Banned Movies That Caused Public Outrage During Its Release

Published on 09/16/2023
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‘The Evil Dead’ Made Audiences Run From Theaters Before It Made Them Flock To Bootleg Video Stores

Bruce Campbell plays Ash Williams, the main character, in Sam Raimi’s famous 1981 horror film The Evil Dead. The movie centers on a group of young people who spend the night at a cottage in the woods and are frightened by supernatural powers. The movie is well-known for its brutal violence, use of special effects, and Campbell’s iconic Ash portrayal. The Evil Dead was a commercial and critical triumph when it was released in the United States in 1981. However, because it showed graphic violence, it was outlawed in the UK in 1983. It wasn’t released there until 1990, when it was released on home video with minor changes to the story. The movie wasn’t released on home video in the UK in its entirety until 11 more years later. The Evil Dead is now regarded as a horror film masterpiece that had a significant impact on the creation of the contemporary horror genre. It has a devoted following and has inspired multiple sequels, a television series, and a stage musical. The movie is readily accessible on home video and streaming services because to its recent restoration and re-release.

'The Evil Dead' Made Audiences Run From Theaters Before It Made Them Flock To Bootleg Video Stores

‘The Evil Dead’ Made Audiences Run From Theaters Before It Made Them Flock To Bootleg Video Stores

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No Art Film Shocked Audiences Like ‘Flaming Creatures’ banned in 22 U.S. States and Four Countries

Jack Smith’s experimental film Flaming Creatures was released in 1963. The movie, a parody of Hollywood B movies, stars a cast of outlandish and marginalized actors, many of whom are LGBTQ+ people. The nonlinear storytelling technique, surrealist and campy aesthetic, and portrayal of gender and sexual fluidity in the movie have all gained it notoriety. When Flaming Creatures was first released in 1963, it sparked outrage owing to its representation of gender and sexual nonconformity as well as its use of graphic language and imagery. Due to its contentious nature, the movie was outlawed in 22 US states as well as several other nations, including Canada, Sweden, and Finland. Despite the controversy, Flaming Creatures is regarded by many in the underground and avant-garde film movements as a significant and influential work. It is noted with defying conventional ideas of gender and sexuality and with being the first underground film to use camp and satire. The movie has recently been re-released, and you can watch it at a few institutions and film festivals.

No Art Film Shocked Audiences Like 'Flaming Creatures' Banned In 22 U.S. States And Four Countries

No Art Film Shocked Audiences Like ‘Flaming Creatures’ Banned In 22 U.S. States And Four Countries

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