This is a nice introduction to the whole controversy which gave The Last House on the Left it’s bad reputation in the UK. It’s a Uncut Blog from Mark Kermode’s BBC page. I couldn’t get the video from the page so here’s the link.
Because of the film’s cult success, the film was once again presented to have a certificate by the BBFC. It was British movie critics such as Mark Kermode stated that Wes Craven’s gory and messy debut film was an important piece of work and should be allowed to be seen by die hard horror fans. He’s even said that Last House on the Left should be in the collection of any true horror buff and if it’s cut then it’s no good, all or nothing.
Back in 2000 the film was presented again to the BBFC to finally get a certificate so the film could be distributed to the horror fans. It had been nearly thirty ears since the films release and was banned everywhere through the 80’s and 90’s. The filmed was denied (BBFC report 11th February 2000) by the BBFC however there was a one off showing of the film in Leicester in June of the same year.Two years later in the same month it was shown in Leicester. The film was shown uncut along with Texas Chain Saw Massacre which was also also uncut (I believe) and it was Blue Underground, a DVD distributor of Video Nasties and exploitation films, which got the films shown. Last House on the Left could be shown uncut at a cinema screening because the BBFC do not have jurisdiction when it comes to cinema showings, thus the films where shown. Because of the success the film screening had, Blue Underground built up the confident to once again try and get the film distributed uncut. 
When brought to The BBFC for the second time they won against the Video Appeals Committee*. The BBFC wanted just 16 seconds of the film to be cut for it to receive a 18 certificated. They even brought in Mark Kermode as an expert in the horror genre to write up a report about the films importance. When the BBFC looked through the report they doubled the 16 seconds worth of cuts to 31 seconds. The film was finally released thirty one years (May 2003) after the films release (BBFC report 17th July 02) with an obvious 18 certificate. On the DVD the cut scenes were viewable as a slideshow extra on the disc, and there was a weblink to a website where the cut scenes could be viewed. So even though they where cut from the film the fans could still view them. It wasn’t untill March 17th 2008 that the film finally got released uncut (BBFC report March 17th 08) by the BBFC and since then different cuts where released of the film including the rare alternative cut called ‘Krug and Company’.
*The Video Appeals Committee was set up by the Video Recordings Act and was made because if any film or video game (‘Manhunt’ for example) is refused by the BBFC then it can be appealed to VAC which has the power to order the BBFC to reverse its decision and to grant a certificate to the disputed work.
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