10 Films That Were Too Shocking For Audiences

With its scenes of sexual and physical violence, Cannibal Holocaust swiftly acquired a reputation as “The most controversial movie ever made”, although being banned in a rumoured 50 countries (including Italy and Norway) probably didn’t hurt either.

In the UK, the film bypassed cinemas because it was an open secret that a movie where pigs, racoons, turtles, monkeys and snakes were slaughtered for real would not sit well with the censors. They would probably also take a dim view of a documentary crew being torn to pieces by cannibals while their camera records the ordeal.

Instead, the film appeared on video in February 1982, sporting outrageous cover art that showed a native eating intestines. This promptly brought the film to the attention of the authorities and in July 1983 it was withdrawn from distribution and prosecuted for obscenity.

The picture wasn’t available again until 2001, when it was released in a heavily edited version that excised several scenes of sexual violence and animal killings.