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Today a new film hits French screens and it’s causing a bit of a stir.

Scarer 3the third film in the horror-slasher-platter series, has received a rare ban in France – the first of its kind since 2006.

What makes this even more impressive is that films released in France don’t have to go through as much red tape as they would in Britain, for example. The BBFC (the British Board of Film Classification) lists some of the most precise – some might say illiberal – classification systems in Europe when it comes to movie ratings, with six ratings.

By comparison, France usually goes for two (12 and 16 ratings), knowing that it has to get quite intense for a 16 rating. One of the last to receive this rating was Julia Ducournau’s stunningly brilliant Palme d’Or winner Titan.

But now the French film classification committee has ruled that Scarer 3 be provided with a ‘ban under 18 years of age’. The last film to receive this restrictive ruling was 2006 Saw III – yet a third installment in a horror franchise.

For those unfamiliar with the Terrificer series, it is the sick brainchild of Damien Leone, focusing on Art the Clown, a demonic serial killer who slices and dices on Halloween (2016’s). More frightening), rises and becomes stabby again on Halloween (2022’s Scarer 2), and now has his hellish eyes set on ruining Christmas (this year). Scarer 3).

The series was one of the biggest independent horror hits of recent years. The second installment grossed over $15 million (€13.6 million) at the worldwide box office, on a budget of just $250,000 (€228,000).

Still, they’re not very good.

Fine, Scarer 2 was actually a step up from the original. It’s a brutal gorefest, a genre film with no subtext that offers some creative kills and little else. If you’re into that sort of thing, it’s a damn good time. If you prefer your horror to be a bit more nuanced, it serves no purpose other than to shock.

That’s as charitable as we can get.

So unless you are 18 years or older, young French Gorehounds will have to seek their fortune elsewhere. And the French film distributors are not happy about it.

Factoris Films, Shadowz Films and ESC Editions released a joint statement (via Bloody Disgusting): “We can only regret this unexpected final decision, which will seriously hinder the release of the film, which tens of thousands of French viewers are eagerly awaiting and scheduled to stands for October 9 (and of course maintained).”

They go on to say that the film’s violence is “grandiose and unrealistic” and argued that “viewers will have all the distance and maturity they need to understand and appreciate this artistic approach.”

“Moreover, for more than two years now we have been working daily and tirelessly to defend free, creative and radical genre cinema, which has been systematically praised by both the press and the public,” the statement continued.

“The audience for these films, even if they are teenagers, consists of cinephiles who are passionate and respect the films and the cinemas that show them… We remind you that four of our recent releases, including Terrifier 2, were banned for minors under the age of 16, and none of them caused even the slightest outburst in the cinemas.”

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Reasonable, even though there were reports of people fainting and vomiting Scarer 2 and customers leaving the UK premiere of Scarer 3 last week – but those so-called reports are often released by distributors to increase interest in their film. The same buzz-craving reports came out before the release of Titan and during the premiere Cannes of this year’s fantastic The fabric (both far superior films in case any clarification was needed), and no one was booted out of those screenings…

Admittedly, exceptional ratings can be the death knell for distributors who fear a negative impact on box office figures. However, they can also increase interest. And let’s be honest: no one can be more surprised than an extreme horror film Scarer 3 is struck with a special classification.

The only thing that is surprising is that it comes from France, a country that gave birth to the transgressive New French Extremity movement with titles like Sheitan, Martyrs And Inside. It takes a lot for the French to become squeamish.

Maybe it’s the sacredness of Christmas that did it…

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Does a Terrifier movie deserve the extra hype this decision creates? And you go and have a look Scarer 3?

Scarer 3 is out now in French cinemas and will be released in the UK and US on Friday.