, 1980) Directed by
Joseph Ellison
A pyromaniac take on PSYCHO (1960) with a particularly
exploitative tag-line (‘They died screaming and in chains!’),
Don’t go in the House does contain some pretty extreme imagery
as well as an intense central performance, but is ruined by some
sub-Franco disco grooving (including one annoying ditty by the name
of ‘Struck by Boogie Lightning’) and a very low budget.
The BBFC cut the movie when certifying it ‘X’ for a
theatrical release in 1980, and the Videospace version re-instated
these cuts, hence it’s appearance on the DPP list. It was
eventually dropped before being re-certified with further cuts for
a post-VRA video release from Apex.
DON'T GO IN THE WOODS ... ALONE! (USA, 1980) Directed
by James Bryan
The sort of movie that Ed Wood would have made if he’d lived
long enough to cash in on the late ‘70’s slasher phenomenon,
Don’t Go In The Woods…Alone! Is totally inept in every
possible way. A video premier in the UK, the film was released uncut
by VRO and in spite of the relatively low level of gore (made even
less offensive by the technical ineptitude of the whole exercise)
the movie found it’s way to the DPP list and uncertified oblivion,
which it enjoys today. To be honest, there’s little in Don’t
Go In The Woods…Alone! that would disturb the good people
of Soho Square these days.
DON'T GO IN THE PARK (USA, 1979) Directed by Lawrence
Foldes
A great example of an utterly forgettable and thoroughly routine
effort elevated to notoriety simply by being listed by the DPP.
A sort of cannibal-possession-reincarnation movie (which almost
makes it sound worth seeing. Don’t.), Intervision’s
uncut version was a premier in the UK for this flick, and given
the poor quality gore, it’s something of a surprise to find
it on the DPP list. It was dropped shortly afterwards (it may have
been difficult to secure a conviction against such a cheesy effort)
and remains unavailable since Intervision ceased trading.
DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT (USA, 1973) Directed
by S. F. Brownrigg
This ultra low-budget backwoods American ‘inside the asylum’
shocker actually transcends its cheapness and delivers a few decent
shocks and has a weird, oppressive atmosphere. Never seen in the
UK before Crystal Home Video released a heavily pre-cut version.
Shorn of virtually any gore save for a few reaction shots, its appearance
on the DPP list remains a mystery. The uncut version is apparently
an early gore masterpiece but the truncated stump released in the
UK was never successfully prosecuted and it was quietly dropped
from the list. It has not been picked up for re-certification and
remains in limbo. John Martin in his excellent book ‘The Seduction
of the Gullible’ suggests that the movie might have fallen
foul of an old BBFC guideline against the inappropriate portrayal
of psychiatric treatment.
DRILLER KILLER (USA, 1979) Directed by Abel Fererra
Another notorious title, Driller Killer is, in fact, a low-budget
variation on TAXI DRIVER (1976) and was Hollywood
mainstream director Abel Ferrara’s first movie. Scuppered
by graphic cover art, and by its post-punk nihilism, it’s
hardly a surprise when the pre-cut (which contained all the gore,
but left out some dialogue) VIPCO release ended up banned. It’s
subsequent re-release in a cut form by the BBFC in 1999 was something
of a watershed for previously banned films, a glut of former banned
titles were re-submitted after Driller Killer received its certificate.
The movie was finally passed uncut by the BBFC in November 2002.
THE EVIL DEAD (USA, 1982) Directed by Sam Raimi
What needs to be said that hasn’t already about Sam Raimi’s
comic book gore extravaganza? Probably the most notorious title
on the list, those who watch it often wander what all the fuss is
about and certainly a number of films passed uncut by the BBFC (Peter
Jackson’s BAD TASTE (1986) springs to mind)
contain a great deal more graphic mayhem. Passed by the BBFC with
minor cuts for a theatrical release in 1982, Palace were astonished
to see the same version appear on the DPP list. Over 40 prosecutions
(the vast majority of which found in its favour) later, the BBFC
were forced, somewhat shamefacedly, to remove more material from
the subsequent re-issued version in an episode that questioned the
very existence of the BBFC and the value of its certificates. The
Evil Dead was finally passed uncut by the BBFC in June 2002 for
the Feature Film Company.
EVILSPEAK (USA, 1981) Directed by Eric Weston
A male version of CARRIE (1976) set in a military
academy and involving Satanists, bullies and possessed pigs, Evilspeak
takes a while to build up to its gore-drenched climax, but delivers
some striking splatter at the end. A video premier from Videospace
in the UK, Evilspeak was listed by the DPP and spent some time on
the list before being dropped after Horror Classics released an
18 certified version with 3 and a half minutes of cuts, including
almost all of the gore at the climax. It is this version that is
currently available.
EXPOSÉ (UK, 1975) Directed by James Kenelm
Clarke
A cheap and ineffective though undeniably sleazy variation on Sam
Peckinpah’s STRAW DOGS (1972 – and
a film with it’s own history of censorship problems), Exposé
plays out like ‘Carry On Psycho’. The cinema release
was pre-cut by the distributors before getting an ‘X’
certificate and this version appeared on Intervision video before
being banned. Siren Video re-issued the movie post Video Recordings
Act with an 18 certificate, at the cost of 51 seconds of cuts. This
version has subsequently played on Satellite TV.
FACES OF DEATH (USA/Japan, 1979) Directed by Conan
Le Cilaire
Queasy mix of real-life death and mayhem and patently phoney faked
footage parcelled together and introduced (by an actor dressed as
a coroner) as a documentary on the meaning of death. Made for the
Japanese market, this pre-cut Atlantis video release unsurprisingly
found it’s way onto the DPP’s list, where it remains.
A number of sequels followed, but none were officially released
in the UK. Even in these more ‘enlightened’ times, the
chances of this one sneaking past the BBFC unscathed is slim, to
say the least.
FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE (USA, 1977) Directed by Robert
Endleson
A poor-mans variation on the themes most vividly explored in Wes
Craven's LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, but with an added
racial dimension (as if Craven’s movie didn’t contain
enough!), Fight For Your Life would be unwatchably offensive if
it weren’t so shoddy. Rejected by the BBFC when submitted
for a cinema certificate in 1981, unsurprisingly Vision On, when
acquiring the UK video rights, didn’t bother submitting it
and released it uncut. To no-ones surprise, it ended up on the DPP’s
list and remains in uncertified limbo. Fight for your Life won’t
receive a future uncut UK release as it’s unlikely that the
BBFC could cut a version to bring it into line with their own guidelines.
FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN (Italy, 1973) Directed
by Paul Morrissey
Impressive, at times quite entertaining Warhol Factory product that
probably represents the most professional and interesting output
from that highly uneven source. It was cut by the BBFC for its cinema
release ‘X’ certificate in 1975. The version released
by VIPCO on video re-instated these cuts and promptly found itself
banned. The film was dropped when a re-issued in 1996 by VIPCO/Horror
Video with an 18 certificate that was essentially the same version
as that passed in 1975. Although seized by a few police forces,
Morrissey’s companion piece, the equally gory BLOOD
FOR DRACULA (1972), never officially appeared on the DPP
list. Both films contained inserts directed by Antonio Margheriti,
and the extent to which the Italian or the American was responsible
for the majority of the film is still subject to debate.
FOREST OF FEAR (USA, 1979) Directed by Charles
McCrann
Dirt-cheap 16mm home movie that plays out with more than a passing
nod to the earlier, and better I DRINK YOUR BLOOD
(1972), with it’s army of bloodthirsty hippies and butcher’s-shop
effects. Released pre-cut (but with all the gore intact) by Monte
Video without a BBFC certificate, the movie found itself banned,
and it remains in uncertified limbo. There is little in the movie
that the new, ‘enlightened’ BBFC would have a problem
with as most of the deaths take place off-camera and all the viewer
sees is the messy aftermath.
FROZEN SCREAM (USA, 1982) Directed by Frank Roach
Utterly inoffensive but completely forgettable mix of medical mumbo-jumbo
and that hoary old chestnut, the search for immortality, Frozen
Scream is one of the most mystifying additions to the DPP list.
A video premier in the UK from Intervision, the movie was uncut
and managed to find its way onto the DPP list, although the reasons
why are beyond me. Quietly dropped and never successfully prosecuted,
Frozen Scream would have very little trouble getting a certificate
today, although officially it remains uncertified and unavailable.
THE FUNHOUSE (USA, 1981) Directed by Tobe Hooper
The powers-that-be must have been out to get Tobe Hooper, no other
theory fits why this effective little chiller and his previous cinematic
effort Death Trap ended up on the list. The Funhouse is a fairly
standard variation on the urban legend of kids stuck in a carnival
overnight when the freaks come out to play. Certified uncut for
a theatrical ‘X’ certificate, the same version, released
by CIC was added to the DPP list before being quietly dropped before
a prosecution could be brought. It was then re-certified, again
uncut, in 1987. Rumours abound that this movie was victim of a case
of mistaken identity, with the real DPP target being Victor Janos’s
much more graphic and unsettling LAST HOUSE ON DEAD END
STREET (1976), which was available as a bootleg with the
alternative title of The Funhouse during the run-up to the video
nasties furore.
GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY (Italy, 1977) Directed by
Cesare Canevari
Pretty vile and exploitative, though certainly professional, rip-off
of Cavani’s THE NIGHT PORTER (1972), which
depicts a great deal of cruelty and sex but to no purpose other
than titillation. It is certainly the most offensive of the ‘nazi
death camp’ films that appeared on the list, though this is,
in part, due to the fact that it is so well-made. Given that superficially
similar films (ILSA SHE WOLF OF THE SS, DEPORTED
WOMEN OF THE SS SPECIAL SECTION) had previously been refused
cinema certificates, it’s hardly surprising that ViP didn’t
bother with one for their video release and even less surprising
is that the video earned the wrath of the DPP. It remains uncertified
and will probably never receive a UK release again.
THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (Italy, 1982) Directed
by Lucio Fulci
The second of Lucio Fulci’s zombie movies to end up on the
DPP’s list, this curious mix of Lovecraft, Romero and Freud
is another of Fulci’s mini-masterpieces, with some great set-pieces
and a wonderful, brooding atmosphere. Cut by about 30 seconds for
a theatrical ‘X’ certificate, Vampix Video must have
been pretty upset to see the same version end up on the DPP list
in a move that resulted in the whole BBFC certification system being
called into question. Subsequent re-releases have had over 4 minutes
or, in the case of the VIPCO release, over 7 minutes of cuts (although
the latter was carried out by the distributor, rather than the BBFC).
A movie surely ripe for re-certification.
THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK (Italy, 1980)
Directed by Ruggero Deodato
An Italian take on The Last House on the left with the gory violence
toned down, but the sexual violence cranked up, this is a well-made
but exceptionally unpleasant and really sleazy effort. Rejected
for a cinema certificate in 1982, the uncut Skyline release on video
was unsurprisingly banned, although it was eventually dropped from
the list, probably after Skyline ceased trading. Surprisingly passed
with a whopping 11 minutes 43 seconds of cuts by the BBFC in July
2002. The truncated stump was released by VIPCO/Horror Video.
HUMAN EXPERIMENTS (USA, 1979) Directed by Gregory
Goodell
An inoffensive and bland medical thriller with a woman in peril
element that looks and feels like a southern drive-in effort. It
probably drew the attention of the DPP because its title could be
mis-interpreted as a nazi death camp film, and the video box art
showed a partially naked woman under threat. Released uncut and
uncertified on video by World of Video 2000, its appearance on the
DPP list was short and it was quietly dropped. Re-released with
26 seconds of cuts and a shiny 18 certificate post VRA.
I MISS YOU HUGS AND KISSES (Canada, 1978) Directed
by Murray Markowitz
Tedious whodunnit and courtroom drama with an incredibly complicated
structure and a few violent scenes, mainly aimed at the unfortunate
Elke Sommer. Released direct onto video by Intercity Video (who
also released Joe D’Amato’s unbelievably sleazy PLEASURE
SHOP ON 7TH AVENUE (1977) which amazingly never appeared
on the DPPs list) uncut, the film was listed for a short time by
the DPP, but was quickly dropped. A re-release, known as DROP DEAD
DEAREST was issued post-VRA with just over a minute of cuts by Heron
Home Entertainment.
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (USA, 1978) Directed by Meir
Zarchi
Infamous rape/revenge drama that splits viewers into ‘repellent
exploitation’ and ‘brave feminist tract’ camps.
Certainly deeply gruelling and problematic, it was no surprise when
the movie was released direct to video by Astra home video. Although
containing the US R certificate (which should have applied to the
US version that had some 17 minutes shorter than the uncut version),
the UK video release was, in fact, uncut. It quickly ended up on
the DPP list after a number of successful prosecutions where it
languished for over 15 years. Subsequent re-appraisal of the movie
(it’s point of view can be best summed up by it’s original
and less exploitative title ‘DAY OF THE WOMAN’)
may have convinced the BBFC to certify the movie in November 2001,
although they still cut it by 7 minutes 2 seconds. It was subsequently
released by Elite Entertainment.
INFERNO (Italy/USA, 1980) Directed by Dario Argento
Beautifully shot, with a great score and some of Argento’s
finest set-pieces, Inferno suffers from comparison with his earlier
SUSPIRIA (1977), and interference from his American backers,
although it remains one of his very finest works. Neither particularly
graphic, nor containing much in the way of problematic material,
the inclusion of Inferno on the DPP list frankly beggars belief.
Originally certified ‘X’ with minimal cuts, the CBS/Fox
video was the same version that turned up on the banned list. Subsequently
dropped when the BBFC re-certified it with minimal cuts (28 seconds).
The most recent Fox widescreen release re-instated 8 seconds of
previous cuts. All cuts appear to relate to a sequence of a cat
eating a mouse.
ISLAND OF DEATH (Greece, 1977) Directed by Nico
Mastorakis
Cheap and nasty sexploitation pot-boiler with lots of travelogue
footage and more acts of violence and perversion than you can poke
a stick at, strung together by a plotless story. Cut by the BBFC
for a cinematic release in 1981, the AVI video release re-instated
all the controversial material and took its place on the DPP list.
Post VRA, a proposed re-release (as ‘PSYCHIC KILLER
2’ – as confusing and pointless a title as
you could imagine) pre-cut by 13 minutes was refused a certificate
by the BBFC. Given the content, the recent VIPCO/Horror Video re-release
was a genuine surprise, even though it was cut by 4 minutes and
9 seconds by the BBFC.
KILLER NUN (Italy, 1978) Directed by Giulio Berruti
One of a number of nun-sploitation and thinly disguised anti-Catholic
movies, a genre that seemed to be sparked off by Ken Russell’s
THE DEVILS (1971), and that included the considerably
more violent FLAVIA PRIESTESS OF VIOLENCE (1976)
as well as this slick but tasteless effort. Never released in the
cinema in the UK (well would you have gone to see it?), it was released
uncut on video and, although relatively mild, found itself on the
DPP’s list, probably for it’s subject matter rather
than its content. The dropping of the film from the list was the
result of the re-certification of the film with minimal cuts for
its Redemption release.
THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (USA, 1972) Directed
by Wes Craven
Another of those films that splits viewers down the middle, The
Last House on the Left, part rape/revenge and part home invasion
movie is undoubtedly a gruelling and uncomfortable experience. The
film has suffered more than its fair share of censorship woes. Refused
a BBFC certificate when submitted for a theatrical release in 1974
and again in 2000, the Replay video version was probably pre-cut
(so many versions of this movie are in circulation, a full uncut
version may no longer exist) of some of the more extreme elements.
Given the content, it was inevitable that the movie would end up
on the DPP list. After 15 years of uncertified limbo, The Last House
on the Left was finally re-issued, with 31 seconds of cuts by the
BBFC, in July 2002. Released on Blue Underground Video.
LATE NIGHT TRAINS (Italy, 1978) Directed by Aldo
Lado
Italian rip-off of The Last House on the Left, well made, but lacking
the visceral punch of Craven’s movie, in spite of some pretty
unpleasant scenes. Released on video by VWI in a slightly pre-cut
form, the movie was banned as it contained sexual violence and rape,
although it contains little gore. It remains uncertified and would
require substantial cuts in order to meet present BBFC guidelines
on sexual violence.
THE LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE (Spain/Italy,
1974) Directed by Jorge Grau
A moody and very well made European variation of NIGHT OF
THE LIVING DEAD (1968), wonderfully photographed and containing
some pretty ripe gore. The original theatrical ‘X’ certificate
was gained at the expense of cuts, most of which were re-instated
by ViP when they released the movie on video. It was banned, and
remained so until European Creative Films released an 18 certificate
version with just under 2 minutes of cuts. An Anchor Bay (UK) release
was passed uncut by the BBFC in May 2002 and released as ‘LET
SLEEPING CORPSES LIE’.
LOVE CAMP 7 (USA, 1967) Directed by Robert L Frost
Softcore porno packaged as a nazi exploitation pic, Love Camp 7
pre-dates the brief trend in Nazi exploitation that appeared in
Italian cinema post The Night Porter and owes more to the women
in prison genre. Never submitted for a cinema certificate, the movie
was circulated by two labels on video, Mountain, and Abbey. The
film was listed by the DPP and remains uncertified. It was re-submitted
by Salvation Films in 2002, and refused a certificate.
MADHOUSE (USA/Italy, 1981) Directed by Ovidio
Assonitis
‘Everything including the kitchen sink’ dual-nationality
slasher film with two wildly over-the-top central performances,
a collection of gory deaths and that horror movie stand-by of one
twin torturing the other. Released on video by Medusa in two versions,
one uncut and one with a short cut to one sequence. Neither had
a BBFC certificate, and the DPP list did not differentiate between
the two versions. Relatively tame compared to some of the films
on the list, although it remains uncertified and unavailable there
isn’t much within it that would worry the present BBFC regime.
MARDI GRAS MASSACRE (USA, 1982) Directed by Jack
Weis
Hopeless homage/rip-off of BLOOD FEAST and the
other films of H G Lewis that manages to make even Lewis’s
films look like big-budget masterpieces. So inept is it, that even
the messy (and anatomically incorrect) effects revolving around
heart removal fail to raise the interest. Released on video uncut
by Goldstar among others, the gory effects (and possibly the relentless
disco-grooving) brought this one to the attention of the DPP. It
remains banned, thank God!
NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES (Mexico, 1969) Directed
by Rene Cardona
Extraordinary Mexican wrestling/monster/romance/police thriller
with lots of unrealistic gore, some shocking acting, wrestling and
inserts of footage of real operations. If not professional, it’s
certainly unforgettable! Cut by a minute by the BBFC for a theatrical
‘X’ rating in 1974, the Iver Film Services video release
was uncut. It remained on the DPP list until a heavily pre-cut version
was passed by the Board in the late 1990’s. This same version
was re-certified in 2002.
NIGHT OF THE DEMON (USA, 1980) Directed by James
Wasson
Surely the best ever Yeti gore film, this 16mm backwoods effort
is abysmally acted, but somehow overcomes this, as well as its feeble
budget to deliver some striking gore. It also has one of the silliest
and most entertaining climaxes of any of the DPP listed movies.
Released uncut on video by Iver Film Services, scenes such as castration
of a motor-cyclist, dismemberment of a fisherman, and the aforementioned
climax resulted in a date with the DPP. It was removed from the
list when a version cut by 1 minute 41 seconds by the BBFC in January
1994 was released by VIPCO.
NIGHTMARE MAKER (USA, 1981) Directed by William
Asher
Strange psycho-drama with two fantastic over-the-top central performances,
a couple of messy knife killings and one of the all time great car
crashes. One of the more interesting films in the DPPs sights. A
video premier in the UK on the Atlantis label, it was released uncut
and, in spite of the fact that it contains virtually no contentious
material, found itself on the list. Never successfully prosecuted,
the movie was dropped shortly after, but that isn’t the end
of the story. Re-submitted with the title ‘EVIL PROTÉGÉ’
in 1987, the relatively innocuous horror film was rejected. It remains
uncertified and unavailable.
NIGHTMARES IN A DAMAGED BRAIN (USA, 1982) Directed
by Romano Scavolini
Professional but slow-moving psycho-drama cum slasher movie that
contains some impressive gore effects and was made and released
in the USA as ‘NIGHTMARE’. Saddled
with a particularly tasteless name change on video in the UK, the
BBFC theatrical certificate required around 1 minute of cuts. When
it appeared on video (released by World of Video 2000) the material
cut was re-instated, thus resulting in its prosecution. Released
apparently uncut with a BBFC 18 certificate by Screen Entertainment
in 2002.
POSSESSION (France/W Germany, 1981) Directed by
Andrzej Zulawski
Frankly indescribable avant-garde art film with Carlo Rambaldi effects
involving spies, alienation, octopus-monsters, knife murders, World
War 3 and monster kinkiness, Possession has to be seen to be believed.
The theatrical release had no trouble getting a BBFC ‘X’
certificate uncut in 1981, so VTC must have been pretty pissed off
to see the movie listed by the DPP. One high profile acquittal later,
it was quietly dropped from the list. In 1999 it was finally re-released
with an 18 certificate, again uncut.
PRANKS (USA, 1983) Directed by Jeffrey Obrow &
Steven Carpenter
Another fairly tame slasher movie to fall foul of the DPP, this
student project extended to feature length is better than it has
any right to be, and contains one or two good sequences. Never released
theatrically, Pranks (also released in the US as THE DORM
THAT DRIPPED BLOOD) debuted on Canon video uncut. It was
prosecuted and banned, but 10 seconds of cuts was all that was required
to get an 18 certificate when it was re-issued in the early 1990’s.
Passed uncut (according to the BBFC) in May 2002, and released by
VIPCO/Horror Video but the running time is 1 second shorter than
the previously cut (10 seconds) re-release.
PRISONER OF THE CANNIBAL GOD (Italy, 1978) Directed
by Sergio Martino
Italian director-for-hire Martino joined the cannibal party late
with this jolly ‘Indiana Jones meets the cannibals’
tale of derring-do, spoiled somewhat by the obligatory real animal
slaughter, but redeemed in part by a gratuitous sequence involving
Ursula Andress being body-painted. Cut for a theatrical release
in 1978, Hokushin video released an uncut version on video that
spent a short spell on the list before, like their other video nasties,
being dropped when the company ceased trading. Re-certified with
cuts (2 minutes 6 seconds) for the Screen Entertainment re-release
in 2002.
REVENGE OF THE BOGEYMAN (USA, 1982) Directed by
Ulli Lommel
Sequel to the BOGEY MAN is a movie-makers in-joke,
set as it is on the set of a low-budget arthouse horror movie, that
contains virtually every highlight from the first film re-run a
second time. It’s nothing like as good as the first film.
Revenge of the Bogey Man made its debut on home video, thanks to
the good people at VTC. Uncut and uncertified, the re-hash of all
of the first film’s gore set-pieces saw this one banned. It
was eventually dropped from the list, and has recently been re-certified
uncut by the BBFC.
SHOGN ASSASSIN (Japan/USA, 1980) Directed by Kenji
Misumi/Robert Houston
New World Pictures amalgamation of two episodes of the ‘Lone
Wolf and Cub’ series about a rogue samurai and his son avenging
the death of his wife at the hands of a mad Shogun, whilst helping
villagers out along the way. Shogun Assassin is brilliantly shot,
well-acted, bloodthirsty and very well edited and arranged by New
World. It first appeared in the UK thanks to VIPCO video and was
uncut. Its orgy of bloodletting saw it banned, but it was soon dropped
from the list after it was acquitted in court. Subsequent re-releases
(by VIPCO/Horror Video) have been both cut (by 27 seconds) and,
in 1999, passed uncut.
THE SLAYER (USA, 1982) Directed by J S Cardone
Low-budget but well-made supernatural slasher film set on an island
and about how a woman's childhood nightmares in the shape of a horribly
mutilated intruder, come back to get her. Unsurprisingly for such
a low-budget and obscure film, VIPCO’s video release of the
film was its first appearance on these shores, and it was listed
by the BBFC on the back of one scene in which a character is stabbed
through the breasts with a pitchfork. Other than that, it’s
a pretty innocuous film. It was subsequently dropped by the DPP
after a while, and was re-issued by VIPCO in the mid 90s with 20-odd
seconds of cuts. Eventually re-released uncut by Screen Entertainment
in 2001.
SNUFF (USA, 1971/76) Directed by Michael Findlay
(uncredited Carter Stevens)
Unwatchably bad drug-induced take on the Manson Murders that was
on the shelf for years until Distributor Allan Shackleton added
a phoney gore murder at the end, marketed it as a real murder and
released it to howls of protest. Never certified for a cinema release,
Snuff was released for one day by Astra Home Video, before being
withdrawn and the wider release cancelled due to the howls of protest.
A sure-fire certainty for the banned list, although the murder itself
is almost Pythonesque. Amazingly, it was re-certified uncut by the
BBFC in May 2003 for an up-coming Blue Underground re-release. The
re-certification of this effort, dismal though it is, is probably
the clearest signal yet of the enormity of the change in the BBFC
attitude to horror films over the last few years.
SS EXPERIMENT CAMP (Italy, 1976) Directed by Sergio
Garrone
Soft-core porn masquerading as nazi death camp exploitation picture,
the most unpleasant thing about this cheesy and pretty boring affair
is the extraordinary dialogue and the movie’s English language
title. First released in the UK on video (one of Go Video’s
releases), the film was distributed uncut and was one of the first
films seized and prosecuted by the DPP, thanks in part to a lurid
advertising campaign. Banned and in uncertified limbo, there’s
little chance of this being re-released anytime soon, though more
because of reputation than actual content.
TENEBRAE (Italy, 1982) Directed by Dario Argento
Argento’s magical but ice-cold Giallo is a masterpiece of
shock film-making and a return to more comfortable ground after
the critical failure of Inferno. 5 seconds of cuts were required
for an 18 theatrical certificate, the same version turned up on
Videomedia and was subsequently banned. 1 second of further cuts
was made when the film was re-released in 1999. The up-coming Anchor
Bay release has finally been passed by the BBFC uncut (January 2003).
TERROR EYES (USA, 1981) Directed by Kenneth Hughes
Rather bland and flat slasher movie with a TV-movie feel, subject
to a pun-heavy title change from the original ‘Night School’
and blessed with really crappy box art. Cut for a theatrical ‘X’
certificate in 1981, the uncut version ended up on Guild home video
and was banned, in spite of the fact that virtually no gore is spilled.
It was dropped and re-issued with about 1 and a half minutes of
cuts in 1987.
THE TOOLBOX MURDERS (USA, 1978) Directed by Dennis
Donnelly
Extremely mean-spirited and grim slasher movie, though well made,
with a bizarre central performance from Cameron Mitchell and more
female nudity than is normally seen in slasher movies. Cut by three
minutes for a British theatrical release in 1979 (and was shown
on a double bill with ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS …ahh,
those were the days), this was the version released on video by
Hokushin, and subsequently banned. It was dropped from the list
when Hokushin ceased trading. The BBFC certified VIPCO/Horror Video
re-release was cut by 1 minute 46 seconds in February 2000.
UNHINGED (USA, 1982) Directed by Don Gronquist
Very, very low-budget rip-off of PSYCHO with endless
padded out sequences based around a dinner table and a very thin
cast, but a creepy atmosphere that keeps you watching. Much of the
mayhem takes place off-camera and there is relatively little gore.
Actually offered up to paying audiences in British cinemas in 1983,
the theatrical 18 required some cuts. The same version was released
by Avatar and had a fairly short spell on the banned list before
it was dropped. Unsurprisingly, no-one’s picked it up for
a re-release yet.
VISITING HOURS (Canada, 1981) Directed by Jean
Claude Lord
Professional-looking, but rampantly mysogenistic slasher–on-the-loose
flick, set in a hospital and utilising some of David Cronenberg’s
technicians and something of a name cast (well, Michael Ironside
post-SCANNERS (1980) and William Shatner). 1 minute
was cut from the theatrical release in 1982, and it was this same
cut version that was released by CBS/Fox and banned, then dropped
by the DPP. This same version was then re-certified by the BBFC
in 1986. Incidentally, Visiting Hours has played in the UK uncut
– on terrestrial TV when ITV mistakenly showed it instead
of the BBFC certified version, and received a rebuke from the Broadcasting
Standards Council.
WEREWOLF AND THE YETI (Spain, 1975) Directed by
Miguel Iglaisias Bonns
Bizarre and strangely old-fashioned Iberian werewolf effort staring
the inimitable, barrel-chested ‘Paul Naschy’ that plays
like a gored-up version of the 1940’s Universal werewolf movies
starring Lon Chaney Jnr. Released by Canon home video, the movie
was uncut and a few scenes of nubiles being whipped and flayed brought
it to the attention to the DPP. It remains uncertified and unavailable.
THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA (USA, 1976) Directed
by Matt Cimber
Aside from one of the longest titles on the DPP list, this art-house/soft-core
porn tragedy has an almost impossible to follow narrative, plenty
of dull characters, a decent central performance from Milly Perkins
and is most unlike any other film on the list (not that it’s
any good). Released direct to video by VTC uncut, several scenes
depicting castration (abstract though they are) drew this to the
attention of the DPP, and it spent a short time on the list before
being dropped, no doubt due to the lack of success in securing a
prosecution against what is, in essence an art film. It remains
in uncertified limbo.
WOMEN BEHIND BARS (Spain, 1977) Directed by Jesus
Franco (as ‘Rick Deconnink’)
Jolly Jess Franco’s third film on the DPP list is this women
in prison exploitation flick, containing plenty of full-frontal
nudity, Franco’s trademark vomit-inducing camerawork and gratuitous
torture (including the Franco staple of women being whipped). A
video premiere in the UK and released uncut by Go Video, the footage
of naked women being tortured meant that this was always destined
to be banned. Eventually dropped from the list, but currently unavailable.
Another Franco women in prison flick, Caged Women was rejected by
the BBFC for a cinema certificate in 1976.
XTRO (UK, 1983) Directed by Harry Bromley Davenport
Pretty good, but confusing science-fiction shocker mixing alien
invasion with kitchen-sink drama with supernatural overtones. Contains
some very impressive and eerie effects on what must have been a
very low-budget. The theatrical release in 1983 was passed ‘18’
uncut by the BBFC, yet this version was the one released on video
by Spectrum and the one that had a very brief spell on the DPP list.
Dropped almost immediately, Xtro was recertified and re-released
without cuts.
ZOMBIE CREEPING FLESH (Italy, 1980) Directed by
Bruno Mattei (as ‘Vincent Dawn’)
Laugh-out-loud bad zombie movie that attempts social commentary
a la Romero, but ends up floundering amid some really cheesy gore
effects and endless stock footage of the south-east Asian jungle.
Released on video in a pre-cut form (the same version certified
‘X’ by the BBFC for a theatrical release in 1982) by
Merlin Video, the shoddy but messy gore scenes resulted in a DPP
prosecution and its fate was sealed. Re-certified by the BBFC with
yet more cuts post VRA, the movie was eventually passed uncut by
the BBFC in January 2002 and released by Screen Entertainment.
ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS (Italy, 1979) Directed by
Lucio Fulci
Another of the more infamous video nasties, Fulci’s movie
is actually quite a jolly boy’s-own adventure, well directed
by Fulci, with added violence and some very well executed gore effects.
Cut by 1 minute 46 seconds for it’s theatrical ‘X’
certificate, VIPCO released this version and an uncut version (with
the tag-line ‘Strong Uncut’) only find both of them
banned. It was re-issued, pre-cut by VIPCO in 1992 with more material
removed. Re-released in an more complete version than the UK cinema
print (and subsequent VIPCO re-released) but still minus 27 seconds
of cuts, in 1999 and released by VIPCO/Horror Video.
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