14 Horror Films So Scary They Were Banned
When it comes to horror movies, there’s always a line where fear turns into something more unsettling. For some films, that line was completely obliterated, which left audiences and censors grappling with their sheer intensity. They were deemed too shocking, too grotesque, or too provocative for certain countries to handle. Here’s a closer look at some horror movies that were so terrifying, they earned outright bans.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
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By the time the fourth Friday the 13th movie rolled around, you’d think audiences were used to Jason Voorhees. But this installment amped up the brutality and delivered some of the most gruesome kills in the franchise. While modern viewers might chuckle at the ’80s special effects, it was too much for countries like Sweden and West Germany, where it faced temporary bans.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
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This isn’t your typical slasher film with jump scares and chase scenes. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer dives into the chilling mind of a murderer, with a level of realism that’s deeply unnerving. This approach led to bans in several countries and forced extensive edits for it to be screened in others.
Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979)
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Italian director Lucio Fulci’s Zombie Flesh Eaters, sometimes called Zombi 2, quickly earned a reputation as one of the goriest films of its time. It even featured a scene where a zombie battles a shark to mix some absurdity with horror. The film was created to capitalize on the success of George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, and it went on to be banned in five countries.
Men Behind the Sun (1988)
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Few films capture the horrors of war, like Men Behind the Sun. It depicted the horrific experiments conducted by Japan’s Unit 731 during World War II. Graphic scenes showed torture and medical experiments in excruciating detail, based on real historical accounts. The film was banned in countries including Australia and South Korea.
Faces of Death (1978)
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It’s hard to even categorize Faces of Death. The film included graphic depictions of death, from staged accidents to real animal slaughter, and blurred the line between fact and fiction. Its notoriety grew as it was banned in multiple countries, including the UK. Despite—or perhaps because of—its shocking content, it became a cult hit in underground circles.
Ichi the Killer (2001)
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Takashi Miike’s Ichi the Killer is a masterclass in pushing boundaries. After combining dark humor with some of the most graphic violence ever put on screen, it’s no surprise this film was banned in countries like Germany and China. It’s a wild, chaotic ride that only the most daring viewers can stomach.
The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) (2011)
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If the first Human Centipede made you squirm, the sequel practically dared you to look away. Shot in black and white, the film follows a man obsessed with recreating the events of the first movie on a much larger scale. The grotesque imagery led to bans in multiple countries, including Ireland and Germany.
Braindead (1992)
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Before Peter Jackson became synonymous with hobbits and epic battles, he gave us Braindead (or Dead Alive). This gleefully over-the-top zombie film is a blood-soaked comedy that was initially banned in several countries. Interestingly, the film’s success helped establish Jackson as a director capable of storytelling—a skill he’d later showcase in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The Devils (1971)
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Few films have stirred as much controversy as Ken Russell’s The Devils. Based on historical events, the film tells the story of a 17th-century French priest accused of witchcraft. Its unflinching portrayal of corruption within the church led to bans in countries like New Zealand and Ireland.
The Last House on the Left (1972)
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Wes Craven’s debut feature was raw, brutal, and unapologetically intense. The film follows two girls who are abducted and brutally assaulted, with their killers later facing revenge from the girls’ parents. The raw, low-budget aesthetic made the violence feel disturbingly real and led to bans in several countries.
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
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Salò is a movie that feels less like entertainment and more like an endurance test. It’s based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade and is an unrelenting depiction of cruelty and depravity. Despite being banned in countries around the world, it continues to polarize audiences with its brutal exploration of power and corruption.
A Serbian Film (2010)
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This modern horror movie is infamous for its unrelenting grimness. The relentless descent into violence and depravity earned bans in over a dozen countries. While it’s often discussed as an example of extreme cinema, its themes of exploitation and corruption have kept it in the public eye.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
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One of the first found-footage films, Cannibal Holocaust blurred the line between reality and fiction so effectively that its director was accused of making a snuff film. Its graphic violence—both real and staged—earned bans in 13 countries. Decades later, it’s still a shocking watch, even for experienced horror fans.
I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
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This revenge thriller follows a young woman seeking justice after a horrific assault. Its graphic content and unflinching portrayal of violence led to bans in over 14 countries. The film has been the subject of numerous academic analyses, examining its role in the exploitation and feminist subgenres.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is remarkably intense for a film that implies more than it shows. Its raw, gritty style gave it a documentary-like feel that left audiences shaken. Despite being a low-budget movie movie, this film arguably changed the course of horror cinema.