Article: 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.
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)
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.
Anthropophagous (1980)
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.
Lisa, Lisa (1974)
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)
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.
The Beyond (1981)
The Beyond-(1981-Italy)-(aka L'ALDILA aka SEVEN DOORS OF DEATH)
Lucio Fulci's most adored film (by many). A very surreal nightmarish look at the world of the living-dead. An eye popping extravaganza! The banned version was actually the 'cut' theatrical' release. Later on, it was massacred by the BBFC with numerous cuts.
A Bay of Blood (1971)
Bloodbath-(1971-Italy)-(aka A BAY OF BLOOD aka TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE)
By many this is considered Mario Bava's masterpiece. This film was a very historical look on how the modern day slasher film would come about. This was an overly gory movie for its time with one of the first 'body count' reputations. This was later re-released in the U.K. with a distributor called 'Redemption. It has numerous cuts. Steve Miner imitated a number of his kills from this film. (Friday the 13th pt. 2)-
Blood Feast (1963)
BloodFeast-(1963-United States)-
This bloodbath saga by non other than Herschel Gordon Lewis is one of the oldest titles on the list. How could anyone find this attempt at 'art' offensive? Maybe U.K. officials have no sense of humor? You'll never see this vile piece of celluloid playing on PBS.
The Ghastly Ones (1968)
Bloodrights-(1969-United States)-(aka THE GHASTLY ONES)
A home video style film by Andy Milligan. This one remains banned, Thank God! Hey...anyone wanna make a home movie and try to pass it off as a horror film? I'm sure me in the 80's with my 'punk' hair-do would probably be the death of a lot of people, if not myself from all the death threats I'd receive.
Bloody Moon (1981)
Bloody Moon-(1980-Spain)-(aka PRO FONDE TENEBRE aka COLEGIALAS VIOLADAS
Legendary sleaze director Jess Franco is behind this video nasty. Amateurish gore, disco dancing, and shaky camera work make this one a headache to watch. This one was later re-released with a number of cuts. A 'saw mill' decapitation gave this one a spot on the nasties list.
The Boogeyman (1981)
The Boogeyman-(1980-United States)
A mixture of the Exorcist and Carpenter's 'Halloween' couldn't save this one from the 'Video Nasties' list. This one is full of great death scenes. It was also re-released with some minor cuts. One of the funniest scenes I have ever seen in a horror film came from this one.
The Burning (1981)
The Burning-(1980-United States)
Ok, U.K, blame goremiester Tom Savini for this one. A take on its predecessor, 'Friday the 13th', this one has some great gore This one was unknowingly released UNCUT by a very worried Thorn/Emi. It was later recalled and yet again re-released uncut at the embarrassment of the BBFC. Eventually, they finally got it right and released a version with the appropriate cuts.
Cannibal Apocalypse (1980)
Cannibal Apocalypse-(1980-Italy)(aka CANNIBALS IN THE STREETS aka INVASION OF THE FLESH HUNTERS)
The rumor has it that there is an 'X' rated version of this floating around somewhere. This one stars cult film star John Saxon and even bigger cult film star, Giovanni Lombardo Radice. Radice- Saxon and Lombardo Radice are Vietnam vets who return home with a strange disease. This one (like most Italian horror films) is a must see!
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Cannibal Holocaust-(1979-Italy)
Rugerrio Deadato outdoes himself with this trash epic. He stoops to levels that would make Dennis Rodman proud. I can really understand why this one should be banned. Anyone who has to resort to the killing of live animals should be killed for no reason themselves.
Cannibal Ferox (1981)
Cannibal Ferox- (1981-Italy)-(aka MAKE THEM DIE SLOWLY aka WOMAN FROM DEEP RIVER)
Again we have Italian horror star Giovanni Lombardo Radice at the helm of yet another controversial film. Umberto Lenzi delivers his expected exploitation antics. Like 'Cannibal Holocaust', the public had a field day with this one. As reported by Lombardo Radice in an interview, he was very angry with Lenzi at the notion of butchering a real life pig in the film. He stated that was the only quarrel he could remember having with a director.
Be looking for our next Video Nasties article as we continue the list. Yes, fourteen more of the most vile, evil, horror films known to man. Yes, even more disturbing than Bea Arthur eating spaghetti. Well count 'em down till the very end.
Ryan Adams--
A very special thanks to Justin from 'Hysteria'.
