Elijah Woods horror film banned by New Zealand
Source: Agencies |
July 26, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NEW Zealand has banned a horror film starring Elijah Wood as a scalp-collecting serial killer from general release, after the government deemed it too graphic and disturbing.
The Office of Film and Literature Classification's action means "Maniac" - a remake of the 1980 slasher film about a killer who scalps his victims - cannot be screened anywhere other than film festivals or as part of academic study. DVDs will not be allowed for sale.
The government censor that "Maniac," which is shot entirely from the killer's point of view, contains graphic violence and "content that may disturb," and that wide release "is likely to be injurious to the public good."
"The murders are depicted in first-person perspective, inviting a viewer's vicarious participation," the agency wrote.
The ban was condemned yesterday by the film's regional distributor and organizers of the New Zealand International Film Festival, which will be screening the movie on Saturday.
Distributor Monster Pictures called the ban an insult to the intelligence of New Zealanders.
Maniac premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The Hollywood Reporter dubbed it "essentially a sadistic art-house bloodbath."
Elijah Wood is well known throughout New Zealand, the filming location for "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, in which the actor hobbit Frodo Baggins.
The Office of Film and Literature Classification's action means "Maniac" - a remake of the 1980 slasher film about a killer who scalps his victims - cannot be screened anywhere other than film festivals or as part of academic study. DVDs will not be allowed for sale.
The government censor that "Maniac," which is shot entirely from the killer's point of view, contains graphic violence and "content that may disturb," and that wide release "is likely to be injurious to the public good."
"The murders are depicted in first-person perspective, inviting a viewer's vicarious participation," the agency wrote.
The ban was condemned yesterday by the film's regional distributor and organizers of the New Zealand International Film Festival, which will be screening the movie on Saturday.
Distributor Monster Pictures called the ban an insult to the intelligence of New Zealanders.
Maniac premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The Hollywood Reporter dubbed it "essentially a sadistic art-house bloodbath."
Elijah Wood is well known throughout New Zealand, the filming location for "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, in which the actor hobbit Frodo Baggins.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
