Natural Born Killers (Oliver Stone, 1994)

“We were asked to see the film.  We saw it and we really do not have to give a reason why we reached our decision.“

…and so, in February 1995, it was decided by the Forest Constables (parish officials) that Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers (1994) would not be shown in Guernsey, making it the only place in the British Isles to overrule the British Board of Film Classification’s (BBFC) decision to award the film an 18 certificate.

So what was the outcome?  Well, there were a couple of follow up stories repeating the information, a letter or two to the editor and an editorial comment reminding us, somewhat refreshingly, that whether or not you would want to see such a film ‘ducks the issue’ of whether adults should be free to choose what they watch.   Of course we all saw Natural Born Killers in 1997 when it was screened on Channel 5 (see Oliver Stone’s intro here) and so the ban was effectively ended and the world didn’t end.  Guernsey’s quiet streets didn’t erupt into chaos and no young lovers embarked on a killing spree.  Ironically, given Stone’s targets, the big dive in standards has come from an evermore sensationalist media.

But what was it that so panicked the constables?  It’s easy to imagine them as fusty and dusty individuals who last went to the cinema to be shocked by Brief Encounter (1945) but that’s an unfair caricature and, as the cry of censorship comes from all manner of people and places, far too simplistic.  Natural Born Killers, to it’s credit, still feels like a dangerous film because it was made by a man who was at his fearless best and it is this quality that makes it so unsettling.  It is a film that batters it’s audience and prods away in a kaleidoscope of colour, noise and ideas.  In 1995, I don’t think anyone had seen anything like it and that included those who would presume to know what is best for us.

Natural Born Killers in available on DVD.

Guernsey Press 20/02/95 - the '1914 law' referred to in this article is the 'Salles Publique law' under which a performance or exhibition in a public venue can be prohibited by the parish constables if found to be "chose reprehensible" or "contre les bonnes moeurs".

 

Guernsey Press 21/02/95

 

Guernsey Press 23/02/95

 

Guernsey Press 24/02/95

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