Horror movie 'The Bunny Game' has been banned by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

The classification board has decided the film - which stars Rodleen Getsic - will not be given a certificate for release in the UK, either in theatres or on DVD, because of the graphic scenes of sexual and physical abuse, making the 13th movie in the Board's history to be banned.

The movie's plot focuses on the terrifying ordeal of a drug addicted prostitute who is kidnapped by a truck driver and tortured and the classification body has decided the scenes are "unacceptable to the public".

In a statement, the BBFC said: "The principal focus of 'The Bunny Game' is the unremitting sexual and physical abuse of a helpless woman, as well as the sadistic and sexual pleasure the man derives from this."

BBFC director David Cooke added: "It is the Board's carefully considered view that to issue a certificate to this work, even if confined to adults, would be inconsistent with the Board's Guidelines, would risk potential harm within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and would accordingly be unacceptable to the public."

The BBFC has now told distributor Trinity X - who took the film on after the Cannes Film Festival - it can submit the movie with cuts for it to be reassessed.

The 'Bunny Game' director Adam Rehmeier admits he is shocked by the BBFC's decision.

He said: "Rodleen and I didn't make 'The Bunny Game' to glamorise prostitution. It is far from an erotic film. It is a modern cautionary tale grounded in reality."

The Board's ban follows its decision to initially ban 'The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence)' earlier this year because of its graphic scenes of sexual degradation and surgical torture.

However, the movie was eventually given a release rating after 32 cuts were made in total, totalling two minutes 37 seconds of film time, by the director Tom Six.