Research into the BBFC, Censorship and Video Nasties

BBFC:

UK’s regular of video and film.
Provides age ratings on films.
Has the legal power to rate films; or even cut and reject films altogether.
They also rate online material

THE RATINGS:

U – SUITABLE FOR ALL

PG – PARENTAL GUIDANCE

12A CINEMA RELEASE SUITABLE FOR 12 YEARS AND OVER (ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT UNDER 12 TOO)

12 – VIDEO RELEASES SUITABLE FOR 12 YEARS AND OVER

15 – RELEASES SUITABLE FOR 15 YEARS AND OVER

18 – RELEASES SUITABLE FOR THOSE 18 YEARS AND OVER

The aim is to ensure that children, and all film-goers are protected from “harmful and illegal material”

Censorship: 

"The suppression of free speech, public communication or other information which be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by the government, media outlets, authorities or other groups or institutions." 

Censorship within the UK: 

1982- the video nasty list was introduced to protect against obscenities within films.
The films on this list such as, Cannibal Holocaust, I Spit on Your Grave and Snuff.

Cannibal Holocaust (1980) directed by Ruggero Deodato

After the premiere of the film in Italy, Deodato's film was seized and he was arrested for obscenity charges. Later he was charged with making a "snuff film" which is a film in which the actors are murdered or commit suicide for the sake of the film.
Although Deodato was cleared of these charges, his film was still banned and the notoriety of the film being banned in over 50 countries.
The banning of this film came in due to the the fact that it shows graphic brutality, sexual assault, and real animal violence. 

The  re-release of the film in 2001 had 5minutes and 44 seconds cut to remove the animal cruelty and rape scenes. A new re-release in 2011 had 15 seconds cut from the film.

I Spit on Your Grave (1978) directed by Meir Zarchi 

The film has a limited release, but then had a wider release in 1980.
Many higher up film critics condemned the film for its graphic violence and "lengthy deciptions" of gang rape.
In 2001, the film was re-released with 7minutes 2seconds cut of the film.
In 2010, there was a further re-release with only 3minutes cut of the film.

Snuff (1975) directed by Michael Findlay and Horatio Fredriksson

Snuff was notoriously known as a film that was trailered and told the audience that this was an actual snuff movie.
In 2003, an uncut version of the film had passed.


In August 2009, a legislative mistake was found and the Legislative Recordings Act 1984 was repealed and re-enacted without change by the Video Recordings Act of 2010.

The Italian Influence and Giallo Films

"20th Century Italian Genre of literature and film, usually with mystery elements and often with slasher, supernatural horror and crime fiction elements."

Films such as Phenoma and Suspiria directed by Dario Argento had an influence on the idea of the video nasties.