Book Scenes That Were Way Too Dark to Be in the Movie
While most film and television adaptations try to stay true to their source materials’ origins, some aren’t afraid to take creative liberties. Especially when certain events depicted in an original novel are just too, well, f—ed up for the screen. Even some of the more violent movies on this list are, it turns out, sanitized…
‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’
Despite boasting an amazing soundtrack, Disney’s efforts to tone down the adult themes in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” weren’t the most successful (“Hellfire” anyone?). However, they did manage to present a more acceptable version of the events from the original tale.
Published in 1831, the book killed off Esmerelda, who was only 16, after subjecting her to lustful advances from both Frollo and Phoebus. After her death, Quasimodo- who had been harboring a secret crush on her- maintains a vigil over her body and dies of starvation.
‘The Little Mermaid’
Not all fairy-tales started out as the family-friendly versions Disney made them out to be. The original version of “The Little Mermaid” has the main character suffer a brutal transformation, described as “if a sword is being passed through her body”, to win the affections of the prince.
When he falls for another woman, she’s given the chance to murder him in exchange for the return of her tail. Instead, she commits suicide by flinging herself off the boat and dissolving into sea foam.
‘Cinderella’
As if your date instantly forgetting what you look like the moment you leave wasn’t already a bad omen for your budding relationship, the original version of “Cinderella” shows the white doves did more than just ring the wedding bells.
The Brothers Grimm graphically depict the stepsisters mutilating themselves to deceive the prince and better fit into the glass slipper. During the wedding, they have their eyes plucked out by doves as punishment for their past treachery.
‘The Fault in Our Stars’
The 2014 film adaptation of “The Fault in Our Stars” fails to include a heartbreaking scene from the book. Reluctant to show Gus’ physical decline until his eventual passing, the film omits a phone conversation the character has with his mother in which he screams “
Because it’s my life, Mom. It belongs to me!” Some readers misinterpreted the moment as Gus defending his relationship with Hazel when in reality, it signals the return of his cancer. Despite his mother’s fears, Gus is determined to live the rest of his life to the fullest.