10 More Horror Movies That Got Banned From Certain Countries

William Lustig's Maniac revolves around serial killer Frank Zito, who scalps women and uses their hair to craft wigs for his mannequins.

Due to the brutal content, Maniac had serious trouble finding distribution. In fact, Maniac has only been legally distributed in the United Kingdom since 2022.

Since the 2012 remake maintained the same gruesome premise as its predecessor, the movie caused another public outcry, this time in New Zealand. However, it wasn't Maniac's content that irked NZ, but its presentation.

Unlike the original, the 2012 version depicts the entire story from the point-of-view of Frank Zito (Elijah Wood), giving the impression the viewers are performing his heinous actions.

The Australian Classification Board (which governs film distribution in New Zealand) was concerned by this style, believing "its first-person portrayal and packaging as entertainment is likely to lead to an erosion of empathy for some viewers".

For this reason, the censorship board believed it was in their citizens' best interests to have Maniac banned theatrically and on DVD. Although Maniac can be screened in festivals and for academic purposes, its distribution is strictly forbidden.