SHAM034 - House on the Edge of the Park: The Archive Conversation

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

It would be a real shame if the BBFC demanded some cuts but I'd buy this anyway as I don't want a gap in my Shameless collection!

[Vampix]

I have the uncut Shriek Show DVD of HOTEOTP, which I got in a 3 pack of movies.I still haven't watched it, but will make time to give it a spin now that Shameless are releasing it.

[robertzombie]

Here's an interesting article on the BBFC's research into sexual violence. The House On The Edge Of The Park was one of the films looked into, see page 93 onwards

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/download/polic...y%20Cinema.pdf

[Daemonia]

Originally Posted by robertzombie

Here's an interesting article on the BBFC's research into sexual violence. The House On The Edge Of The Park was one of the films looked into, see page 93 onwards

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/download/polic...y%20Cinema.pdf

Well, that was a bunch of psychobabble. Are the BBFC film classifiers or psychiatrists/psychologists? The raison d'etre of House on the Edge of the Park is to shock. It's meant to be outrageous and, as such, defies all logic. The ending is illogical, but it's an illogical film. Sometimes it's not good to over-analyse. It is what it is, a document of its time and not the sort of film that would be made today (unless Deodato's sequel follows the same formula, of course).

The BBFC have never liked films that don't play it safe. If it's confrontational or shocking, the BBFC will undoubtedly have an issue with it. But again, I ask, who will this harm? Seriously, no-one, I mean no-one can or is willing to answer this pertinent question. The BBFC look at issues of harm, but their reasoning as to whom it would harm is always cloaked in mystery and they never give a straight answer. They say it may harm certain males, but who and where are they? And isn't this like 'thought crime' - anticipating criminal behaviour rather than supplying solid proof that a film like this harmed anyone, anywhere? If it's such a dangerous film, then why can't they supply examples of copycat behaviour from territories where the film has been available uncut for decades? Are we to deduce that it's only British males who will be affected? If so, what makes us so different to other countries?

So many questions, but never any answers.

[Sarah@Cult Labs]

I think the BBFC means British working class males which is presumably why they can watch the films uncut themselves without going on a killing spree...

It's a bad hangover of the class system and is ultimately all about control.

That's my opinion at any rate. Feeling a bit Marxist today!

Sent from my HTC Tattoo using Tapatalk

[Rhodes]

when schindler's list came out there was an incident where a man who was watching the film in a cinema drew a gun and randomly shot and killed a woman who was sitting in front of him. he later said he 'did it to test god' or something to that effect.
perhaps some films will inspire the odd psychopath but the film is simply not to blame. look at jeffrey dahmer, he identified with the emperor in 'empire strikes back' and bought yellow lenses for his eyes and planned to build a throne out of human bones. should star wars be cut and banned?
bottom line for me is, anyone disturbed enough to get off on and be inspired by a film like house at the edge of the park will already be watching violent porn online, why would they bother with some old and obviously faked exploitation film from 1980? the only people who even watch these kind of films are genre fans and film critics, and they're the ones who get stiffed by silly bbfc decisions.
anyway, fingers crossed for shameless to get this one through unscathed, it's a brave move and hopefully a little bbfc history can be made.

[hallo37]

Apparently only working-class males commit crimes and are feeble minded enough to be influenced by some movie! Only upper middle class people are cerebrally superior to watch shocking films according to the BBFC. You are right, its all about control. Many so called civilised countries have no censorship and they arent exactly falling apart. Its just good old fashioned British snobbery.

[nekromantik]

I agree that its stupid to still censor things.
Sexual violence is out there online just like Rhodes said so people who get off on that will have access to plenty of that anyway.

We should have a unrated system like the US but that will never happen I dont think.

[Sarah@Cult Labs]

But just in case those from the upper echelons of British society are reading this (assuming they're not deciding what to wear to the Royal Wedding):

We love you BBFC! None of us would so much as harm a fly so please pass this film uncut!

You never know who's listening...

[necroluciferia]

I've quizzed several BBFC examiners on their sexual violence policy and I almost find it amusing how much they contradict themselves. I really despise the way they assume everyone who isn't part of the arthouse, art-gallery-going elite is incapable of choosing their own entertainment and has to have all the really 'bad' bits removed because otherwise it is going to have such a devastatingly harmful effect on their weak minds. It is all about thought control and a lot to do with the BBFC justifying their own worthless jobs. At the end of the day, it isn't the type of film the average dim-wit is going to buy without being really into the genre and knowing all about the film in the first place.
I also sometimes wonder whether as a "female" I am supposed to be grateful to the BBFC for removing images that show sexual violence towards women and therefore making the world a safer, nicer place for me to live in. I certainly am not, and find such a notion highly offensive and patronising.