Directed by Ruggero Deodato

The movies of Ruggero Deodato that have been cut or banned in Australia.

Last Cannibal World

Directed by Ruggero Deodato / 1977 / Italy / IMDb

In April 1977, a 2550.00-meter (92:57) print of LAST CANNIBAL WORLD was banned because of ‘indecency and indecent violence’.

A 2276.69-meter (82:59) ‘reconstructed version’ lost a further 23.30-meter (00:51) before being awarded an R-rating in May 1977. These extra cuts were made to remove ‘indecent violence’.

Unitalia Films of Australia was the applicant. It was distributed by Cinema International Corporation.

Video release

In the early 1980s, a heavily censored 79:26 (PAL) version of LAST CANNIBAL WORLD was issued by Video Classics.

The print may have been sourced from the R-rated theatrical version, as the running times are similar. However, some of the missing footage consists of dialogue or similarly non-controversial material.

The National Classification Database claims that in February 1984, Video Classics had an 88-minute tape passed with an M-rating. We presume this is a mistake as the rating is too low and the running time would make it uncut.

All the Video Classics cuts

Video Classics (au) – VHS – 79:26 (PAL) – cut
Video City International (gr) – VHS – 87:56 (PAL) – uncut

Opening credits
00:20 – Missing from the start of the Video Classics (VC) tape. Over a black background, the footage shows the name of the production company, followed by ‘A Ruggero Deodato Film’. Next is a view, looking down, from above the plane as it flies over the jungle.
The story behind the film takes place over a black background on the Video City International (VCI) tape. The VC version shows more shots of the plane flying over the jungle.

Robert in the jungle
Before – Robert (Massimo Foschi) runs down the riverbank. Ralph (Ivan Rassimov) follows and calls out, ‘Oh Robert, only a lunatic would go barging into the jungle like that’.
Censored at 08:47 by 00:14 – Robert, ‘Do me a favour; I’m in no mood for one of your lectures on jungle survival, now get us out of here’. He looks away and says. ‘Sorry Ralph’. Ralph replies, ‘That’s okay, we mustn’t start fighting now’.
After – Ralph continues, ‘I won’t get us far’. Robert then climbs back up from the riverbank.

Death of Charlie the pilot
Before – Charlie (Sheik Razak Shikur) picks up a piece of the girl’s dress, which sets off a trap. A spiked ball swings down, pins him to a tree and blood splatters on Ralph’s face.
Censored at 14:15 by 00:03 – Close-up shot of the spikes in his chest, followed by him still alive and pinned to the tree.
After/Before – Robert looking down from the vine.
Censored at 14:19 by 00:10 – Ralph vomiting followed by another shot of the now-dead Charlie pinned to the tree. Blood is shown dripping to the ground.
After/Before – Robert coming down from the vine.
Censored at 14:20 by 00:20 – Robert gets to the bottom of the vine, checks that Charlie is dead and moves around behind him and over to Ralph.
After – Robert helps Ralph to his feet and tells him to ‘Snap out of it!’

Death by ants and cannibal children
Before – A prisoner is tied up and his arms are slashed. Shot of ants crawling over the wounds.
Censored at 33:18 by 00:15 – Robert looks up at the prisoner who screams as the ants eat at the wound.
After/Before – Robert putting his hands to his ears to drown out the scream and looking up from the cage.
Censored at 33:39 by 00:10 – Two shots of the prisoner’s arms eaten through to the bone. Shot of Robert’s face followed by the cannibals.
After/Before – Robert looking down to the ground.
Censored at 33:43 by 00:10 – Robert being awoken by the cannibal children urinating on him from above. He calls out. ‘What the hell, get away!’
After – Followed by, ‘You little monkeys, leave me alone!’.

Pulan and Robert
Before – Pulan (Me Me Lai) touches Robert on the face.
Censored at 36:21 by 01:09 – Pulan touches Robert’s body and between his legs.
After – Cannibals trying to start a fire.

Crocodile slaughter
Before – A crocodile is hit on the head for a second time. Brief shot of Robert in the cage.
Censored at 45:12 by 01:20 – A knife is stuck in the crocodile’s head before it is skinned.
After/Before – Shot of a cannibal looking on.
Censored at 45:26 by 00:04 – A cannibal reaches down and picks up the crocodile’s decapitated head.
After – Shot of Robert. His voiceover says ‘The eagle…’.
Before – Crocodile meat being picked up from the floor.
Censored at 46:29 by 00:08 – Cannibal walking away with the meat and a shot of a male cannibal eating.
After – Shot of female cannibals eating.

Native infanticide
Before – A native woman gives birth. Holding the baby, she walks to the river’s edge.
Censored at 50:29 by 00:08 – She throws the baby into the river and a crocodile is shown diving in.
After – Shot of Robert’s face before him and Pulan turn and leave.

The rape of Pulan
Before – Robert hits Pulan. Close-up of her face and bleeding nose.
Censored at 54:18 by 01:02 – Robert pulls off her loincloth, she tries to run but he catches and rapes her.
After – Pulan walking into the jungle as Robert wakes up.

Helicopter search
Before – Helicopter flying away.
Censored at 62:08 by 00:11 – Robert breaking down and crying, followed by Pulan walking through the jungle.
After – Robert walking through the jungle.

Ralph’s dialogue
Before – ‘Maybe it is terrible in our world, but not in theirs.’
Censored at 63:54 by 00:02 – ‘Everyone becomes a link in the chain of survival.’
After – Shot of a crocodile entering the water.

Pulan is eaten
Before – Cannibals lifting Pulan’s body. Shot of Robert helping Ralph to walk.
Censored at 71:27 by 01:46 – Pulan is decapitated and her head placed in the fire. She is disembowelled and her body filled with food before it is cooked.
After – Cannibals gathering around followed by shots of them eating.
Note, this scene was edited into Umberto Lenzi’s EATEN ALIVE (1980). See the separate entry for that title in Film Censorship Database No. 1.

Robert the cannibal
Before – Robert raises the stone axe above the cannibal.
Censored at 73:37 by 00:04 – Shot of the wound on the victim’s body, followed by Robert holding the bloody axe.
After/Before – Shot of the cannibal’s faces as they look on. Robert’s arms are shown doing something off-screen.
Censored at 73:45 by 00:23 – Robert reaches into the wound, removes the intestines and begins to eat them as the cannibal’s look on.
After/Before – Shot of the cannibal’s faces.
Censored at 73:46 by 00:15 – Further shots of Robert eating the flesh before he breaks down and sobs.
After – Robert helping Ralph through the jungle.

End credits
Before – Ralph’s body slumps to the seat of the plane.
77:58 – No cuts, however the credits on the VCI tape play out over a black background, while the VC tape shows them over a still shot of the jungle.

Seized by customs

There is one report of a customs confiscation of LAST CANNIBAL WORLD (as ULTIMO MONDO CANNIBALE).

1991 October – VHS.

See also NEKROMANTIK (1987) in the Film Censorship Database No. 1 for more information regarding this case.

Imported BBFC censorship

In March 2015, a 97-minute DVD of VIDEO NASTIES: DRACONIAN DAYS (2014) was passed with an R18+ (High impact horror violence).

The applicant was Siren Visual Entertainment.

EX Film released it in April 2015 as part of a three-disc set called VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE PART 2. One of the discs contains trailers for all the films.

When the set was passed by the British Board of Classification (BBFC) in 2014, they demanded four-seconds of cuts to the trailer of LAST CANNIBAL WORLD to ‘…remove sight of real animal cruelty (a live animal being cut open with a knife…)’.

This was the crocodile slaughter sequence which was also missing from the Australian Video Classics tape.

Movie-Censorship has more details of the cuts.

The EX Films DVD is the same as the BBFC approved version. This was not because of any fear that the Australian Classification Board would demand similar cuts, but a simple question of the cost involved with re-mastering a niche title for a small market.

Ex Film also released VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE PART 1, which contains the documentary VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP & VIDEOTAPE (2010). Both sets are essential viewing for anyone who reads this site.

Cannibal Holocaust

Directed by Ruggero Deodato / 1980 / Italy / IMDb

In 1983, a 96-minute print of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST was Refused Registration.

A few months later, a censored version running 89-minute was also banned.

In both cases, Fox-Columbia Film Distribution was the applicant.

Customs seizures

There are two reports of customs confiscations of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST during the 1990s.

1991 October – VHS.

See also NEKROMANTIK (1987) in the Film Censorship Database No. 1 for more information regarding this case.

1998 – Laserdisc, Cult Epics (Netherlands).

Film Festival fail

In July 2001, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST was one of eight ‘banned’ movies dropped from the second Melbourne Underground Film Festival.

See database entry for SALÒ, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM (1975) for more information about this case.

Keeping our borders secure

With the advent of DVD, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST became a target title for the Australian Customs Service.

2002 – DVD
The reason given was, ‘One DVD titled CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST depicting sexual violence’.

2002 – DVD, EC Entertainment (Netherlands).
The reason given was that it was ‘prohibited and subject to regulation 4A(1A)(A) of the customs (Prohibited Imports) regulations 1956.

2004 August – DVD, EC Entertainment (Netherlands).

August 2004
An authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that the said goods are forfeited to the crown pursuant to sub-section 229(1)(b) of the Customs Act 1901 as a prohibited import’
Regulation 4A of the Customs (prohibited imports) Regulations provides that the importation of goods specified in Regulation 4A is prohibited unless the permission in writing of the minister or an authorised person to import the goods has been granted.

– Seizure Notice
– Australian Customs Service

2005 July – DVD, EC Entertainment Ultrabit (Netherlands).

July 2005
The following goods
1 x DVD Titled ‘CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST’ were seized under the following provisions of the Customs Act 1901 on the following ground: Under Subsection 203B (2), Being goods suspected on reasonable grounds to be special forfeited goods.

An authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that the said goods are forfeited to the crown pursuant to section 229 of the customs act 1901.
The above DVD is deemed to breach regulation 4A (1A) (A) of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) regulations.

– Seizure Notice
– Australian Customs Service

Government approval

In October 2005, twenty-three years after the first submission, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST was finally passed with an R18+ (High level sexual violence, High level violence, Animal cruelty) rating.

Siren Visual Entertainment released the uncut DVD in April 2006.

April 2006
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST Collector’s edition.
2 Disc set featuring LOADS of special features, presented in a deluxe digipack & slipcase.

Banned in Australia since the early 80’s, for years reviled as one of the most repugnant and morally questionable films ever made, and possibly the most horrifying ever.

A very original piece, later to be stolen by the writers of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST stands the test of time as the most brutal film ever made.

– DVD promotion
– Siren Visual Entertainment

Pay-TV premiere

In August 2013, the uncut version of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST premiered on the World Movies pay-TV channel.

July 27, 2013
They’re the movies that changed the face of cinema. They’ve been banned around the world and have been the cause of arrests, court cases and protests. They’ve caused moral outrage and countless newspaper headlines. Now, over one controversial week, World Movies brings you the Films That Shocked The World – all for the first time on Australian television.

We’re presenting the movies that others have told you that you can’t or shouldn’t see. From the film that invented modern-day pornography, to the movie that the Australian Classification Board banned for being too ‘graphic’ in 2004, this is the essential collection of controversial cinema.

The week begins with the horror film that sparked outrage in 2009, THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, followed by Larry Clark’s shocking tale of youth without hope – KIDS. Don’t miss the 1980 horror film CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, the infamous DEEP THROAT and finally the international scandal of BAISE-MOI.

Wednesday 21 August 9.30 pm
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (Italy, 1980) – Australian Television Premiere
A group of four documentary filmmakers experience a bloody attack at the hands of a tribe of flesh-eating cannibals. This film was so graphic that the director and producer were arrested when it was released.

– Films That Shocked The World
– World Movies

Blu-Ray release

In July 2014, Siren Visual released CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST on Blu-ray.

May 19, 2014
Following on from our kawaii announcement last month, here’s something relentlessly punishing from the ruthless Italian master, Ruggero Deodato…CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST…

In conjunction with Grindhouse Releasing in the US, Siren Visual presents the nasty horror classic on Blu-ray, newly remastered with tons of new bonus material, which you will only find on this double Blu-ray disc edition.

On top of the disc features, there will also be a 24-page booklet featuring international theatrical poster art and liner notes by Eli Roth, Chas Balun, Gergely Hubai and Martin Beine. New cover art by Rick Melton will be obscured by a slipcase, protecting unwitting eyes. Pre-orders are open and stores will have copies July 9. This is the definitive edition of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST and an essential addition to your collection.

Be warned: this is a cruel picture, not for the faint of heart.

– Blu-ray promotion
– Siren Visual

The House on the Edge of the Park

Directed by Ruggero Deodato / 1980 / Italy / IMDb

THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK was never picked up for theatrical or video release in Australia.

Seized by customs

There are several reports of the Australian Customs Service confiscating the film.

2000 July, Refused Classification.

2001 – DVD, EC Entertainment (Netherlands), two cases.
Discs were forwarded to the OFLC, who confirmed them as prohibited.

2003 – DVD

The refused status of the film was never published in the National Classification Database and was only revealed when a member of the public directly questioned the Classification Board.

August 2014
The film THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK directed by Ruggero Deodato was Refused Classification (RC) in July 2000 and declared a Prohibited Import within the meaning of regulation 4A(1A)(a) of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulation. The status of this film remains unchanged.

– Chris Allen, Director Operations, Classification Branch
– Civil Law Division, Attorney-General’s Department

DVD release

In November 2015, a 91-minute uncut DVD of THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK was passed with an R18+ (High impact sexual violence and nudity) rating.

The classification matrix described,
High impact: violence
Strong impact: themes, language, nudity, sex
Very mild: drug use

Regency Media were the applicant.

Shock Entertainment released it in February 2016 as part of their Cult Cinema range.

Cut and Run

Directed by Ruggero Deodato / Italy / 1985 / IMDb

In October 1985, a 90-minute version of CUT AND RUN was refused due to violence. It was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

A version, running 83:48 (PAL), was passed with an R-rating in January 1986.

The applicant, CBS/Fox Video, released the VHS with a reversible cover.

Hard cut vs. Soft cut

A ‘hard version’ of CUT AND RUN was shot that contained nudity and extreme violence. In the DVD extra UNCUT AND RUN (2002), Ruggero Deodato says it was prepared specifically for the Italian market. Presumably, this print was the one that was initially banned in Australia.

A second ‘soft version’ clothed the once naked women and removed or substituted alternative footage to tone down the violence. This was released in the UK, USA and by CBS/Fox Video in Australia. That 83:48 (PAL) tape ran the same as the one passed by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) in 1985.

Movie-Censorship has a comparison between the Australian ‘soft version’ and the ‘hard version’.