UK Ban On THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 2 Lifted By BBFC But At A Heavy Price

Back in June this year The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) banned the public release of The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) in the UK after it was deemed to extreme for even their highest certification (18) in its current form. Back then they released this statement;

After careful consideration, it was judged that to issue a certificate to THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 2 (FULL SEQUENCE), even if statutorily confined to adults, would involve risk of harm within the terms of the VRA, would be inconsistent with our Guidelines, would be unacceptable to the public and could be in potential breach of UK law. The BBFC considered whether cutting the work might address the issues but concluded that as the unacceptable material featured throughout, cutting was not a viable option and the work was therefore refused a classification.

However it now seems that after four months of appeal's from director Tom Six, The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) will see a release next year on DVD (the film will not see a theatrical release in the UK simply due to the production company wanting to release directly to DVD instead) but at a heavy price. To be awarded an 18 certificate by the BBFC, 2 minutes and 37 seconds has been cut from the film to allow a pass, totalling 32 individual cuts to the film itself. This move seems somewhat controversial as it was previously stated that cutting the film was not a "viable option" for plot reasons, this was recently clarified via press release by Sales Director at Eureka Entertainment - Ian Sadler

€œWe are really pleased that after nearly 4 months of detailed discussion and debate, we have been able to reach an agreement with the BBFC and to produce a very viable cut of the film which will both excite and challenge its fans. Naturally we have a slight disappointment that we have had to make cuts, but we feel that the storyline has not been compromised and the level of horror has been sustained.€

For the most recent press release by the BBFC in regards to the cut please check below, however be warned, the statement contains detailed violent acts depicted throughout the film which could offend readers and reveal plot details:

This work was cut. The cut(s) were Compulsory. To obtain this category cuts of 2m 37s were required. Details of cuts below may contain spoilers of plot details.

Company was required to make 32 individual cuts to scenes of sexual and sexualised violence, sadistic violence and humiliation, and a child presented in an abusive and violent context. In this case, cuts included: a man masturbating with sandpaper around his penis; graphic sight of a man's teeth being removed with a hammer; graphic sight of lips being stapled to naked buttocks; graphic sight of forced defecation into and around other people's mouths; a man with barbed wire wrapped around his penis raping a woman; a newborn baby being killed; graphic sight of injury as staples are torn away from individuals' mouth and buttocks. Cuts required in accordance with BBFC Guidelines, policy and the Video Recordings Act 1984. A UK release date has for The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) has yet to be announced.