Posted on: March 4th, 2008
Murder Set Pieces banned in UK:
Source: TLA Releasing
(DVD cover art for MURDER SET PIECES)
Online since: February 20th, 2006
Article written by: TLA Releasing
DANGER AFTER DARK film is considered “unacceptable” by ratings board.
(February 29, 2008) TLA Releasing’s United Kingdom division has learned that the
uncut version of 2004 Nick Palumbo film, MURDER SET PIECES has been rejected
by the BBFC for classification. The fictional horror film about a fashion
photographer who begins murdering Las Vegas prostitutes was scheduled for DVD
release on March 31, 2008 through the company’s DANGER AFTER DARK label,
which is dedicated to horror, fantasy and action genres. “We are surprised by the
BBFC’s decision to reject the film, which is obviously a work of fiction,” says
Lewis Tice, National Press Liaison from TLA Releasing. “We question how this will
affect independent films in general, which have always been a safe haven for
filmmakers to present stories outside of mainstream entertainment.” The BBFC’s
decision arrived after Prime Minster Gordon Brown and conservative cross-party
groups have recently begun public discussions about the social impact of violent
films and videogames.
Rejection by the BBFC means that MURDER SET PIECES can not be legally supplied
anywhere in the United Kingdom but the uncut version has been released in
Scandinavia, Spain and the Netherlands. The last DVD rejected by the BBFC was
the pornographic film Struggle in Bondage in 2006 for scenes of naked women tied-
up and gagged. A press release outlined the primary concerns: “MURDER SET
PIECES is a feature with a single-minded focus on the activities of a psychopathic
sexual serial killer, who, throughout the film, is seen raping, torturing and
murdering his victims. Young children are among those terrorized and killed, and
their inclusion in this abusive context is an added concern. In relation to the adult
victims, there is a clear focus on sex or sexual behavior accompanied by non-
consensual pain, injury and humiliation.”
David Cooke, BBFC director was also quoted in saying that “given the
unacceptable content featured throughout, and that what remains is essentially
preparatory and set-up material for the unacceptable scenes, cutting the work is
not a viable option in this case and the work is therefore refused a classification.”
Philadelphia-based TLA Releasing has 42 days to appeal the decision. But the
BBFC states that overturning the decision is unlikely, suggesting that the film
“also raises potential legal questions, for instance in relation to the Protection of
Children Act 1978, as well as possible breaches of other legislation such as that
on obscenity.” TLA is currently in discussions about the pending release of
MURDER SET PIECES in the United Kingdom and an update will be announced soon.
TLA Releasing’s United Kingdom division has been releasing independent films since
2005. The company’s DANGER AFTER DARK label, dedicated to films specializing in
horror, sci-fi and thriller genres, has developed strong support in both North
America and the United Kingdom.
(February 29, 2008) TLA Releasing’s United Kingdom division has learned that the
uncut version of 2004 Nick Palumbo film, MURDER SET PIECES has been rejected
by the BBFC for classification. The fictional horror film about a fashion
photographer who begins murdering Las Vegas prostitutes was scheduled for DVD
release on March 31, 2008 through the company’s DANGER AFTER DARK label,
which is dedicated to horror, fantasy and action genres. “We are surprised by the
BBFC’s decision to reject the film, which is obviously a work of fiction,” says
Lewis Tice, National Press Liaison from TLA Releasing. “We question how this will
affect independent films in general, which have always been a safe haven for
filmmakers to present stories outside of mainstream entertainment.” The BBFC’s
decision arrived after Prime Minster Gordon Brown and conservative cross-party
groups have recently begun public discussions about the social impact of violent
films and videogames.
Rejection by the BBFC means that MURDER SET PIECES can not be legally supplied
anywhere in the United Kingdom but the uncut version has been released in
Scandinavia, Spain and the Netherlands. The last DVD rejected by the BBFC was
the pornographic film Struggle in Bondage in 2006 for scenes of naked women tied-
up and gagged. A press release outlined the primary concerns: “MURDER SET
PIECES is a feature with a single-minded focus on the activities of a psychopathic
sexual serial killer, who, throughout the film, is seen raping, torturing and
murdering his victims. Young children are among those terrorized and killed, and
their inclusion in this abusive context is an added concern. In relation to the adult
victims, there is a clear focus on sex or sexual behavior accompanied by non-
consensual pain, injury and humiliation.”
David Cooke, BBFC director was also quoted in saying that “given the
unacceptable content featured throughout, and that what remains is essentially
preparatory and set-up material for the unacceptable scenes, cutting the work is
not a viable option in this case and the work is therefore refused a classification.”
Philadelphia-based TLA Releasing has 42 days to appeal the decision. But the
BBFC states that overturning the decision is unlikely, suggesting that the film
“also raises potential legal questions, for instance in relation to the Protection of
Children Act 1978, as well as possible breaches of other legislation such as that
on obscenity.” TLA is currently in discussions about the pending release of
MURDER SET PIECES in the United Kingdom and an update will be announced soon.
TLA Releasing’s United Kingdom division has been releasing independent films since
2005. The company’s DANGER AFTER DARK label, dedicated to films specializing in
horror, sci-fi and thriller genres, has developed strong support in both North
America and the United Kingdom.
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