When the genre of horror is mentioned, some films unsettle, while others cross a territory so disturbing that they are banned across more than 40 countries. In 2010, A Serbian Film entered that category and became one of the most notorious horror releases of modern times.
What Is A Serbian Film About?
The film, marketed as a horror thriller, follows Milos, a retired adult performer lured into what he thinks is one last payday, only to discover that he has been trapped inside a snuff production. The film then plunges into scenes of s*xual violence, murder, and exploitation so extreme that audiences and authorities reacted almost immediately.
🎬 A Serbian Film
The Most Psychologically Disturbing Movie Ever 🥵
⚠️Paedophilia and necrophilia themed film. pic.twitter.com/Nz0Jya6zuG
— ＹΛＺΞＲ🇮🇳 (@mohamedyazerm) January 8, 2024
Why A Serbian Film Was Pulled From Festivals
In South Australia, the film was scheduled to screen at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival but was pulled a day before the event. Officials described it as grotesque, citing depictions of violence, abusive interactions involving children, and behavior so disturbing that they refused to allow classification. Still, festival director Richard Wolstencroft went ahead with a cut that had been approved nationally, saying he opposed banning any movie if no one had been harmed during production.
Which Countries Banned A Serbian Film Completely?
The outrage spread far beyond Australia. Countries including Spain, Malaysia, and Brazil banned it outright. Even in the United States and the United Kingdom, it could not be released without edits. America trimmed about a minute, while Britain cut nearly four minutes across multiple scenes.
Spanish Film Festival Director’s Arrest Over A Serbian Film Screening
Spain’s controversy escalated further when film festival director Ángel Sala was arrested in 2011 after screening it. He faced charges of exhibiting child p*rnography and a possible year in prison before the case was dropped, per Unilad.
Director Srđan Spasojević defended his creation as more than a shock for its own sake. He described it as a raw metaphor for Serbia’s past and a reflection on what he saw as a corrupt world hidden beneath layers of politeness and political correctness.
Viewers continue to react strongly even today. On IMDb, a top comment comes from someone who admitted to watching after hearing it was designed to disturb. The viewer described being left in tears and feeling sick, urging others never to go through the same experience. That kind of reaction has followed the movie for years, shaping its reputation as the horror film that many refuse to watch to the end.
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