Banned Horror Films: The Stories Behind the Screens

Cinema has a history filled with sensations and controversies. Banned films occupy a particularly prominent place in that history. Banned horror films, by challenging societal norms and pushing boundaries, have typically sparked major debates. Some disturb authorities, while others create unearned controversy just to grab attention. Some test the limits of art, while others have been needlessly censored. Either way, these films that ran afoul of censorship have often become more talked about and sought after than they would have been otherwise, a kind of reverse effect. So I wanted to compile those that caught my attention among these films. Here are horror films that have been banned in various countries for different reasons.

Faces of Death (1978)

A mockumentary that claimed to contain real death and violence scenes. The film consists of scenes showing various forms of death, and though some sequences were presented as if taken from real events, they’re obviously not real. The producers’ strategic silence for a while to drum up interest led to a series of bans, and the film was prohibited in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Finland due to its disturbing content.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

Those who’ve watched this film, which we also featured in our previously shared slasher films list, might wonder “why was this even banned?” This film about a killer in a Santa Claus costume committing murders during the Christmas season drew major backlash and was banned in some places specifically for associating the Santa Claus figure with violence. When it was released, it led to numerous protests and controversies.

Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

A horror film directed by Italian filmmaker Ruggero Deodato. The film deals with a group of documentarians being killed by a savage tribe in the Amazon rainforest. It drew massive criticism and was banned in many countries due to realistic violence scenes and cruelty to animals. Director Deodato even had to go to court to prove whether the actors were actually killed or not. The film remained banned until 2005 and was later released in edited versions.

The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972)

A supernatural horror film starring Shirley MacLaine. The film deals with a woman living in New York whose brother becomes possessed by a Santeria spirit. Due to threats toward children and disturbing elements, the film was banned and heavily restricted in Australia and the UK. Such themes were deemed unacceptable according to those countries’ censorship rules.

The Last House on the Left (1972)

“If there’s a horror film list, regardless of the topic, Wes Craven will be on it!”
– Levent Üstünbaş

This splatter film directed by Wes Craven tells the story of two young girls being kidnapped and tortured, and one girl’s family’s subsequent struggle for revenge. It’s filled with plenty of blood and sexual violence. A remake also exists. It was added to the “Video Nasties” list under the Video Recordings Act 1984 and banned. This law targeted films containing excessive violence, sexual content, and disturbing themes.

The Devils (1971)

We’d be more accurate calling this psychological thriller rather than horror. Directed by Ken Russell and adapted from Aldous Huxley’s novel “The Devils of Loudun,” the film tells the story of a priest and a group of nuns caught up in religious and political intrigue in 17th century France. It was censored and restricted in the United States and the UK due to scenes containing excessive violence and sexuality. Additionally, it was criticized and protested by religious groups on grounds that religious figures were portrayed mockingly and disrespectfully toward religious beliefs. It was genuinely protested for insulting sacred values. It really is a provocative film. I’ll say that this film deserves a long article to do it justice, so I’ll end this brief introduction here.

Freaks (1932)

Directed by Tod Browning and featuring real circus performers, how much of a horror film this actually is remains debatable. The film deals with circus workers uncovering a theft conspiracy. When it was released, the film drew major backlash and was banned in many countries. Actually, I find its ban rather hypocritical. Because the film’s disturbing quality comes from the performers in it. We watch a group of people working in a circus who are excluded from society due to their appearances and disabilities—people without arms and legs, conjoined twin sisters, a bearded lady, and so on. A film that became a cult classic over time, I just realized I didn’t include it in my cult films list, and that was a bit of a mistake on my part.

Grotesque (2009)

A film by Japanese director Kōji Shiraishi. It tells the story of a couple kidnapped and tortured by a sadistic doctor. It was banned in many countries and censored in many others due to graphic violence and torture scenes. Violence, blood and gore, a chainsaw, whatever comes to mind, you can find in this torture porn. Speaking personally, it’s one of those films I would never watch. And if someone tells me they really liked it, I’d keep my distance from them.