Night of the Bloody Apes…The first uncut release of video nasty set for a future release from Nucleus Films

Read more Video Nasties News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Thanks to Will See article from bbfc.co.uk See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Night of the Bloody Apes

Night of the Bloody Apes is a 1969 Mexican horror by Rene Cordona Jr. With José Elías Moreno, Carlos López Moctezuma and Armando Silvestre. See IMDb It has just been passed 18 uncut for strong gore, violence, nudity and sexual violence, with previous BBFC cuts waived and distributor cuts restored for: UK 2012 Nucleus DVD Previously Precut A heavily pre-cut version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for: 2002 Film 2000 DVD 1999 Sovereign/Satanica VHS In 1999 the video was released on the Satanica label, in a version that was obviously taken from Vipco’s planned cut version (Vipco’s logo remains). This time the distributor removed every single violent scene before submitting it to the censors. Strangely the scene where the doctor assistant is killed contains several shots of a completely different character being killed, whose demise doesn’t happen until a few scenes later in the film. See pictorial cuts details from movie-censorship.com: Cuts to Julio’s surgical transplant operation to receive an ape’s heart Extensive cuts to Julio’s attack, rape and murder of a woman in a hospital room Cuts to Julio’s murder of man by slashing at his throat and then fleeing. Cuts to Julio’s assault on a woman in the park who gets stabbed in teh stomach. Cuts to a man getting his eyes gouged out. Cuts to a second heart surgery operation. Cuts to Julio ripping a man’s head off. Cuts to Julio scalping a man. Cut’s to Julio crushing a male nurse’s face Video Nasty It was released nearly uncut in January 1983 by Iver Film Services. By November 1983 it had been listed as a video nasty and suffered a successful prosecution. It remained on the list throughout the panic and so became one of the collectable DPP 39s. Summary Review: Pretty Grim A mad scientist attempts to cure his son’s leukemia by doing the first ape-to-human heart transplant. He decides to put a gorilla’s heart into the lad and orders his flunky to prepare the gorilla!. There is actual footage of a graphic open heart surgery inserted in the ape operation scenes. This of course causes the boy to turn into a big stinky man-ape… The film is a very cheap Mexican ‘horror’ and it is pretty grim.  And really most of the film is so comic book and likeable, dammit, that you can forgive the rather shoddy idea of using said transplant footage as a main point of sale. People say that really bad films are funny to watch because they are so bad. I have only found this to be the case with one film before now, Death Wish 3, but now Night Of The Bloody Apes has become one of my pet films. A desert island treasure.

Alton Towers Attraction Rated 12A by the BBFC…Confusing as to whether it is open to under 12′s when accompanied by their parents

Read more BBFC News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See press release from bbfc.co.uk

Following unprecedented feedback from a testing panel during its beta phase, Alton Towers Resort has been compelled to seek advice from esteemed film classification body the BBFC, to help assess its new psychologically terrifying underground attraction, Nemesis Sub-Terra, which opens to the general public on 24th March 2012. For the first time in history for a theme park attraction, the BBFC agreed to assess Nemesis Sub-Terra, so that Alton Towers Resort could protect its younger visitors from the intense and disturbing effects of the new attraction and consider appropriate restrictions. Now in its 100th year of operation, until now the BBFC has only rated content in the form of film releases, DVDs/Blu-Ray, digital downloads and video games. The BBFC considered carefully the feedback and unique nature of the attraction (which is neither a ride, performance nor a maze) and agreed to lend their advice. Murray Perkins, Senior Examiner at the BBFC commented: The BBFC is seeing a real blur of the old boundaries of visual content and physical experience in both 3D and 4D cinema, and at theme parks. Applying our experience of the public’s acceptability of moments of threat on screen, to more physical experiences, is something we have begun to do as cinema and other theatrical experiences evolve. After experiencing the attraction first-hand, based on 100 years of experience and line with British public opinion, we would recommend that Alton Towers Resort classify the new Nemesis Sub-Terra a ’12A’. The BBFC’s Guidelines at ’12A’/’12 allow moderate physical and psychological threat, provided that the disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained. Nemesis Sub-Terra contains some intense moments, in some respects comparable with scary scenes which may be experienced in horror or science fiction films at ’12A’/’12. But while some people will no doubt find this a frightening experience, the personnel monitoring the site are soon on hand to guide the public to safety. Katherine Duckworth from Alton Towers Resort commented: The classification advice from the BBFC is important for the Resort to ensure the wellbeing of our guests. We are aware the enforcements that will now be implemented will mean that many of our younger visitors are unable to experience Nemesis Sub-Terra, which we are obviously concerned about. However, the Alton Towers Resort prides itself on offering a variety of rides for all ages and we hope that those under the age of 12 will continue to enjoy our other attractions.

Some Serious Censure…Ofcom whinges at the occasional instances of strong language that accidentally slip out before the watershed

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk See article from dailymail.co.uk

Ofcom have a regular whinge at strong language that slips out before the watershed. Broadcasters usually explain the accidental slip up. The latest examples are; Road Wars Pick TV, 11 January 2012, 18:00 Road Wars is a fly-on-the-wall documentary featuring the work of traffic police squads in the UK and USA. The licence for Pick TV is held by British Sky Broadcasting Ltd (Sky or the Licensee). Ofcom was alerted to offensive language in this broadcast by two complainants. During this episode, a man was arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs and taken to a police station. On the way to the station, the man became violent and during an altercation that followed he used offensive language. The words fuck or fucking were broadcast five times. Ofcom considered Rule 1.14 of the Code, which states: The most offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed…. Sky apologised for any offence caused to viewers by the broadcast of offensive language in this programme. The Licensee said that upon discovering the incident it launched an immediate investigation and concluded that the broadcast of this post- watershed version of Road Wars resulted from human error. Hanging Up Sony Entertainment Television, 29 January 2012, 20:00 Hanging Up is a comedy drama in which three dysfunctional sisters clash over who should take on the burden of looking after their ailing father. The film has been given a 15 certificate rating by the BBFC. A complainant alerted Ofcom to the use of the word fucking in this broadcast of the film. Approximately 40 minutes into the film there is the following interchange between sisters Maddy and Eve: Maddy: I’ve told you a million times, stop talking to me as if I’m like you! Eve: Oh, fuck you! [turns to another character] And fuck you! Sony said that the unedited version of this film carried a restriction that should have automatically prevented it from being scheduled before 9pm, but that a software upgrade on 5 November had disabled a block automatically preventing this post-watershed content from being scheduled before the watershed. Ofcom concluded in both cases that the words ‘fuck’ and ‘fucking’ broadcast before the watershed were a clear breach of Rule 1.14. Ofcom Warning to Broadcasters Ofcom further decided to publish a general warning to broadcasters against ‘fucking’ accidents Ofcom has recently noted a number of cases where material which was originally produced for a post-watershed timeslot has been transmitted unedited or inappropriately edited for transmission pre-watershed or when children are particularly likely to be listening. This material often contains unsuitable language or violence. In such cases broadcasters frequently explain that such failures have occurred as a result of transmission and/or human errors. All broadcasters are reminded that they are under a clear duty to ensure that robust procedures are in place, supported by a sufficient number of appropriately qualified and trained staff, to ensure full compliance with the Code. All broadcasters must check their compliance procedures regularly to confirm they are effective enough to fulfil this requirement. Failure to have adequate procedures in place to ensure compliance with Ofcom’s codes is a serious matter. Ofcom recently made clear that it expects broadcasters to exercise particular care in relation to the protection of children and the compliance of material broadcast before the watershed on television, and on radio when children are particularly likely to be listening. Broadcasters are put on notice that any serious or repeated failings in this area are likely to result in Ofcom taking further regulatory action, for example, the consideration of the imposition of statutory sanctions The Daily Mail prodded Vivienne Pattison of Mediawatch-uk for a sound bite: I’m really glad that Ofcom is taking it seriously because it is something we have brought up with them. What I would really like to see is for them to show teeth and rather than a rap on the knuckles I would like to see some serious censure. We need real and meaningful sanctions. I think what people want is a regulator with teeth that can show some leadership and be taken seriously.’