Evening, cretins.
Well, just when you thought we were making progress and moving forward as a society...this shit happens. After NSW Attorney General Greg Smith demanded that the original R18+ rating (for 'high-impact themes, violence and sexual violence') granted to Tom Six's Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence be reconsidered by the Classification Review Board, the merry band of social elitists decided to reverse their initial decision and refuse the film a classification altogether, thus effectively banning it from a further general theatrical release.
The Board met on Monday and revealed their decision via press release yesterday:
“In the Review Board’s opinion, The Human Centipede II (full sequence) could not be accommodated within the R 18+ classification as the level of depictions of violence in the film has an impact which is very high.“In addition, the film must be refused classification because it contains gratuitous, exploitative or offensive depictions of violence with a very high degree of impact and cruelty which has a high impact."
The preventative measures undertaken have been welcomed by the Christian lobby group FamilyVoice Australia, whom made a request to the review board in the hope that it would be banned. Needless to say, they were overjoyed with the result:
“On behalf of Australian families, we thank the Board for its unanimous agreement. Pornography based on human torture has no place on Australian screens.”
As many horror fans are well aware, Six's film was infamously refused classification in the UK before an eventual removal of two minutes and 37 seconds of footage was made in order for the censors to give it a pass. An edited version was also released in the US last month.
This marks the second occasion this year of a feature film being approved and then banned in a matter of weeks by the Australian Review Board. Srđan Spasojević's controversial A Serbian Film was initially passed without editorial intrusion earlier this year but re-submitted and subsequently expelled from public view.
Ironically, the ridiculous ruling came after the film's local distributor, Monster Pictures, took the film on a nation-wide tour in its UNCUT form, complete with star Lawrence R. Harvey in tow for several Q&A sessions to help promote its release. The screenings were a tremendous success, often times on the brink of selling out. I myself managed to catch the screening in Melbourne and the vibe throughout the night was electric to say the least.
It is likely that distributor Monster Pictures will submit the edited version of Human Centipede 2 for reclassification and ensure its Australian release. The company's initial plans for a home video release of the film on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 23rd 2012 may have to be reconsidered in light of the recent verdict.
Where does one even begin to address the stupidity and hypocrisy of this decision? This is not a film intended to be seen by the casual moviegoer, nor is it even compatible for anyone not familiar with the first installment or with an rough idea of what to expect. Ultimately (and most horror fans would likely agree), it is a well-made film by a skilled and talented filmmaker very much in tune with the films' propensity for black humor and its place within a genre that is rapidly becoming the antithesis of its transgressive roots.
Oh, and IT'S ONLY A FREAKING MOVIE, PEOPLE!
To help Monster Pictures fight this close-minded ruling and keep up to date with all the latest developments, follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Spread the word!
I COMPLETELY ARGREE with the statement 'its only a freakin movie!'....It's not real! Its a little thing called 'acting'...I am appaled by this ban.
ReplyDeleteI agree its a movie! Here's an idea of jesus or god or whatever faith you are doesn't like it then don't watch it pissoff to church and pray for sick people who want to see it!
ReplyDeleteIt is the up to the viewers discretion to determine what movies they find offensive. Like you said, not everyone is going to see this movie. As usual, the "powers that be" are uncomfortable letting us make this decision on our own. *Sigh*
ReplyDeleteNice post, unfortunate subject right? Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for he comments, folks.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous #1: I often times fell that acting is overlooked by critics of extreme cinema, especially by those who tend to never watch such material. Those who condemn films such as HC2 are generally known for dismissing the merits of performance by way of being blinded by onscreen violence, thus rendering their views hard to take seriously.
@Anonymous #2: It's frightening just how much influence the Christian right is having over the arts in this country. Didn't they have a film out a while ago called 'The Passion of the Christ' that was filled with extreme gore, torture and human degradation???
@Girl on Gore: Couldn't agree more. I'm simply at a loss as to how I can grasp the plight of one whom doesn't think a grown adult of independent thought and responsibility shouldn't be allowed to chose their own entertainment. It's the same old story, except this time told through the eyes of older, battier, more collectively clueless loners.