Straw Dogs is a book authored by Gordon Williams. The book was later made into a movie. First released in 1971, the movie was directed by Sam Peckinpah and starred Dustin Hoffman and Susan George.

Straw Dogs was released theatrically in the US the same week as A Clockwork Orange and Dirty Harry, sparking a heated controversy over apparently excessive violence in films.

The movie gained notoriety in the UK following its being banned in 1984 by the British Board of Film Classification under then newly introduced Video Recordings Act. The film was again refused a licence in 1999, following the distributors refusal to cut the scene cited as problematic. The film was finally certified uncut for video and DVD release on July 1, 2002.

Warning: Wikipedia contains spoilers

The story is of an American couple, David and Amy Sumner (played by Hoffman and George) who move to Cornwall, UK to escape violence in the United States. They face increasingly levels of harassment by the local population. Finally David retaliates with extreme violence. Apparent glamourisation of sexual violence in a scene where Amy Sumner is raped sparked the UK controversy.