10 Films That Want You To HATE Them

Pier Paolo Pasolini's torture epic is now beyond infamous, and has in the decade's since its release become something of a classic and critical darling. Ironic for a film that was first banned several weeks after its initial release, and remained so for many countries into the new millennium.

Sodomy is central to the film, and the action revolves around an anal and faecal obsession in four segments, depicting the torture, rape and murder of many teenage subjects by the wealthy masters - the Duke, the Bishop, the Magistrate and the President. There are few transgressions that Salò doesn't boldly wade neck-deep into, and all are sights which will at best have viewers reaching for the bucket, if not denouncing Pasolini's name forevermore.

Salò's abhorrent content is not without purpose though - certainly not just depravity for depravity's sake. Instead, it is designed to portray the cruelty and inhumanity of the fascist powers of the state, the church, the monarchy and the courts.

But that doesn't take away from the horror and hate-inspiring subject matter that it spends nearly two hours slogging through.