The Human Centipede 2 Banned in the UK by the BBFC

[claws]

Caution. There are spoilers in the explanation:

The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) is a 2011 Netherlands/UK horror by Tom Six. See IMDb
The BBFC has rejected the sexually violent, and potentially obscene DVD, The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) This means that it cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK. The decision was taken by the Director, David Cooke and the Presidential Team of Sir Quentin Thomas, Alison Hastings and Gerard Lemos.

The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) is a sequel to the film The Human Centipede (First Sequence), which was classified 18 uncut for cinema and DVD release by the BBFC in 2010. The first film dealt with a mad doctor who sews together three kidnapped people in order to produce the human centipede'of the title. Although the concept of the film was undoubtedly tasteless and disgusting it was a relatively traditional and conventional horror film and the Board concluded that it was not in breach of our Guidelines at '18. This new work, The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence), tells the story of a man who becomes sexually obsessed with a DVD recording of the first film and who imagines putting the centipede idea into practice. Unlike the first film, the sequel presents graphic images of sexual violence, forced defecation, and mutilation, and the viewer is invited to witness events from the perspective of the protagonist. Whereas in the first film the centipede idea is presented as a revolting medical experiment, with the focus on whether the victims will be able to escape, this sequel presents the centipede idea as the object of the protagonist's depraved sexual fantasy.

The principal focus of The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) is the sexual arousal of the central character at both the idea and the spectacle of the total degradation, humiliation, mutilation, torture, and murder of his naked victims. Examples of this include a scene early in the film in which he masturbates whilst he watches a DVD of the original Human Centipede film, with sandpaper wrapped around his penis, and a sequence later in the film in which he becomes aroused at the sight of the members of the centipede being forced to defecate into one another's mouths, culminating in sight of the man wrapping barbed wire around his penis and raping the woman at the rear of the centipede. There is little attempt to portray any of the victims in the film as anything other than objects to be brutalised, degraded and mutilated for the amusement and arousal of the central character, as well as for the pleasure of the audience. There is a strong focus throughout on the link between sexual arousal and sexual violence and a clear association between pain, perversity and sexual pleasure. It is the Board's conclusion that the explicit presentation of the central character's obsessive sexually violent fantasies is in breach of its Classification Guidelines and poses a real, as opposed to a fanciful, risk that harm is likely to be caused to potential viewers.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:

It is the Board's carefully considered view that to issue a certificate to this work, even if confined to adults, would be inconsistent with the Board's Guidelines, would risk potential harm within the terms of the VRA, and would be unacceptable to the public.

The Board also seeks to avoid classifying material that may be in breach of the Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964 (OPA) or any other relevant legislation. The OPA prohibits the publication of works that have a tendency to deprave or corrupt a significant proportion of those likely to see them. In order to avoid classifying potentially obscene material, the Board engages in regular discussions with the relevant enforcement agencies, including the CPS, the police, and the Ministry of Justice. It is the Board's view that there is a genuine risk that this video work, The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence), may be considered obscene within the terms of the OPA, for the reasons given above.

The Board considered whether its concerns could be dealt with through cuts. However, given that the unacceptable content runs throughout the work, cuts are not a viable option in this case and the work is therefore refused a classification.

Source: www.horrordigital.com

[Rev. Powell]

I find both the plot synopsis, and the censor's decision to ban the movie, disgusting.

[Doggett]

I can see AndyC just rubbing his hands with glee and can't wait to see the sequel.




Anyways, it does seem like quite an extreme step.
No doubt making the film even more "Must-See" to UK horror audiences. And those guys always find a way.

[venomx]

Banned? That means you can't watch it online or you can't buy it in stores?

Does this make it Illegal to watch at all in the UK? 

[Psycho Circus]

Does this make it Illegal to watch at all in the UK? 

Pretty much.

[venomx]

Does this make it Illegal to watch at all in the UK? 

Pretty much.

That sucks. Eh, that movie looks stupid anyway.

[Psycho Circus]

Does this make it Illegal to watch at all in the UK? 

Pretty much.

That sucks. Eh, that movie looks stupid anyway.

Yeah, I have no interest in it, that goes for the movie that preceded it also. No doubt, the banning will increase interest and notoriety thus increasing revenue for an otherwise forgettable piece of shock value trash. I think I read that the first film only made about $12,000.

[indianasmith]

I don't think that anyone's life will be scarred forever by missing this film . . . but at the same time, I don't really approve of this kind of censorship either.  Adults can decide for themselves, and parents should be watching out for their kids.  Keep the government out of it!!!


"FORBIDDEN: invested with a new and irresistible charm"
                                   - Ambrose Bierce, THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY

[claws]

In the light of the decision of the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) not to grant The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) a classification certificate, Bounty Films (Australia), in conjunction with its UK distribution partner Eureka Entertainment Ltd. intends to appeal the decision.

and from Director Tom Six:

Thank you BBFC for putting spoilers of my movie on your website and thank you for banning my film in this exceptional way. Apparently I made an horrific horror-film, but shouldn't a good horror film be horrific? My dear people it is a f**king MOVIE. It is all fictional. Not real. It is all make-belief. It is art. Give people their own choice to watch it or not. If people can't handle or like my movies they just don't watch them. If people like my movies they have to be able to see it any time, anywhere also in the UK.

source: www.schnittberichte.com

[Trevor]

Thanks, claws.

I have never seen either of these films and I don't really want to see someone wanking with sandpaper   but I hate censorship in any manner, shape or form: these guys must have seen what the apartheid ruled censor board did in South Africa from 1963 ~ 1994 in that they banned everything.  

[dean]

What has the sandpaper go to do with anything? Seems a bit stupid...

Anyways, banned or not, I doubt I'll see it unless someone tells me it's brilliant.