Censor

Name: Censor
Genre: Horror
Released: June 11, 2021
Duration: 84 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Adrian Schiller, Andrew Havill, Clare Holman, Danny Lee Wynter, Erin Shanagher

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 43 Ratings

See All

5.9

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.9	Your Score
5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 43 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Censor

Now Playing: Censor

Movie Details & Credits

Magnet Releasing | Release Date: June 11, 2021 | Not Rated

Starring: Adrian Schiller, Andrew Havill, Clare Holman, Danny Lee Wynter, Erin Shanagher, Felicity Montagu, Max Bennett, Michael Smiley, Niamh Algar, Nicholas Burns, Nick Brimble, Sophia La Porta, Vincent Franklin

Movie Facts:

Available on Hulu October 14, 2021.
VOD release June 18, 2021.

Summary: Film censor Enid takes pride in her meticulous work, guarding unsuspecting audiences from the deleterious effects of watching the gore-filled decapitations and eye gougings she pores over. Her sense of duty to protect is amplified by guilt over her inability to recall details of the long-ago disappearance of her sister, recently declaredFilm censor Enid takes pride in her meticulous work, guarding unsuspecting audiences from the deleterious effects of watching the gore-filled decapitations and eye gougings she pores over. Her sense of duty to protect is amplified by guilt over her inability to recall details of the long-ago disappearance of her sister, recently declared dead in absentia. When Enid is assigned to review a disturbing film from the archive that echoes her hazy childhood memories, she begins to unravel how this eerie work might be tied to her past. [Sundance]… Expand

Director: Prano Bailey-Bond

Genre(s): Horror

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 84 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

The Observer (UK) Mark Kermode

Aug 22, 2021

This thrilling, dizzying debut from Welsh writer-director Prano Bailey-Bond is a nostalgic treat for anyone old enough to remember the infamous “video nasties” scare of the early 80s. Yet beneath the retro surface lies a more universal tale about the power of horror to confront our deepest fears – a timeless celebration of the liberating nature of the dark side. Read full review

Lorry Kikta

Jan 30, 2021

Welsh director Prano Bailey-Bond’s feature debut, Censor, is one of those horror movies that sticks with you well after the credits roll. That’s because it doesn’t follow the typical horror movie formula. Read full review

The Playlist Charles Barfield

Jan 30, 2021

Censor is an impressive, visually-stunning, deeply disturbing debut from Bailey-Bond and a showcase for Algar, who gives a truly spectacular performance. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Jan 30, 2021

The movie shows the mark of a filmmaker in full command of vintage horror’s most disturbing strengths — and well-equipped to resurrect them. Read full review

Richard Whittaker

Jun 10, 2021

As a simple story of a moralizer being brought down by their own bloody instincts, it works; but asides about the catharsis of gore, and the inner evil of humanity not needing horror movies to be seeded, imply the script wanted something deeper. Read full review

David Fear

Jun 14, 2021

The whole thing takes on a level of fractured fairy-tale storytelling that nods to both the Brothers Grimm and the father-figure Cronenberg. Read full review

Mark Hanson

Feb 2, 2021

Censor unfortunately pulls back from its social interrogation just when it’s working up a head of steam. Read full review

SEE ALL 26 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

danmilward

Nov 20, 2021

I really liked how the story gradually unfolded. That is to say how Enid Bains gradually unfolded. This is the kind of film that leaves you thinking afterwards. I was still unpacking and reconciling it days after I saw it.

I loved the sleazy film director and his demise. I loved his nastyI really liked how the story gradually unfolded. That is to say how Enid Bains gradually unfolded. This is the kind of film that leaves you thinking afterwards. I was still unpacking and reconciling it days after I saw it.

I loved the sleazy film director and his demise. I loved his nasty cast out in the bush. What a gloriously distasteful characters. If I had to pick something not to like it’d be that I was enjoying the first act too much (all those video nasties) and it took me a little while to realise the second act / Enid’s reality was ‘the’ video nasty. Highly recommend this movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

r96sk

Mar 6, 2022

Very, very good!

'Censor' features a great premise and it turns out to be one that is executed excellently. The feel of the film throughout is near perfection, with the tone all right and the 1980s aesthetic seemingly on point. It's paced ideally, with zero moments of drag. Niamh AlgarVery, very good!

'Censor' features a great premise and it turns out to be one that is executed excellently. The feel of the film throughout is near perfection, with the tone all right and the 1980s aesthetic seemingly on point. It's paced ideally, with zero moments of drag.

Niamh Algar puts in a super performance as lead. I recently watched her also impress in television's 'Deceit' - which was broadcast within a week or so of this production's cinema release, there are actually some (minor) similarities between the two; a set of dark roles for Algar, that's for sure! She's the clear standout, though props to the support cast too.

Looking at a few other reviews, it seems to come down to how effective the ending is to you. For me? I think it's a great conclusion.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Rebecca31

Nov 30, 2021

Enid (Niamh Algar) works as a film censor and after viewing one of the latest video nasties she is shocked to find it strangely familiar. She begins to delve deep into her own memories to try and solve the past mystery of her sister’s disappearance. The further she investigates the more theEnid (Niamh Algar) works as a film censor and after viewing one of the latest video nasties she is shocked to find it strangely familiar. She begins to delve deep into her own memories to try and solve the past mystery of her sister’s disappearance. The further she investigates the more the line between fiction and reality become blurred.

A wonderful debut from director Prano Bailey-Bond and a magnificent and thrilling experience you won’t want to miss. Censor forces you to question the role of the film censor during a time of mass hysteria over violence in films and its alleged connection to a rise in crime. “Won’t somebody please think of the children?!” But what happens when it’s your job to view these extremely violent movies on a daily basis and decide what should and shouldn’t been seen by the wider public? What happens to your own mind if it’s continually subjected to endless gore and horror? We follow Enid as the story slowly starts to unravel keeping you in a constant state of dread and unease. As an avid viewer of horror movies it’s refreshing to see something different, unpredictable and genuinely unnerving throughout. This should be a reminder to production companies that throwing huge money at movies just for the sake of it doesn’t always pay off and is not the answer to everything.

I love a good low budget horror movie, and even though it’s only new in 2021, Censor already has a cult movie vibe to it. I assume that’s what Prano Bailey-Bond was going for, because it feels very retro. Highly recommended for all the movie buffs.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Orukayu

Jan 22, 2023

A stationary horror movie made in 2021. It's about the 1980s horror movies during the prime ministership of Margaret Thatcher, nicknamed the Iron Lady. A censorship board has been established, saying it inspires people and influences them badly. When one of the women on the board was in aA stationary horror movie made in 2021. It's about the 1980s horror movies during the prime ministership of Margaret Thatcher, nicknamed the Iron Lady. A censorship board has been established, saying it inspires people and influences them badly. When one of the women on the board was in a forest with her sister in her childhood, the girl mysteriously disappeared. As the woman watches the movies, she remembers her sister and looks for some clues.

It's a very static movie. That's why it gets boring. There's not much of an element of fear. But there are brutal scenes in the movies they watch. It's actually nice that they censor brutality even in cartoons. There are no scenes of brutality, much nudity and sexuality. I think the IMDB rating is high.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bhappenstance

Jun 22, 2021

Ultimately, I wish I enjoyed this movie more than I did, as there's a lot of decent work being done, especially stylistically. Unfortunately, the story and central dilemma aren't fleshed out nearly enough for the payoff to work. We know that the protagonist's sister disappeared underUltimately, I wish I enjoyed this movie more than I did, as there's a lot of decent work being done, especially stylistically. Unfortunately, the story and central dilemma aren't fleshed out nearly enough for the payoff to work. We know that the protagonist's sister disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and that she still blames herself, but the conditions of said disappearance are so opaque that it's difficult to connect emotionally with the lead character's struggle. As such, the climax -- with its debts to Cronenberg and Lynch -- doesn't land. The reality of the world is so thin and ill-defined, that veering into surreality -- much less the inferred parallels between the sister's disappearance, and similar events taking place in certain films the censor is charged with watching -- is simply confusing, rather than mysterious or intriguing or multilayered. Aesthetically the film strikes a lot of the right notes, especially as homage to the video nasties the protagonist is in charge of censoring. In the end, a lot of good ideas and directorial talent spinning their wheels on a nebulous, unanchored, and unsatisfying story.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

JLuis_001

Jun 26, 2021

Censor is somewhat ironic.
Its plot talks about graphic violence and exposes it at times since its protagonist works as a video censor. Mostly of cheap horror movies.
But Censor doesn't really use that resource for its real plot. That violence is only an accessory, because the real plotCensor is somewhat ironic.
Its plot talks about graphic violence and exposes it at times since its protagonist works as a video censor. Mostly of cheap horror movies.

But Censor doesn't really use that resource for its real plot.
That violence is only an accessory, because the real plot focuses on the trauma and depression of the lead character due to the loss of her younger sister when they were just little girls.

So far everything looks normal. The problems begin when she thinks she sees her sister in one of these horror movies, and then becomes obsessed with finding the information from the creators that would lead her to her ''sister''.
However, what happens next seems too hasty, because at that point, the protagonist looks completely sane.
She does her work, she talks to her co-workers normally, and everything goes smoothly.

It's evident that she lives a very lonely life, and that she has severe depression, but after believing that she saw her sister in one of those movies, the character gets completely lost, and her mental state begins to deteriorate brutally fast.

The problem here is not that this is not credible, but that the narrative never builds that breakdown convincingly, because when the climax has arrived, you understand that she has already gone completely crazy, but the film never gives you plausible reasons to understand why the hell that happened.
So her final act seemed completely empty to me, and the whole experience was remarkably hollow.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Shawnpoo

Dec 31, 2022

This movie take 50 minutes until something interesting starts happening but then you realize it’s not even that interesting you’ve just been bored for so long anything would seem interesting.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS