Communications professor Jeanne Hall wanted to know what all the hype was over the controversial movie I Spit On Your Grave, but she left Mike's Video empty-handed.

Hall was unaware that most video stores will remove selections from their shelves if enough customers complain.

Despite charges of possible censorship, local video stores have refused to carry movies like I Spit on Your Grave, which depicts a gruesome gang rape.

But I Spit on Your Grave has an interesting twist to it because the leading heroine doesn't take the abuse lying down -- instead she seeks revenge on her attackers. Castration is one of the many horrific methods of her backlash.

"This is a movie in which the woman beats the monster," said Hall, assistant professor of media studies. "Clearly violence isn't the issue, it's the violence against men."

Like other local stores, Mike's Video does not have a written policy about removing videos from the shelf due to complaints, said Doug Byler, who has been the manager of Mike's Video at 228 W. College Ave., for the past three years.

Instead, the company just tries to steer clear of offensive movies. The store used to have an adult section, but because of complaints the store eliminated those selections, Byler said.

"The management was receiving threatening phone calls and people were following them," he said.

Now all decisions about what movies are ordered depend on Mike Negra, the president of the Mike's Video chain.

Recently, Negra refused to carry Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. A University professor required students to view the movie, but Negra heard from a friend that it was very offensive and refused to carry it, Byler said. Six months later, Negra watched the movie himself and decided to purchase it.

A-Z Video Superstore, 176 Rolling Ridge Dr., also has no written policy about removing films from the shelves.

"Complaints are passed on to management," said employee Pete Kragness. "We are not conservative. If a lot complained, something would be done."

McLanahan Self Service Store, 414 E. College Ave., hasn't had any frequent complaints about their movies.

"We try to cater to public opinion," said manager Eric DeBellis. "We're still recovering from the poster incident." Two weeks ago, the store pulled a poster from its shelves after some customers said it was offensive.

Neither A-Z Video Superstore or McLanahan's carries I Spit on Your Grave.

All Mike's Video locations refuse to carry I Spit on Your Grave, but they carry the movie, Poison, which shows a male rape scene that takes place in a prison.

"There are rapes in other movies," Hall said. "Silence of the Lambs is about the skinning of women, and it won five Oscars. Clearly we weren't nervous about that."