Film Censorship: The Troma Intelligence Test (1999) - Page 1

 

 

 

 

The Troma Intelligence Test

1999 / USA

In late October, and early November 2000, the OFLC banned seven DVDs because of the presence of a DVD extra called THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST.

The seven Troma DVDs that Tribe Enterprises had Refused Classification were.

 

The OFLC reasons for the RC-rating were.

In the Boards unanimous view this film warrants an RC, "Refused Classification", in accordance with section 1(a) of the Films Table of the National Classification Code as it "depicts violence in such a way that is offends against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that it should be classified RC".

The R guidelines state the "depictions of violence which are excessive will not be permitted". Further, strong depictions of realistic violence may be shown but depictions with a high degree of impact should not be gratuitous or exploitative. The elements of the film described below have no context or artistic merit and are considered gratuitous.

Accordingly the Board decided that this film warrants and RC classification in accordance with the RC criteria in the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Videotapes, as it contains gratuitous, exploitative and offensive depictions of violence with a very high degree of impact.

 

 

Censored Tribe Troma DVDs

Tribe Enterprises released the following four DVDs following the removal of THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST.

 

Soon after, Tribe pulled out of the DVD market leaving the following three DVDs unreleased. All had previously been passed uncut and released on videotape with R18+ ratings.

 

 

What is THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST?

THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE test is a series of twenty multiple-choice questions, each with between four to six possible answers.

 

The Troma Intelligence Test - Censored Scene 1The Troma Intelligence Test - Censored Scene 2The Troma Intelligence Test - Censored Scene 3

 

 

Answer correctly and you are rewarded with a topless/sex scene from one of Troma's back catalogue of movies.

 

The Troma Intelligence Test - Censored Scene 4

 

 

Answer incorrectly, and you get a violent or stupid clip. The source of the violent clips seem to come almost entirely from the film BEWARE! CHILDREN AT PLAY.

 

The Troma Intelligence Test - Censored Scene 5

 

 

Stomp Visual's Troma DVDs

In 2005, Stomp Visual began to re-release the Troma back-catalogue on DVD.

It was now five years since THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST was banned, so it could possibly now have passed. Instead of re-submitting it, Stomp removed it from all discs prior to getting them classified.

Also missing from some DVDs was THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST 2, and the COMING DISTRACTIONS. The latter was a series of trailers for various Troma titles. It is unclear why these were removed as most of the titles had already been passed by the OFLC.

The DVD menu on each disc still had the links to the extras, although you were unable to click through. Stomp did at least provide warning on the back of each cover that the censorship had taken place.

 

In June 2005, Stomp Visual received an R18+ (High Level Horror Violence, Blood and Gore) rating for an uncut version of BEWARE! CHILDREN AT PLAY. As we have mentioned, this is the source of almost all the violent clips in THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST.

 

Thanks to Chris G for sending it this correspondence that he had with Stomp Visual regarding the censorship.

Here is an e-mail that I received from Stomp regarding the censorship of the Troma DVDs which explains their position.

To Stomp
September 2005.
I thought you may like to know that the TIT is made up of clips taken from BEWARE CHILDREN AT PLAY, a film that you have just had rated R18+ by the OFLC. I think therefore that you are being over cautious by removing this extra when the OFLC has no problem with the footage when it is contained in the feature film. Hope you can rectify this for future releases.

From Stomp
September 2005
thanks for the info, but trust us, we are well aware of the classification issues related to Troma etc.
the TIT has no narrative and is therefore - just blatant violence, upon children - in short snippets - thus it wont pass. the film has a narrative, and the images in the context of a narrative allowed it pass. ie; if you were to try and release maniac in short snippets of violence, there is no way it would get through - there needs to be a narrative/storyline - not just violence (esp against kiddies).

 

 

Stomp's Troma DVDs: Batch #1

The initial batch of eight titles was released in May 2005.

On the back cover of every title (apart from THE TOXIC AVENGER), the following was written:

"Troma Intelligence Test and Trailers are not available on the Australian version of ..........."

 

 

Stomp's Troma DVDs: Batch #2

The second batch of nine DVDs followed in August 2005.

These four had the following on the back cover.

"Troma Trailers not available on this Australian release."

 

These five had the following on the back cover.

"Troma Intelligence Test and Trailers are not available on this release"

 

 

Stomp's Troma DVDs: Batch #3

The final batch of seven DVDs was released in November 2005.

These six DVDs all said this on the back cover.

"Troma Trailers for other titles not available on this Australian release."

 

The final DVD said this on the back cover.

"Troma Trailers for other titles and Troma Intelligence not available on this Australian release."

 

 

 

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