For nearly as long as filmmakers have been creating, people have been trying to censor their work or pull it off the shelves altogether. Horror movies cut certain scenes and content or banned from countries completely, films are intensely subject to a variety of moral and political agendas worldwide.
From 1915 in which the US Supreme Court determined that films are commerce, not art and therefore not subject to the First Amendment to the UK’s video nasties in the 1980s to 2010 when A Serbian Film was heavily censored and banned in many countries, film bans and censorship have certainly slowed in many countries with modern day, but it has not stopped by any means.
censored films have had their bans reversed, many of them turning into beloved classics that are widely shown, written about, and discussed worldwide. Some of the best banned horror movies are available right now for viewing on all the biggest streaming services.
Freaks (1932)
Freaks follows the story of a group of sideshow performers as a trapeze artist attempts to seduce a little person to marry him and steal his inheritance. But, when the rest of the “freaks” find out about her plan, things turn dark. This film was highly criticized when it was released for being "brutal and grotesque”, but was later seen in a different light for its revolutionary decision to cast real people with disabilities to play the performers. Available on Amazon Prime, Youtube, Vudu, iTunes, & Google Play
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
In Malcolm McDowell’s most famous role, Stanley Kubrick’s best works. Available on Amazon Prime, Youtube, Vudu, iTunes, & Google Play
The Last House on the Left (1972)
Possibly one of the most notorious rape-revenge films, Wes Craven, The Last House on the Left was heavily censored and even banned in many countries due to its graphic sexual violence, but it was still a huge box office success and remains a genre favorite in modern day. Available on Amazon Prime & iTunes
The Exorcist (1973)
Based on the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist follows the story of a 12-year-old girl who becomes possessed, and her mother's attempt to save her by obtaining an exorcism. Reception to the film was mixed with stories of audience vomiting or fainting because of certain scenes. Despite decency concerns, however, The Exorcist became the first horror film nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Available on Amazon Prime, Cinemax, Youtube, Vudu, iTunes, & Google Play
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written by Hooper and Kim Henkel, numerous sequels and remakes. Available on Amazon Prime, Shudder, Youtube, Tubi, Vudu, iTunes, & Google Play
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
One of the most notorious banned films and original found footage film, Ruggero Deodato for obscenity. The film follows a rescue team who travels deep into the Amazon rainforest to recover a group of filmmakers who were there making a documentary about local cannibal tribes, but they’re only able to recover the crew’s lost cans of film. Available on Shudder, Amazon Prime, & iTunes
The Evil Dead (1981)
Written and directed by Sam Raimi, X rating as a result, setting The Evil Dead up as one of the most notorious splatter films of its day and the "number one nasty". Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, & iTunes
Antichrist (2009)
One of the more modern banned films, Antichrist is an English-Danish experimental erotic psychological horror film that was written and directed by Lars von Trier and stars Willem Dafoe. It follows a couple who are grieving the loss of their son and retreat to a remote cabin where the man experiences increasingly bizarre visions while the woman begins to exhibit more and more violent sexual behavior. The intense violence and sexual content led this horror movie to be extremely controversial and it was even banned in in 2016, more than five years after its release. Available on Amazon Prime, Sling TV, Youtube, & Google Play
