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Ultimately, it should be up to the consumer to decide whether or not they want to watch a movie or turn it off halfway through. The same goes for parents making sure their kids are not consuming content they shouldn’t be or are at least given the appropriate context before viewing it.
6 The Evil Dead Was A Video Nasty In The UK
Sam Raimi’s debut feature is an inspiring feat. The director and crew raised the money themselves and did all they could to create the magical horror experience viewers still enjoy to this day. The Evil Dead is full of blood and gore, but it is nothing extreme and never strives for realism.
This didn’t stop the movie from earning the title of a video nasty, a collection of films that were released without a proper content rating. Eventually, these movies were pulled from stores, leaving the movie almost inaccessible for about 6 years until the runtime was slightly trimmed for a new home release. There is a pretty uncomfortable scene involving sentient trees assaulting a young woman (something that director Sam Raimi regrets), which could be the main reason for the status.
5 Andrei Rublev Was Banned In The Soviet Union Because It Was About Artistic Freedom
Andrei Tarkovski’s films are largely not overtly subversive or anti-regime. They faced a lot of pushback from the Soviet government more for their unique style than for any political themes. Andrei Rublev was a large exception since it dealt with artistic freedom and for being a work of historical fiction.
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There was a screening in Moscow but no wide release until the 1970s, when it only came out with significant edits. Only in the 1990s did the original 205-minute version see the light of day, thanks to the Criterion Collection.
4 The Cats In Roar Mauled The Non-Union Crew
The story about Roar’s production is far more interesting than any movie that could possibly have been filmed. Director Noel Marshall and Star Tippi Hedren basically lived and raised the animals featured in the film, which mostly consisted of big cats. Animal trainers warned of the danger of filming with multiple big cats, but production continued anyway.
What was supposed to be a six-month production ended up taking five years and resulted in dozens upon dozens of injuries on set. While the film saw international distribution, it was not even given to the MPAA for certification for decades and therefore left unwatchable. Several reasons were seen for this, ranging from unfair distribution deals to the use of non-union actors. Only a few years ago did it see a proper theatrical release.
3 People Thought Cannibal Holocaust Was A Snuff Film
The found footage genre does not fool anyone anymore. Before Blair Witch clearly established the formula, Cannibal Holocaust was already toying with the concept. It was so convincing that many countries thought it was a real documentary that showcased murder and cannabilism. The film was unwatchable in many countries for decades, including the UK.
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The director had to actually clear his name in court and prove the actors were still alive. While no murder is depicted in the film, the animal deaths are real, so anyone interested in the film should be wary of this. Despite being lumped in with a lot of the camp from the 1980s, the movie also has a serious anti-colonial message.
2 The Death Of Stalin Was Banned In Russia
The Death of Stalin is a comedy about the power struggle that followed Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953. Russia banned the movie upon release because it felt the movie was making a mockery of its history and leaders.
Joseph Stalin was responsible for the deaths of literally millions of people, so it is not like the man is worthy of any respect whatsoever. Additional reasons cited for the ban include allegations that the film was an attempt to spark unrest within the country. If a simple film could do this, it must be the greatest film of all time.
1 The Lost Letter Was Banned In The Soviet Union For Making Fun Of Royalty
In the Soviet Union, a film had to gain a final stamp of approval before distribution. A fully completed and cut movie could never see the light of day if one higher-up viewing the film thought it was inappropriate for the masses. This happened to many films but was particularly harsh on many Ukrainian films now considered classics by the country. What makes The Lost Letter so unique is it is a fairly harmless historical comedy about a Cossack warrior tasked with bringing a letter to a nameless Czarina.
It mocks Russian royalty, but not the then-modern government. This was still enough to see it shut out from public release for well over a decade. Often, Ukrainian films were also banned for “Nationalist Sentiments,” which mostly means it acknowledges Ukraine and its culture as something separate from Russia. Other Ukrainian films that faced cuts or bans for years include Babylon XX and Earth.
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