5. Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Directed by noted Italian arthouse film director Pier Paolo Pasolini, Salo was his attempt to put the Marquis de Sade's 120 Days of Sodom onto film. Personally, I feel that Pasolini succeeded in his objective. The book is utterly vile and the film is ever bit as repellant. Four wealthy Italian fascist debauchees take themselves off to a remote mansion in the fascist occupied province of Salo. They kidnap young boys and girls to be abused in the most horrid ways possible. They also bring with them a sea of perverts - including four raddled prostitutes to entertain them with tales of their libertinism. Controversially violent scenes include: enforced excrement eating, enforced sodomy, scalping, branding, tongues and eyes cut out. It is truly a repulsive sight to behold but it is in no way gratuitous or done to shock, Pasolini is simply interpreting de Sade. The film is so controversial, it remains banned in many countries. I think that the UK censors have always respected Pasolini's artistic vision with Salo and they have made minimal fuss over the film. As long as a film has serious artistic intent it can nearly get away with everything.