What are the 10 most controversial independent movies of all time? From satire, horror, sci-fi, documentary, comedy and drama, films that continue to enthrall audiences the world over.
Independent films have the freedom to choose their content. They are also not too focused on commercial elements, giving them flexibility in the creativity and originality of the content. Films that are shown at an independent movie theater have the power to tell their unique stories. However, there have been a few independent films that are notoriously controversial. Here are the top ten most controversial independent movies ever made.
Birth of a Nation (1915)
Birth of a Nation is often regarded as the most controversial film ever made in the U.S. The film portrays African-Americans as extremely unintelligent and sexually aggressive toward white women. Most of the African-American actors in the film were played by white actors in blackface. The movie also portrays the Klu Klux Klan as heroic figures.
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom, is an independent film about a group of fascists who inflict physical, mental, and sexual torture on adolescent boys and girls. The movie was labeled as excessively gruesome and banned in several countries, including Australia and Britain. To add to the controversy, the producer of the movie, Pier Paolo Pasolini, was mysteriously murdered only a few weeks before the world premiere of the movie appearing in theaters.
Freaks (1932)
Freaks is a movie about marginalized characters in society and includes cast members with various physical disabilities. The movie is still considered highly controversial as a result of its disturbing theme and gruesome scenes.
Poison (1991)
Poison is an American science fiction horror drama with three interconnected stories. The subject matter of the movie, including its taboo themes, made the movie controversial. Conservative groups criticized the movie, including its display of non-traditional relationships.
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
While Borat was released by 20th Century Fox, the movie is also an independent film. Sacha Baron Cohen was the producer and lead actor in the movie. There were many reasons why Borat was considered controversial, including its offensive humor, cultural and ethnic stereotyping, excessive nudity, and explicit content.
Deep Throat (1972)
While Deep Throat is often considered an influential movie that brought the adult film genre to mainstream attention, it also got heavily criticized for its explicit content and is subject to severe legal cases based on obscenity laws. Deep Throat was banned in multiple states.
The Brown Bunny (2003)
The Brown Bunny is an experimental road drama that tells the story of a motorbike racer on a cross-country drive. The racer is haunted by memories of his former lover. The movie was controversial due to one sexually explicit scene. The scene was unsimulated, so the actors actually performed the sexual act.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Cannibal Holocaust is a horror movie with extremely violent and brutal imagery. While some audiences applauded the independent film’s ability to challenge social norms and push boundaries, others found the graphic content to be extremely disturbing.
Un Chien Andalou (1929)
Un Chien Andalou is known for its experimental nature and disjointed imagery. It is also known for being the most controversial independent film in history. Un Chien Andalou’s unconventional imagery and absence of a clear narrative caused a lot of confusion. Some considered the imagery extremely disturbing and included some physically gruesome and violent scenes. The movie was not released through mainstream channels but only in small theaters and avant-garde art circles.
Faces of Death (1978)
Faces of Death is a documentary-style horror film that shows graphic scenes of death and violence. The shock value was too disturbing for some viewers. The movie supposedly showed scenes that were authentic and real depictions of violence and death.
