Top 10 Horror Movies That Offended the Most People

#10: “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

Forget Texas - Leatherface’s name barely made it to theaters at all. At the time, his chainsaw-wielding hijinks pushed the envelope where violence on the big screen was concerned, and censors pushed back. Hard. Distributors wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole, let alone send it overseas. Then, when people did finally get their eyes on it, most were horrified by what they saw, calling it gratuitous, disgusting, and unfit for general audiences. While later reviews would turn “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” into the horror darling it is today, it spent the first few years of its existence as a total pariah of filmmaking.

#9: “Martyrs” (2008)

A damnation of religious zealousness mixed with some gross-out body horror, it’s no surprise “Martyrs” has a sour legacy in the viewer-reception category. The French film is best experienced without any prior knowledge. But, fair warning, you should proceed with caution. And, maybe a barf bag. The heaping amount of bloodshed against women left many first-time viewers aghast, with some allegedly walking out of the film’s premiere. Given the religious connotations, too, “Martyrs” stirred up a lot of fuss over whether it was appropriate for a theatrical release. In a way, we guess you could say it was its own martyr of the horror genre.

#8: “I Spit on Your Grave” (1978)

Perhaps the most infamous revenge tale ever cemented to film, “I Spit on Your Grave” is gruesome to the point of excess. Even though that’s the point, the cinematic merit didn’t fly with some moviegoers, who felt the violence was needlessly over-the-top. Both the infamous half-hour attack on Jennifer… and the hour of bloody vengeance that follows. The movie almost got an X rating on its original release. But, that’s still better than overseas countries like Germany, Norway, Ireland, and the UK, where the flick has never seen an official theatrical release at all. Guess that’s one way to get ahead of a controversy.

#7: “Freaks” (1932)

Ironically, the very people “Freaks” tried to highlight are part of the reason full scenes are now lost media. The film, following a traveling circus of misfits, was made at a time when physical differences weren’t treated with the same understanding they are today. As a result, many found the movie’s content repulsive or exploitative. Especially since “Freaks” tried to actually humanize its namesake characters. The film’s thriller elements proved so divisive, in fact, that large swaths of the finished edit were trimmed from the theatrical release in order to make it more palatable. The lost footage has yet to be recovered, leaving “Freaks” as an unfinished gem.

#6: “Antichrist” (2009)

With that kind of name, it’s no surprise this horror flick dives heavily into religious undertones. What most people didn’t expect was a fast-and-loose sexual fantasy masquerading as a horror film. There are scenes in “Antichrist” that defy description, whether it be because it’s so scary, or so freaky. Either way, the film faced many cries for censorship from just about every country it managed to see the light of day in. Faithful, non-believers, horror junkies, whatever. Everyone had some issue with “Antichrist.” If you ever see it for yourself, you’ll understand why. It’ll be the most off putting two hours of your life.

#5: “The Last House on the Left” (1972)

While “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and “I Spit on Your Grave” continued the trend of sensationalized violence in horror films, it’s this Wes Craven flick that arguably started it. The story is infamous by now: a girl is abducted, subjected to unspeakable crimes, and eventually killed. Later, the perpetrators take shelter with the parents of their latest victim. Cold and bitter revenge ensues. Admirably, “The Last House on the Left” does not shy away from the grisly realities of the situation. But, it also happened to be so graphic, it had literal protestors outside of movie theaters! Although, in hindsight, that may have just made it even more popular.

#4: “A Serbian Film” (2010)

That’s not a typo, it’s really the name of the movie. Don’t worry, main character Miloš[a] is just as confused when he’s cast in a film featuring some highly-questionable scenes. Like, the kind highly questionable that we can’t say without being demonetized. Actions speak louder than words, so we’ll leave it at the fact that you can’t even watch “A Serbian Film” in the Philippines. Or Ireland. Not China, Spain, or Australia, either. Honestly, it might be faster to list the places it isn’t banned. You know you’re dealing with crazy subject matter when whole countries come together to keep your movie away.

#3: “Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom[b]” (1975)

How far is art allowed to go? That’s one of the many questions brought up in this spine-tingling thinkpiece. Evidently, most of the audience said the line is somewhere in “Salo’s” first ten minutes. The issue is that the movie goes on for another hour and a half, filling the screen with some of the most vile themes and imagery ever conceived. No wonder it’s had more controversies than premieres. It can be difficult to appreciate “Salo’s” thematic weight when it's surrounded by such depraved content, a fact that contemporary audiences were unable to get over. It’s caused it all - bans, protests, clutched pearls. The whole shebang.

#2: “The Exorcist” (1973)

Just like the Power of Christ compelled the demon out Regan’s body, it also coerced most moviegoers to grab their pitchforks. “The Exorcist’s” unrelenting depiction of a demonic possession was already a tough sell. But, then the movie had to go and come out around the holidays, right in time to stir up a web of religious backlash. Some showings were cancelled on the grounds of its demonic content alone. Others managed to slip through, but with strict rules prohibiting the entry of minors. One protectionist was even arrested for showing the film, with authorities calling it “obscene.” Given all that, it’s amazing “The Exorcist” still made as much money as it did.

#1: “Cannibal Holocaust” (1980)

It’s not everyday you find a movie so incredibly disturbing, it’s actually illegal. That’s no hyperbole. The finished film was seized by Italian authorities prior to release, and the filmmakers were all charged with obscenity. It’s just that bad. Depicted in part as the remaining footage of a journalistic expedition, “Cannibal Holocaust” features a series of bloody encounters with, you guessed it, cannibals. It’s gross, it’s lewd, and it’s notoriously difficult to track down on account of how many times it’s been banned by governments. If you manage to get past the boycotts and find a copy, consider yourself one of the lucky - or unlucky - few.

Did any of these horror films deserve the backlash? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

[a]MEE-losh
[b]SAH-loh, or the ONE-HUN-drid-and-TWEN-tee DAYS of SOD-uhm