Titles rated NC-17 (No one under 17 admitted), the modern equivalent of the X Certificate, are often considered to have stigma attached to them. They are often old X rated movies that have been reclassified. Usually what happens is that the makers of the films surrender their movies from ratings so that they are unrated and don't receive the NC-17 badge. they will also frequently submit NC-17 films with significant cuts to ensure they are more respectably dubbed 'R rated' movies. NC-17 does not have the allure or mystery of the X certificate but for the cognoscenti, there is much awesome fun to be had. The NC-17 rating is not necessarily a death knell for films. Many of them - like Showgirls go on to achieve a fortune in Video and DVD sales - and build up a cult around them. Some NC-17 films are of a very high calibre with directors such as Darren Aronofsky and Alejandro Jodorowsky having their work rated NC-17. I have concentrated on the saucier NC-17 movies in a twin article, this article concentrates on the more dark and disturbing NC-17s...