Courtney Love has taken legal action over a new Kurt Cobain film.

The Hole frontwoman has issued cease-and-desist notices against theatres showing Benjamin Statler's 'Soaked in Bleach' - which follows an investigator hired to find the rocker when he disappeared from rehab a week before his body was found and touches on speculation his widow was involved in his death - arguing the footage is ''defamatory''.

The order states: ''The Film falsely presents a widely and repeatedly debunked conspiracy theory that accuses Ms. Cobain of orchestrating the death of her husband Kurt Cobain.

''A false accusation of criminal behaviour is defamatory ...which entitles Ms. Cobain to both actual and presumed damages.''

Producers of the movie - who are not subject to legal action from the 50-year-old singer - are ''disturbed'' by the letters, arguing the 'Malibu' singer has made a ''cowardly attack'' on freedom of speech.

They said in a statement to Deadline: ''We were disturbed to learn that Courtney Love's lawyers sent threatening letters to movie theatres all over the country.

''Most arrived before 'Soaked in Bleach' was released last week, presumably before she or her lawyers ever saw it. She obviously hoped to scare theatre owners into dropping the film.

''Thankfully, very few were intimidated. Most saw the letter for what it is - a cowardly attack on the rights of free speech, free expression and free choice.

''Courtney Love's uninformed accusations and efforts to discredit the film are totally off base. The film examines the well documented facts surrounding the death of Kurt Cobain and it questions much of what the public has been told about those events...

''Courtney Love and her lawyers clearly don't like that the film presents a compelling case for re-opening the investigation into Kurt's death. They should respect the First Amendment and let people decide for themselves.''

No actual complaint has been filed with the courts as of yet.

The docudrama follows investigator Tom Grant, who recorded his conversations with Courtney during his investigation into Kurt's disappearance.

The film is made up of the interviews with the singer, reenactments of the events and also discussion from people close to the matter.