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The 1980s posed significant challenges for horror filmmakers. Amidst the Satanic panic, the “video nasties” list, and extensive protests from religious groups and entities such as The Legion of Decency, movies faced bans, alterations, and censorship across the world. Despite this, some of the most graphic, intense, and blood-soaked films in horror history were released during this era. Supported by the rise of cable television and VHS tapes, these films gained access to a broader audience that was keen to watch them. No longer restricted to cinemas or drive-ins, a simple press of the remote control brought all that gore directly into the living rooms of dedicated horror fans.
Nevertheless, numerous films were still considered forbidden items, turning into illegal items that could be seized. These five movies became well-known for their violent content — and the various methods used to censor, remove, or modify them to meet national censorship standards. Some filmmakers and directors bypassed the rating board completely and released their movies without any cuts, while others had their work reduced by seconds or minutes to comply with the regulations of the countries screening the films. Whether they were carefully edited or entirely kept from the public, here are five horror films from the 1980s that were banned or censored during that time.
Read more: Movies With Explicit Content That Exceeded Boundaries
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Several horror movies have not achieved the notoriety that “Cannibal Holocaust” received when it came out. Presented as a documentary-style film that depicts the consequences of a group of anthropologists’ dangerous journey into the Amazon rainforest to research a tribe of cannibals, accompanied by a film crew, it features the real slaughter of animals along with highly realistic graphic effects showing the anthropologists being dismembered.
The film is unique in that it led to real legal consequences for those involved in its creation. Director Ruggero Deodato’s home country, Italy, accused him of killing his actors to enhance the realism of his special effects, and he was required to bring one of the living stars to court to demonstrate that no harm had occurred. Although the charges were eventually dropped, “Cannibal Holocaust” remained banned in several nations, including Italy, Australia, Norway, and Iceland. It received an X rating from the U.S.’s Motion Picture Association and was included on the video nasties list in the United Kingdom.
Time has moved on, and the movie is now more accessible — you can easily stream it on services such as Shudder these days. Its cultural influence continues as well, evident in the work of directors like Eli Roth, who cites “Cannibal Holocaust” as one of the inspirations for his film “The Green Inferno.” Yet even today, it’s stilla film that is too unsettling to completein one go for many horror enthusiasts.
The Evil Dead (1981)
“The Evil Dead” has led to a franchise that embraces extreme bloodshed, comedy, and exaggerated scenarios taken to the maximum. It also introduced the legendary final boy Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell), one of the most well-known horror figures in history. Starting as a low-budget film about college students being killed in a cabin — although one where there were plenty ofexceptionally strange events took place on the location— that’s quite an inheritance to possess. However, for censors and film audiences in the early 1980s, its first emergence on the global scene was startling.
The movie features graphic scenes where limbs are severed, individuals are brutally dismembered, and bodies literally dissolve. It also contains a sequence where Cheryl Williams (Ellen Sandweiss) is sexually assaulted by supernatural vines in the forest, with the entire group ultimately becoming targets of a group of ancient demons. Viewers criticized director Sam Raimi for misogyny due to this scene, which he later expressed regret over, calling it “unnecessarily excessive,” according to theSan Diego ReaderThe film was later edited and rejected due to its overall explicit content.
“The Evil Dead” faced bans in Finland, Ukraine, and Singapore and became one of the most infamous video nasties in the U.K. It was edited by 49 seconds to obtain an X rating for its cinema debut, but it was later prohibited from home video distribution following the Video Recordings Act in 1984. The film was taken off the list in 1985 after further edits were made. An uncut version finally reached the British market in 2000, receiving an 18+ rating. In the United States, it initially received an X rating and was later changed to NC-17.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
“Silent Night, Deadly Night” brought numerous stressful holiday issues for its distributors and creators. Launching a horror movie where a disturbed individual named Billy (Robert Brian Wilson) dons a Santa Claus outfit to seek vengeance after being unable to lead a regular life is quite a challenging endeavor, to put it mildly. Billy also kills a nun who mistreats him in the film. Not surprisingly, the movie faced many difficulties before achieving cult classic recognition.
The movie received an X rating three times from the Motion Picture Association before a more significant edit resulted in an R rating. “Silent Night” soon faced even greater controversy when advertisements meant for late-night slots ended up airing during prime time and afternoon hours, including a football game; parents voiced complaints, and people demonstrated outside theaters while singing Christmas hymns. Although some regions responded positively to the controversy, Tri-Star succumbed to the negative attention, pulling the film’s ads. It eventually removed “Silent Night, Deadly Night” from numerous theaters and canceled its full release. However, the film would later gain cultural recognition, leading to several sequels and two remakes, becoming one of the…top Christmas horror films to give yourself a festive scare.
The Burning (1981)
“The Burning” is not a standard slasher film; it played a role in launching the careers of upcoming stars Jason Alexander and Holly Hunter, who portray summer camp counselors that meet tragic fates at the hands of Cropsy, a serial killer wielding a hedge trimmer. Similar to the other entries on this list, it faced censorship problems and required significant changes to be released.
In order to obtain its R rating, 45 seconds of footage was removed from the film, primarily focusing on graphic content. The original director’s cut remained unseen until a VHS release in 2001. “The Burning” also faced edits for its British premiere, as it was part of the video nasties list. The film had the unusual situation of being accidentally released uncut on home video in the U.K. by Thorn EMI, which led to it being subject to the Obscene Publications Act and subsequently confiscated. After recognizing their error, the company took back this version and issued the board-approved edition of the film. The original cut of the movie eventually reached home media in the country in 2002, giving fans the chance to experience the cult classic in its initial form.
Possession (1981)
“Possession” is a prime example of how interference from executives can ruin a promising film. This art house movie features spy Mark (Sam Neill) facing off against his wife Anna (Isabelle Adjani), who is eager for a divorce. Anna’s ability to care for their son and her overall conduct have grown increasingly unstable and unpredictable over time. She has a secret lover with a surprising background, and as Mark uncovers more about this situation, his own life starts to spiral out of control.
The movie was originally shortened by a third prior to its release in the United States, significantly altering its overall feel. Because of this, modern critics criticized it, making fun of both the acting and the storyline. In the United Kingdom, it was once again labeled as a video nasty. Over time, the director’s version and the film’s standing were revived, allowing viewers to understand why Adjani received an award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival and helped establish it as a terrifying art house horror classic.
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