10 Horrific Movie Deaths That Had To Be Cut Out

Cinema has given us no end of horrific images and death: there’s the exploding head from Scanners, the Crazy 88 massacre from Kill Bill, the fire extinguisher scene from Irreversible, and the entirety of A Serbian Film. Over the years filmmakers have excelled at bringing us images of horror and chaos in many varieties, so it’s no surprise some films have had to pull their punches.

Sometimes a scene can be so intense or disturbing it can upset the balance of the movie, so out it comes. This could be the result of a test screening where a specific death is too upsetting, or the ratings boards demanding a gory death is cut way down.

On some occasions, the filmmakers themselves decide a death scene is too much, and take it out before release. Whatever the reason, this has allowed the legend of these scenes to grow, and some fans grow obsessed with tracking them down.

Here’s a selection of death scenes too horrible for their respective movies, and the reasons for their removal.

For a family-friendly blockbuster, Raiders Of The Lost Ark sure got away with a lot of gore, including bloody headshots and melting faces. Temple Of Doom upped the ante and featured scenes of children being whipped, men being ripped apart by crocodiles, and hearts being torn out.

You’d think the poor heartless chap had enough to suffer through since he’s burned alive shortly after, but there was more shot. His original fate was more disturbing, according to the actor who played him. A lifelike cast was made of his face and body, and the scene would have featured him being lowered – while screaming – into the lava.

His body would then disintegrate, leaving his face floating on top of the lava. This was one step too far for Spielberg, who felt the scene was too disturbing to get a family rating. The director has essentially disowned the film in the years since, as he finds the tone far too dark; this deleted scene would have made it even darker.