OVERALL: Draw

For the "Theatrical Cut", the R0 30th AE from Blue Underground is the way to go. Do note, the French release has an exclusive interview.

For the "Director's Cut", R0 from Elite Entertainment is the only one with original English audio, whilst the German CMV and Laser Paradise releases offer only German dubbed audio. Do note "Director's Cut" is available only with a non-anamorphic transfer.

This film was banned for years, decades even in some countries and has encountered numerous different censorship cuts in different regions.
Some of the known versions available on DVD:
- Theatrical Cut AKA Original Uncut/Unrated version
- R-Rated version (abridged version with most extreme violent scenes toned down)
- Director's Cut (director's preferred version, cut by ~3 mins)
- German Theatrical Cut (cut by ~6 mins)
- UK Theatrical Cut (cut by ~58 secs)

Also available:
- the UK: a vanilla release from Anchor Bay UK under their 'Horror Classics' label - should be avoided!
- Germany: from Ascot Elite, containing only the heavily cut German theatrical version - should be avoided!
- a 2019 US DVD containing a 4K restoration.

CUTS:

• R0 America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Theatrical Cut (87:51 NTSC).
• R0 America- Blue Underground - No cuts. Theatrical Cut (87:54 NTSC).
• R0 America- Elite Entertainment - No cuts. Director's Cut (84:51 NTSC):
  - Shorter than the theatrical release, but DOES contain all the graphic violence. At least 2 scenes are missing from the "Director's Cut":
  - A scene depicting Joe Spinell in a hotel room with a prostitute has been shortened.
  - Another scene showing Joe and the photographer in a restaurant has been completely removed.
• R0 30th Anniversary Edition America- Blue Underground - No cuts. Theatrical Cut (87:54 NTSC).
• R0 Australia- DVD Australia - No cuts. Theatrical Cut.
• R0 Australia- Umbrella Entertainment - No cuts. Theatrical Cut (87:51 NTSC>PAL).
• R2 France- Opening / G.C.T.H.V. - No cuts. Theatrical Cut.
• R2 Germany- CMV Laservision - Yes. Contains the "German Theatrical Cut" and the "Director's Cut".
  - German Theatrical is CUT by 6 mins and 7 secs.
• R2 Blood Edition Germany- Laser Paradise - No cuts. Director's Cut.
• R2 Limited Edition Tin Box Germany- Astro Film / Marketing - No cuts. Theatrical Cut (87:51 NTSC > PAL).
• R2 Scandinavia- Another World Entertainment - No cuts. Director's Cut (84:05 PAL).
• R2 United Kingdom- Anchor Bay Entertainment - Yes. "UK Theatrical Cut" (83:12 PAL).
  - Cut by BBFC for 58 secs: "Cuts required to reduce length of sexualised strangulation sequence by half and to remove shots of a knife played over and stabbing into female flesh with sexual connotations. Cuts made in accordance with the Video Recordings Act 1984 and BBFC Guidelines and policy on sexualised violence."

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Adrian_Busby on 20/06/02
Comparison last updated by Anthony_DiPaola on 13/03/21

UPDATE LOG:

14/07/11: Addition of the R0 Australia release from Umbrella Entertainment and comparison clean-up.
Addition of the R0 Blue Underground AE release.
11/02/14: Added DVDBeaver link, corrected specs for the German Astro Film LE and changed overall accordingly.
27/08/15: Added Scandinavia edition.
13/03/21: Added runtime to Elite Entertainment extras, addition of the Caps-A-Holic link, and clean-up.