Comparison between the theatrical version (R-rated / German DVD from Pro-Fun Media) and the Director's Cut (American Blu-ray / 4K UHD from Criterion Collection)


– 29 different scenes, including one re-ordered scene (not counting date inserts and credits)
– Difference: 49.5 sec

 

Censorship related to Gregg Araki's TEEN APOCALYPSE trilogy

In 1993, Gregg Araki made the episodic Totally F***ed Up, which focuses on the more or less everyday problems of a few gay and lesbian teenagers. Two years later, The Doom Generation once again focused on marginalized groups in society, and the wild orgy of violence and sex may have become interesting for some viewers later, not least thanks to Rose McGowan, who was still unknown at the time. In 1997, Nowhere, a somewhat more restrained film in terms of visuals, formed the conclusion of the Teen Apocalypse trilogy. Lots of young stars like Ryan Phillipe, Heather Graham, Christina Applegate, Jordan Ladd, Mena Suvari, Denise Richards and Guillermo Díaz are given free rein to indulge their youthful recklessness, and there are some curious cameos.

Regarding The Doom Generation our report on the R-rated version shows that there were a number of censorship cuts for the US release, but at least the unrated version was available on DVD in the UK. It was also the only film in the trilogy to receive a small Blu-ray release in the US in 2023. Araki already explained in an interview at the time that all three titles had been newly restored and that, for the first time, previously censored material could be seen in two of the films that had not been there on any previous release:

 

The uncut version of NOWHERE on Criterion's 4K premiere

From September 24, 2024, a 4K UHD/Blu-ray set from The Criterion Collection is available in the US that includes The Doom Generation and Nowhere in the new 4K restorations in UHD. Totally F***ed Up is included as a 2K restoration on Blu-ray. It is not explicitly advertised, but since the 4K restorations were approved by Araki, the longer, uncensored film versions of both films are included here as expected. A Blu-ray-only edition has also been released at the same time. We have a separate comparison for the new The Doom Generation Director's Cut.

In the case of Nowhere, this new release is well worth it: a number of sex and violence scenes are now available in more detail. However, as can be deducted from the interview, the original material does not go completely over the top, because the film was never intended to be as excessive as Doom Generation. Typically for the American MPA(A), many of the cuts are only a few frames long and it is once again curious that this apparently made the difference to the infamous NC-17 classification at the time - but countless similar comparisons to teen comedies from back then, such as American Pie, are known to document the US madness of the time particularly well.

An extra punch here, a brief moment with a flashing butt there – none of these scenes are spectacular in themselves, and they all work completely fine in the theatrical cut as well. But overall, it's clear that only the new restoration gives us the director's unfiltered vision. Even without this, the Criterion release, with excellent picture quality, a booklet well worth reading and new bonus material, is of course recommended to every fan.


Runtimes are arranged according to the scheme
German DVD in 25fps / US-Blu-ray in 23,976fps

Other logos to start off the movie.

Director's Cut 27.7 sec longer

Theatrical cut (German DVD)	Director's Cut (Criterion Blu-ray)

Here is a small picture comparison. The Criterion version displays a little more image information on the sides, which particularly benefits the scenes with the TV preacher (John Ritter). In the familiar rhythm of about 20 minutes, there were also typical reel change defects in the image of the DVD master. The picture is a little darker on Criterion, which is particularly noticeable in the pool scene towards the end.

Theatrical cut (German DVD)	Director's Cut (Criterion Blu-ray)

Sound editing
25:30 / 27:03

Dark lets out a “Fuck!” at the beginning of the scene. The theatrical cut simply muted this.

29:05 / 30:47-30:50

The camera pan is a bit longer and therefore now the sex in the cowgirl position can be seen much more explicit.
The following close-up of Lilith's face begins a bit earlier in the theatrical version.

Director's Cut 2.4 sec longer

29:10 / 30:55-30:58

When the focus moves to Shad, who is tied up, the middle part of the shot is missing.

2.6 sec

29:12 / 31:00-31:01

At the end, the shot is also a little longer.

0.8 sec

31:00 / 32:53-32:54

The Baywatch star approaches Egg longer and says in the meantime: “(You can go back) to your little slutter friends (and say...)”

0.8 sec

31:09 / 33:03-33:06

After hitting her head, Egg is grabbed again and he slams her against the edge.
Egg screams: “No, please, don't, don't!”

2,7 sec

31:16 / 33:14-33:16

Before there is a knock at the door, Egg whimpers once more: “What are you gonna do to me?”

2,3 sec

40:02 / 42:25

When Shad puts the candy in his mouth and then takes off Lilith's pants, the shot begins a moment earlier.

0,3 sec

40:03 / 42:26-42:28

The removed panties land on a blinker.

1.9 sec

43:38 / 46:11-46:12

Shad can be seen a little earlier. Here he initially looks down (where Lilith is just satisfying him orally), which was possibly the reason for the shortening.

0.8 sec

43:44 / 46:18-46:24

Shad can be seen earlier again. This time, Lilith's head can be seen moving several times at the bottom of the picture, prompting him to comment, “Oh, God, Lilith, your mouth feels like I'm dipping my joystick into boiling hot oil.”

5.8 sec

43:49 / 46:30-46:37

Another shot of Shad is missing completely; “You dig sucking on that one-eyed python, don't you, darling?”

7,7 sec

43:54 / 46:42-46:43

The next shot is a few frames longer.

0,4 sec


56:16 / 59:37-59:41

Lilith and Shad can be seen earlier in the sex scene on the dance floor. At the beginning, his butt is more clearly visible.

4.6 sec

56:17-56:18 / 59:42

The theatrical cut instead has a little bit more of this shot at the end.

+ 1,1 sec

56:22 / 59:47-59:48

The next shot starts a bit earlier again in the Criterion version.

0.9 sec

Alternative
56:36-56:39 / 60:03-60:06

During “No wonder I'm feeling so randy”, the theatrical cut has a closer shot for a short time. In the DC, the slightly more distant shot starts earlier, so you can see Shad making more thrusting movements.

Director's Cut 0.8 sec longer

Theatrical version (German DVD)	Director's Cut (Criterion Blu-ray)

Alternative
57:02-57:11 / 60:30-60:45

After “his pecker was covered in itchy black pus-oozing sores” Ducky adds: “And plus it smelled like popcorn.”
The following dialog is identical, but can be seen at the beginning in an alternate take.

Director's Cut 5.8 sec longer

Theatrical cut (German DVD)	Director's Cut (Criterion Blu-ray)

57:19 / 60:53-60:55

At the end, the shot is also a bit longer, without the image or sound here suggesting any kind of censorship.

1.8 sec

64:46 / 68:41-68:42

Handjob's head is slammed onto the edge of the table several more times.

0,7 sec

64:46 / 68:42-68:44

After the short re-cut to Dark, further shots of Elvis in a rage and Handjob are missing.

1.3 sec

64:48 / 68:46

A few inconsequential frames before Dark intervenes.

0.2 sec


64:50 / 68:48

Another shot from the side is a bit longer.

0.4 sec

64:53 / 68:51-68:52

A few more frames from the side and the detailed shot starts earlier.

0.8 sec

64:53 / 68:52-68:53

After a few frames, a short shot is missing in which Dark and Alyssa try to drag Elvis away.

1.4 sec

64:54 / 68:54

The MPA(A)-typical madness continues: a few more frames trimmed.

0,6 sec

65:03 / 69:03-69:04

One shot of Elvis manically hitting the tomato soup can is a little longer.

0.8 sec

65:05 / 69:06-69:07

The next shot of him is longer, too.

1.2 sec


65:06 / 69:09-69:10

In an additional shot of the can, it now looks clearer that blood from Handjob has also mixed with the tomato soup.

0.6 sec

65:07 / 69:11-69:12

Before the shot of Dark, there is another close-up of the can.

0,8 sec

The song credits at the end of the Criterion version are much faster than on the other versions. There are also other final notes.

Theatrical version 28.5 sec longer

Theatrical version (German DVD)	Director's Cut (Criterion Blu-ray)