In the case of Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, the movie may be considered by many to be amongst the most disturbing ever, but it is also a critically acclaimed film that in many circles is considered a masterpiece – despite its controversial content.
Salò follows four wealthy Italians who, during the height of fascist Salo, a republic puppet fascist state created by Germany during World War 2, decide to kidnap 18 teenagers and carry out 120 days of depraved torture.
The movie, created by legendary Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, remains banned in countries throughout the world for the graphic depictions of this twisted torture, which features horrific acts of physical and sexual violence, along with morally disturbing scenes such as when the teenagers are forced to eat human faeces.
Unsurprisingly, it was denied classification on its first attempt in the UK in 1976, citing its ‘gross indecency’.
BBFC secretary James Ferman said at the time: “The film is one of the most disturbing ever to be seen by the Board.”
Despite calling it ‘shocking, disgusting and revolting’, Ferman praised the film’s ‘deeply serious’ message, saying he declined to approve the film with cuts since they ‘would destroy the film’s purpose by making the horrors less revolting and therefore more acceptable’.
Despite this, Salò was first shown in the UK in 1977 at the Compton Cinema Club.
This led to the Metropolitan Police raiding the venue and seizing the film, threatening legal action against the venue owners.
The film only eventually received approval from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) in 2000 with no edits or cuts and an 18 rating.
The change in heart from the BBFC came due to new guidelines in which the board only intervenes over material for adults if it is ‘illegal or harmful’.
Over the years, however, it has seen a renaissance, with many popular filmmakers speaking publicly and fondly of the film’s commentary on fascist Italy.
Even still, despite the film’s renaissance, it is a shock that the British Film Institute, 50 years after the film was so outlawed that police raided a cinema trying to show it, are now re-releasing the film.
On 26 October of this year, the BFI are releasing the film in 4k Ultra HD with a Blu-Ray of extras, saying on their website: “The legendary and controversial Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) is released in a 4K UHD edition. Italian filmmaker and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini’s final film confronts the ultimate implications of fascism through a series of sexual and moral atrocities.”
Considering how hard it is to get hold of the movie in the UK, this could be a godsend for film fans who want to traumatise their friends with one of the most disturbing movies ever made.
What other films have been banned in the UK for being too extreme?
These films were all originally banned by the BBFC.
Last House on the Left (1974)
Wes Craven, who would go on to direct Nightmare on Elm Street, originally fell foul of the censors for this earlier work.
It follows a mother and father who vow vengeance after their daughter is brutally raped and killed.
The BBFC didn’t allow it to be released uncut for 30 years, complaining of scenes featuring ‘images of the horrific stripping, rape and knife murder of two women’.
As late as 2002, the BBFC were complaining: “The viewer is asked to relish the violence, the violence is relentless and the parts to be cut are at the extreme end of that violence and humiliation.”
It was only released uncut in 2008.
Cannibal Holocaust (1979)
The film – which infamously features real-life animal slaughter on camera – was one of the films listed as obscene under the Obscene Publications Act 1959.
It follows an unscrupulous documentary film crew who get their brutal comeuppance at the hands of a cannibal tribe in the Amazon rainforest.
As well as the animal cruelty, it also features castration, bludgeoning, lengthy sex scenes and female genital trauma.
It wasn’t submitted to the BBFC formally until 2001, and the organisation demanded five minutes 44 seconds of cuts.
It wasn’t passed uncut until 2011.
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)
The movie follows a teenager who ends up the prime suspect when his aunt kills a man. Said aunt also harbours incestuous feelings for him. It’s a yikes from me.
The BBFC were squeamish, refusing it a video certificate. It highlights scenes which involve ‘images of blood landing on exposed breasts’, ‘child sexual abuse when a woman kisses and licks her younger relative’ and ‘ images of a severed head in a jar and skeletal human remains’.
It was only released uncut in 2024.