Alternate versions

The European release is much more explicit than the American release (which had to be submitted seven times to the MPAA in order to avoid an NC-17 rating). The European version is available unrated on video in the US. The US version uses alternate, less explicit takes of several scenes to tone down the sex content.

• The murder of Johnny Boz in the opening scene is more graphic; we see the killer stabbing him in his neck, stabbing him repeatedly in the chest, in the face and we see the ice-pick passing through his nose.
• The scene where Nick rapes Beth is severely cut in the US version (we see ripping off her underwear and forcing her over the couch, then there's a cut to the two of them lying in bed). In the uncut version Nick pulls down his pants, penetrates Beth from behind and he apparently has an orgasm.
• The scene where Nick and Catherine make love after going to the disco is longer much more explicit in the uncut version (Nick is seen burying his face between her legs).

The Indian version requested 10 cuts which became heavily censored by the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) to grant an 'A' (restricted to adults) certificate. The following Cuts have been ordered by F. C. A. T. :

• Right in the beginning when the camera moves form the mirror to the love- making sequence in the bed, deleted all the close-ups of the girl's breasts and reduce the entire scene by 60% deleting movements of the women over the man in the art of copulation. (Length retained: 51.00 ft.).
• Reduce to a flash the nude figure of Catherine in the mirror while changing her clothes. (Length Retained: 4.00 ft.)
• Delete the shot of Catherine's public hair when crossing her legs during interrogation in the Police Station.
• Reduce by 60% the sequence of love-making between the detective and Dr. Beth, deleting all close-ups of the doctor's breasts and movements of the woman ever the man in the act of copulation. (Length retained: 44.00 ft.)
• Reduced by 40% the scene between Roxy and Catherine in the toilet of the discotheque (Length retained: 14.00 ft).
• Delete scene where Catherine and Roxy caress each other during the dance in the discotheque.
• Reduce to 60% the first love- making scene between the detective and Catherine in Catherine's bungalow, deleting all close-ups of breasts and their caressing by Nick and movements of the woman on the too of the man. (Length retained: 126.00 ft.).
• Reduce by 60% the love-making scenes between Nick and Catherine, deleting all close-ups of girl's naked breasts and their caressing by Nick and movements when the girl is on the top of man. (Length retained: 15.00 ft).
• Reduce to a flash the visual of the dead detective in the lift. (Length retained: 4.00 ft.)
• Reduce by 60% of love-making scene, deleting visuals of naked breasts and also deleting movements of Catherine on top of Nick in the act of copulation. (Length Retained: 33.00 ft).

In Singapore, the film was originally rated 'R(A)' for theatrical exhibition with cuts. For VHS, heavily cuts were made for a 'PG' rating. The uncut version is re-classified 'R21'.

The 2001 Special Edition DVD of the "R-Rated" version is actually a hybrid of the US theatrical cut and the director's cut. The opening murder scene and the Nick/Beth rape scene are edited to approximately the length of the US cut, but they both use footage originally seen only in the director's cut, instead of the alternate takes from the US cut. However, the post-nightclub sex scene between Nick and Catherine is the actual version from the R-Rated cut, complete with the alternate footage not seen in the director's cut.

A special Network TV version of the film was prepared by director Paul Verhoeven substituting alternate non-explicit footage and close-ups for all violent and sexually explicit shots.

In the DVD version of the director's cut, a brief shot of the ice pick moving up and down with blood flying during the elevator murder is replaced with a shot from behind the killer. The video version of the director's cut contains the former scene.