Upon its release in 1980, Taboo was seized by customs in several countries. In the UK, it was banned outright under the Obscene Publications Act until the late 1990s. In the US, it played in "grindhouse" theaters alongside zombie films and kung-fu movies.
However, the film’s notoriety led to a bizarre second life as a "video nasty" collector’s item. Today, the IMDb rating for Taboo hovers around 5.4/10, based on approximately 1,200 user ratings. But these numbers are misleading. The distribution is a classic "F" curve (lots of 1-star moral outrage, lots of 10-star historical significance).
Before diving into the IMDb UPD details, one must understand the source material. Taboo is widely credited as the first mainstream adult film to tackle the subject of mother-son incest as its primary narrative driver.
Official Synopsis (as listed on IMDb pre-2022): Barbara (played by the iconic Kay Parker) is a lonely, middle-aged divorcee in Los Angeles. Her husband has left her, and her son, Paul (played by Mike Ranger), has returned home after a failed stint in the military. As Barbara navigates a fledgling affair with a younger man (Nick, played by Jerry Butler), she begins to realize that her son’s intense jealousy masks a deeper, illicit attraction. The film culminates in a series of graphic scenes that controversially blur the lines between maternal affection and sexual desire. Taboo 1 1980 Imdb UPD
Unlike modern adult films, Taboo features a slow-burn narrative, dramatic lighting, and a surprisingly melancholic jazz score. It is, for all intents and purposes, a tragedy disguised as pornography.
At its core, Taboo follows a protagonist enmeshed in addiction and moral compromise, navigating relationships and a subculture that both sustains and destroys him. Key themes include:
Because of its subject matter, Taboo is not available on mainstream streamers (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime without a specialty channel). However, the IMDb "Watchlist" feature now lists the following legal sources: Upon its release in 1980, Taboo was seized
Warning to searchers: Due to the IMDb UPD, links to free streaming sites are automatically deleted from the "External Reviews" section. Do not trust unofficial "remastered" links in the comments section of IMDb.
If you are researching Taboo 1 1980 Imdb UPD out of historical curiosity or academic study, the answer is yes—but with preparation.
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What the "UPD" means for you: As of March 2025, the IMDb page is fully moderated, accurate, and safe to browse. The "Contribute" section is locked for new trivia to prevent trolling, but the existing data is verified by the Film Heritage Foundation.