Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall Nearly Received an NC-17 Rating

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By the early 1990s, Arnold Schwarzenegger had become the most recognizable action movie star of his time, and many consider him one of the greatest actors ever to appear on film. He’d already starred in hugely influential 1980s action films like The Terminator, Commando, and Predator, which really defined the look and feel of the genre. Starting the ’90s, the Austrian-born former bodybuilder and Mr. Universe delivered another thrilling sci-fi hit that captivated audiences.

The movie Total Recall is based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick. It centers on Douglas Quaid, played by Schwarzenegger, a construction worker in 2084 who dreams of visiting Mars. He goes to a company called Rekall to have fake memories of a Martian vacation implanted, but he soon discovers his entire life is a fabricated memory. The film is a fast-paced and exciting story, and a significant change of pace for Schwarzenegger’s usual roles. However, the details surrounding its release and how it made it to the big screen remain somewhat mysterious.

Total Recall Originally Had an X-Rating and Needed to Be Recut

The intense violence in Total Recall – including gun battles, impalements, stabbings, and a gruesome accident involving an elevator – is the main reason it received an R rating. Surprisingly, the film actually had to be heavily edited after it was made. When a movie gets a high rating like that from the ratings board, it often means fewer people will go see it in theaters, potentially leading to poor box office results.

Several intense scenes were trimmed or removed from the film. This included toning down the graphic depiction of Benny’s death – originally showing significant internal injuries from being impaled – as well as cutting scenes of someone being used as a human shield, Thumbelina stabbing Helm with a knife, and Richter’s violent death in an elevator. The film’s depiction of Quaid attacking a group of scientists was also considered too extreme for the desired rating.

Released in 1989, Total Recall really captured the spirit of its era. The late 80s and early 90s saw filmmakers constantly pushing boundaries to see how much they could show on screen. Explicit content – sex, violence, and gore – had always been a draw for audiences, and directors were competing to deliver it.

Paul Verhoeven Is a Provocative Filmmaker, and it Shows in Total Recall

Paul Verhoeven, the director of Total Recall, also made RoboCop, another action film set in a bleak future. Like Total Recall, RoboCop faced challenges getting approved for release due to its extreme violence. In the 1980s, before the NC-17 rating existed, the initial version of RoboCop received an X rating. Verhoeven had to resubmit the film to the MPAA eleven times, each time with cuts, before it finally received approval.

Paul Verhoeven is known for creating films that grab attention with bold stories and imagery. Following the success of Total Recall, he continued this trend in the 1990s with Basic Instinct, a film that blended suspense with mature themes and violence. The original cut of Basic Instinct received an NC-17 rating, and about 35-40 seconds of footage had to be removed to secure an R rating. In 1995, Verhoeven achieved his vision with Showgirls, releasing it with an NC-17 rating – a decision fully supported by the studio.

This Dutch director has a distinctive style. His films aren’t shocking for shock value, but they’re powerfully impactful due to their intense violence and sexuality. Even with different genres, his approach is consistent. While Total Recall could easily have been a standard sci-fi film in another director’s hands, he elevated it – though it never quite reached the success of its initial release. Fortunately, the revised cuts of the film proved worthwhile, making it the fifth-highest-grossing movie of 1990 with $261 million worldwide, including $119 million domestically. That’s an impressive feat for a film that wasn’t part of an established franchise.

Despite Recuts, Total Recall Is a Visual Masterpiece

Though initially controversial, Total Recall eventually earned critical praise, particularly during awards season. It rightfully won awards, including at the 1991 Oscars. The film is notable as one of the final major blockbusters to rely heavily on practical miniature sets. Even now, three decades after its release, the Martian landscapes and visual effects remain impressive and captivating.

The unforgettable scene featuring Kuato, the mutant connected to George’s stomach, relied on an incredibly well-made puppet that was both convincing and frightening. Visual effects artist Rob Bottin, known for his work on Robocop and a sometimes-difficult relationship with director Paul Verhoeven, created another stunning practical effect. Operating Kuato during a single shot required a team of 15 puppeteers working in unison. Kuato perfectly exemplifies the impressive practical effects that were common in major genre films of that time. The character was so realistically brought to life, it felt like actor Marshall Bell genuinely had a mutant twin attached to him.

Whether the changes made to Total Recall improved or damaged the film is still up for debate. However, it remains surprisingly shocking even today. Directed by the incredibly talented Verhoeven, it’s a standout genre film, and that’s likely why people are still watching and enjoying Total Recall‘s over-the-top action more than thirty years after its release.

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2025-11-07 01:07