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Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide
Nucleus Films
Description
Prepare to be corrupted and depraved once more as Nucleus Films releases the definitive guide to the Video Nasties phenomenon - one of the most extraordinary and scandalous eras in the history of British film. For the first time ever on DVD, TRAILERS to all 72 films that fell foul of the Director of Public Prosecutions are featured with specially filmed intros for each title in a lavish three-disc collector s edition box-set, alongside a brand new documentary - VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP AND VIDEOTAPE. Disc One presents the 39 titles which were successfully prosecuted in UK courts and deemed liable to deprave and corrupt. Disc Two presents the 33 titles that were initially banned, but then subsequently acquitted and removed from the DPP's list. Disc Three This era-defining documentary features interviews with filmmakers Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust) Neil Marshall (The Descent , Doomsday), Christopher Smith (Severance , Black Death) and MP Graham Bright as well as rare archive footage featuring James Ferman (director of the BBFC 1975-1999) & Mary Whitehouse. Taking in the explosion of home video, the erosion of civil liberties, the introduction of draconian censorship measures, hysterical press campaigns and the birth of many careers born in blood and videotape, West s documentary also reflects on the influence this peculiar era still exerts on us today. Extras include a gallery of original video company idents and extensive gallery of lurid cover art for every video nasty.
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For those interested in learning more about the video nasties, the banned 72 movie titles by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), there is a really terrific documentary called Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide, available now on a 3-disc DVD set.
I've watched all 9+ hours feature (the actual documentary is only about one hour, but the supplemental introductions of each of the 72 movies will run another eight hours.... and it's worth watching).
Like many of you who live in the U.S., the "video nasty" term is foreign to us because these films did not affect us. I'll try and explain it for you. In the UK, there was a time period where the DPP banned and censored over seventy titles. Of course, the real irony was when the list was compiled, this gave horror fans a great list of "must see" films! Eventually 33 titles were dropped from this list, so purist will only be interested in the original 39 titles.
What struck me about the list, is that some titles clearly do not deserve to be on it, which, of course, suggests that the censor board did not see any, if not all, of these movies. Some movies seem to have been instantly banned based on title alone, the most hilarious incident involved the police confiscating the comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
The actual documentary is really quite good. It's professionally shot and edited, and feature some proper experts in the documentary film. After watching the comprehensive film, I came away from it with a full understanding of that time period in the UK... and really inspired me to track down these 72 titles to see them for myself. Of course, I've actually own and seen many of these titles - they are often under different titles for the American market.
If you can spare the time, I definitely suggest watching all the introduction and trailers to all the video nasties. I love hearing the movie experts talk about what made these movies special to them. There are certain movies on this list that perplexed me, particularly the awesomely strange movie Possession.
Although this was primarily a UK-thing, US fans curious or are fans of the video nasties, you really should order your copy of Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide and re-live that amazing horror 80s time period.
I've watched all 9+ hours feature (the actual documentary is only about one hour, but the supplemental introductions of each of the 72 movies will run another eight hours.... and it's worth watching).
Like many of you who live in the U.S., the "video nasty" term is foreign to us because these films did not affect us. I'll try and explain it for you. In the UK, there was a time period where the DPP banned and censored over seventy titles. Of course, the real irony was when the list was compiled, this gave horror fans a great list of "must see" films! Eventually 33 titles were dropped from this list, so purist will only be interested in the original 39 titles.
What struck me about the list, is that some titles clearly do not deserve to be on it, which, of course, suggests that the censor board did not see any, if not all, of these movies. Some movies seem to have been instantly banned based on title alone, the most hilarious incident involved the police confiscating the comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
The actual documentary is really quite good. It's professionally shot and edited, and feature some proper experts in the documentary film. After watching the comprehensive film, I came away from it with a full understanding of that time period in the UK... and really inspired me to track down these 72 titles to see them for myself. Of course, I've actually own and seen many of these titles - they are often under different titles for the American market.
If you can spare the time, I definitely suggest watching all the introduction and trailers to all the video nasties. I love hearing the movie experts talk about what made these movies special to them. There are certain movies on this list that perplexed me, particularly the awesomely strange movie Possession.
Although this was primarily a UK-thing, US fans curious or are fans of the video nasties, you really should order your copy of Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide and re-live that amazing horror 80s time period.
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