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 have been banned from different countries for many reasons, but most often they’ve been given the axe due to moral, religious, or political motivations. Whether they’re forced to 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.
Horror films more than any other genre have been the subject of intense criticism and censorship through the years and remain one of the only film genres that regularly appear on banned film lists in Western countries due to violence, graphic horror, and sexual content. Genre fans have a habit of seeking out media that’s been subject to criticism and censorship, as much of it turns out to be some of the most favorite films of all time upon reexamination. Thankfully, many banned and heavily 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, A Clockwork Orange follows the story of Alex, an antisocial delinquent who leads a gang of street thugs in committing a variety of “ultra-violence.” But, when he’s caught he enters into an experimental rehabilitation program that may be even more horrifying than his own crimes. Based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess, the film was banned from many countries for intense depictions of violence, but remains one of 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, The Last House on the Left follows the story of two teen girls who are captured by a gang of criminals, then brutally raped and killed. When the criminals pose as salesmen to stay the night at the home of one of the girls, her parents start to catch on that they might have something to do with their daughter’s disappearance. Directed by horror legend 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 members 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, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre follows a group of friends who stumble upon a family of cannibals while on a road trip through rural Texas. The film was banned in several countries and pulled from many theaters due to complaints of its violence, however it has now become one of the most influential horror films ever made, credited with originating many of the elements common in the slasher genre and spawning 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, Cannibal Holocaust is famous for being banned in many countries due to claims that actors were really killed on camera and legal battles leveled against director, 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, The Evil Dead is a cult classic of the horror genre following a group of teenagers vacationing in a remote cabin in the woods when they accidentally unleash ancient evil. Raimi set out to make his film as gruesome as possible and it received an 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 France in 2016, more than five years after its release. Available on Amazon Prime, Sling TV, Youtube, & Google Play