Video Nasties

U.K. is a good place, but for the horror fan, you wouldn't want to live there...especially back in the day.

A lot of movies produced in the late 70's and early 80's were labeled 'Video Nasties'. In the U.K, prior to the 'Recording Acts' of 1984, the courts through manipulation gained the right to prosecute a film if it was likely to deprave or influence' the viewer. The 'Director of Public Prosecutions' derived a list of 'nasties' that were responsible for prosecution. Following this introduction, there will be a list of films in which U.K. officials declared were so 'inhuman' and 'macabre', that they should forever be placed in the bins of horror movie waste . Films so nightmarish that one day many people will be admitted into psychiatric wards saying that the cause of their schizophrenia was 'Cannibal Holocaust'. Films so outlandish you'll wanna commit suicide by way of self mutilation until you're lying naked in the bathroom floor wishing you didn't go that far. Many of the titles, in my opinion in no way should have been placed on the list. They all had been successfully prosecuted where some were later re-released in cut versions. Here they are horror-fiends. Now you can dedicate your life to hunting down these infamous nasties. Don't blame me if you go out and murder an entire family. Blame the Italians-- There are 74 titles that made the infamous list. Fourteen films off the infamous list are listed below. Don't worry, the rest will come my children.

Absurd- (1981-Italy)- (aka ROSSO SANGUE aka HORRIBLE aka THE MONSTER HUNTER)

The late Joe D'Amato concocted this macabre little film as a take on Carpenter's classic- 'Halloween'- A sequel was later produced (a sister video nasty)-'Anthropophagus The Beast'. It is still banned in the U.K. with no hint of it ever being re-released.

Anthropophagus The Beast-(1980-Italy)-(aka ANTROPOHAGUS aka THE GRIM REAPER)

Many consider this Joe D'Amato's epic. This an overly gory film which should be any gore hounds delight. This one managed to crawl under the skin of almost everyone with its infamous 'fetus' scene. Again, this one will probably never be re-released in the U.K. Don't expect this one on a double bill with 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'-that's for sure.

Axe-(1977-United States)-(aka CALIFORNIA AXE MASSACRE aka LISA LISA)

This rape/revenge opus has no real redeeming qualities and would have long since been forgotten if not for its status as one of the ever dreaded 'Video Nasties'. I absolutely have NO idea why U.K. officials considered this one for their list.

The Beast in Heat-(1977-Italy)-aka SS HELL CAMP aka SS EXPERIMENT CAMP 2)

This is probably one of the rarest videos on the 'Video Nasties' list. It is rumored that original copies of this film were exchanged for ludicrous amounts of cash. This is a very gonzo type film with a dull and boring premise which boasts of a midget with a taste for pubic hair! Now that's nasty! Thankfully, this one still remains banned in the U.K.