‘The House That Jack Built’ uncensored screening violates MPAA rules

Matt Dillon in “The House That Jack
Built”
IFC Films

• IFC Films is facing sanctions for violating the MPAA’s
  ratings rules after screening the uncensored version of Lars von
  Trier’s controversial serial-killer movie, “The House That Jack
  Built,” on Wednesday without a waiver.
• “The effectiveness of the MPAA ratings depends on our
  ability to maintain the trust and confidence of American
  parents,” the MPAA said in a statement to The Hollywood
  Reporter.
• According to THR, the sanctions could include revoking the
  movie’s R rating. That version comes to theaters December 14.
• The uncensored cut prompted 100 walkouts at the Cannes Film
  Festival earlier this year for its depictions of violence against
  women and children.

IFC Films treated audiences in select theaters across the country
to a one-night-only screening of the uncensored director’s cut of
Lars von Trier’s controversial serial killer movie, “The House
That Jack Built,” on Wednesday.

But now IFC, the movie’s distributor, is facing sanctions for
violating the ratings rules of the Motion Picture Association of
America (MPAA).

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the
MPAA said that IFC violated the ratings system’s rules by
screening the unrated version of the movie without a waiver in
such close proximity to the release of the R-rated cut, which
comes to theaters December 14.

READ MORE: The uncensored cut of Lars von
Trier’s serial-killer movie that prompted 100 walkouts at Cannes
will play in theaters for one night only

“The effectiveness of the MPAA ratings depends on our
ability to maintain the trust and confidence of American
parents,” the MPAA said. “That’s why the rules clearly outline
the proper use of the ratings. Failure to comply with the rules
can create confusion among parents and undermine the rating
system — and may result in the imposition of sanctions against
the film’s submitter.”

According to THR, sanctions could include revoking “The
House That Jack Built’s” R rating, or suspending the ratings
process for other IFC films currently waiting on the
Classification and Ratings Administration (CARA), which conducts
ratings for the MPAA and National Association of Theater Owners.
Sanctions will be determined after a CARA hearing.

IFC acquired “The House That Jack Built” after it premiered
at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where the
uncensored cut prompted over 100 people to walk
out because of its grisly depictions of violence against
women and children, particularly a scene where two kids’ heads
are blown off by a rifle.

Critics called it “one of the most unpleasant movie-going
experiences of my life,” “vile,” and “repulsive.” However, those
who sat through the whole screening at Cannes gave the film a
standing ovation, and there was some positive social-media
reaction after Wednesday’s screening.