BBFC reference AVV261504
	GROTESQUE Video Feature Rejected 18 August,2009. Run Time Not relevant

Consumer Advice: No consumer advice is available for this work

Extended Classification Information (*SPOILER ALERT* Information may include plot details)

This work was rejected. Subtitled,Widescreen,GROTESQUE is a Japanese-language horror work and focuses, for the majority of its running time, on the sexual assault, humiliation and extreme torture of a man and a woman. The couple are abducted, bound, stripped and sexually violated. They are later subjected to amputation, eye gouging, castration and evisceration resulting in a gory and violent death. The film ends with the killer choosing his next victims. The chief pleasure on offer in viewing GROTESQUE appears to be the spectacle of sadism (including sexual sadism) for its own sake. The work has minimal narrative or character development and presents the viewer with little more than an unrelenting and escalating scenario of humiliation, brutality and sadism. In making a decision as to whether a video work is suitable for classification, the BBFC applies the criteria set out in its Classification Guidelines. These Guidelines are the result of a regular public consultation process and reflect the balance of media effects research, the requirements of UK law and the attitudes of the UK public. The Guidelines set out clearly the BBFC's serious concerns about the portrayal of sexual violence, especially when such depictions might eroticise or endorse sexual assault. The BBFC are also obliged under the Video Recordings Act 1984 (VRA) to have special regard to the likelihood of any harm that may be caused to the viewer or, through their behaviour, to society. This risk of harm includes encouraging a dehumanised view of others, callousness towards victims and taking pleasure in the pain or humiliation of others. After careful consideration, it was judged that to issue a certificate to GROTESQUE, even if statutorily confined to adults, would involve risk of harm within the terms of the VRA, would be inconsistent with our Guidelines and would be unacceptable to the public. The BBFC considered whether cutting the work might address the issues but concluded that as the unacceptable material featured throughout, cutting was not a viable option and the work was therefore refused a classification.

The BBFC has placed this work in the HORROR genre(s).

The main spoken language in this work is Japanese. Directed by Koji Shiraishi The cast for this work includes: Hiroaki Kawatsure, Tsugumi Nagasawa, Shigeo Osako.

When submitted to the BBFC the work had a running time of 74m 17s.

This work was submitted to the BBFC by 4Digital Media Ltd .

This work is made up of a number of separate components. Note that since February 2001 the BBFC has measured each component separately, but older works may not have the exact details, only a list of titles. 01:13:02:05 GROTESQUE - UNRATED VERSION (FEATURE) 00:01:14:10 GROTESQUE - UNRATED VERSION (TRAILER)

A film or video, together with associated trailers may exist in several versions and all versions known to the BBFC are listed below. Category Type Date Company Run Time Cut Title Video 18/08/2009 4Digital Media Ltd GROTESQUE

Details are likely to be more complete and accurate for the version submitted most recently. When a film is transferred to video the running time will be shorter by approximately 4% due to the differing number of frames per second. This does not mean that the video version has been cut or re-edited.

This entry was last updated 27/04/2011