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Relaxation of censorship
With the passing of the Video Recordings Act, the films
on the list could be prosecuted for both obscenity and
not being classified. As well as not passing any film
liable to be found obscene, the BBFC imposed additional
bans and cuts on films such as The Exorcist.
Cannibal Man
Claims
relating to the Hungerford Massacre and the murder of
James Bulger provided an additional impetus to restrict
films and as late as December 1997, the board claimed
"The Board has never relaxed its guidelines on video
violence, which remain the strictest in the world".
However, the board did loosen its standards, especially
at the 18 level, in response to public consultation in
2000. The departure of James Ferman from the BBFC may
also have allowed some long-proscribed films to be
re-appraised around this time.
The Exorcist was granted
an uncut 18 certificate on 10 June 1999 and several
official "nasties" were passed in the early 2000s either
uncut or with cuts restricted to sexual violence or
actual animals being harmed.
A list of these is given
below. Among modern films, many such as the 'Hostel' and
'Saw' series, contain brutal, graphic violence but are
passing through uncut.
Video nasty - The DPP list
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