'Most disturbing movie ever made' banned for 24 years in the UK will be available to watch in rare re-release

A movie that was banned for 24 years in the UK and saw a cinema raided by police for trying to screen it has been issued a new release 51 years after it was first released.

When it comes to the ‘most disturbing movie ever made’ the title is bandied about far too often, but in the case of this film it inarguably has a very real claim to the crown.

Though others may find A Serbian Film, Human Centipede, or Cannibal Holocaust may go further in their pursuit of putting the grossest film possible on screen, but none of these are particularly well liked by critics.

In the case of Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, the movie may be considered by many to be amongst the most disturbing ever, but it is also a critically acclaimed film that in many circles is considered a masterpiece – despite its controversial content.

Salò follows four wealthy Italians who, during the height of fascist Salo, a republic puppet fascist state created by Germany during World War 2, decide to kidnap 18 teenagers and carry out 120 days of depraved torture.

The movie, created by legendary Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, remains banned in country throughout the world for the graphic depictions of this twisted torture which features horrific acts of physical and sexual violence, along with morally disturbing scenes such as when the teenagers are forced to eat human faeces.

Unsurprisingly it was denied classification on its first attempt in the UK in 1976, citing its ‘gross indecency, but was first shown in the UK in 1977 at the Compton Cinema Club.

This led to the Metropolitan Police raiding the venue and seizing the film, threatening legal action against the venue owners.

The film is a disturbing watch, but is still considered one of the great all time films (United Artists)

The film only eventually receiving an approval from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) in 2000 with no edits or cuts and an 18 rating.

The change in heart from the BBFC came due to new guidelines in which the board only intervenes over material for adults if it is ‘illegal or harmful’.

Over the years however it has seen a renaissance, with many popular filmmakers speaking publicly and fondly of the film’s commentary on fascist Italy.

Even still, despite the film’s renaissance, it is a shock that the British Film Institute, 50 years after the film was so outlawed that police raided a cinema trying to show it, are now re-releasing the film.

On 26 October of this year the BFI are releasing the film in 4k Ultra HD with a Blu-Ray of extras, saying on their website: “The legendary and controversial Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) is released in a 4K UHD edition. Italian filmmaker and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini’s final film confronts the ultimate implications of fascism through a series of sexual and moral atrocities.”

Considering how hard it is to get hold of the movie in the UK, this could be a godsend for film fans who want to traumatise their friends with one of the most disturbing movies ever made.