'Gratuitous' Human Centipede 2 won't screen here

A scene from Human Centipede 2. Photo / Supplied

Australasian distributors for the sequel to infamous horror film Human Centipede have decided not to bother trying to get the film into New Zealand cinemas.

Human Centipede 2 follows a man who became so obsessed with 2009's original that he tries to reenact the plot by sewing 12 humans together to form a centipede.

Described as "gratuitous" and "exploitative" by Australia's Classification Review Board, Human Centipede 2 was yesterday banned from Australian cinemas, despite screening for the two previous weeks uncut with an R18+ rating.

The film's Australasian distributor Neil Foley today said he wouldn't bother submitting it to New Zealand censors to review.

"We've had a couple of films we've had problems with in New Zealnd so we're not going to try," Foley said.

"The feedback we had from New Zealand distributors is that it probably wasn't worth it."

Foley admitted it was a "confronting" film to watch, but insisted Australian censors had misread its contents.

"People really love the film, but it's a very memorable cinematic experience. It's rare for people to walk out and remember something. It's a very artful, sophisticated film in a lot of ways.

"It's got a lot of subtext, it's very carefully put together.

He said horror fans would just download the film instead.

Local film festival organiser Ant Timpson called the decision not to submit the film to local censors "somewhat sad" and questioned the relevency of film classification in the age of the internet.

"It's sad that distributors aren't even bothering to submit into the classification process anymore. They're skittish in submitting provocative material because they foresee the outcome.

"Human Centipede was one of the most downloaded films the year it came out. We played it at the film festival and I was gobsmacked by how many people I talked to had seen it by illegal means."

He believed Australian censors were historically slightly tougher than New Zealand's.

- Herald online