The Monster's Den: The Video Nasties!

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_nasty

[@vinniegiordano3243]

Great show as always guys! If I could make a suggestion, I would love to see a show where you all talk about your top horror hosts and how they might have introduced certain films that you now love. Just a thought... Keep it going.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

@@vinniegiordano3243 Hi there. Can you clarify-what do you mean by horror hosts? I'm assuming you might mean guys like Zacherly, etc, but wanted to check. Personally, I rarely watched any of these, and discovered all my favorite horror films by reading books, magazines, word of mouth, etc.

[@DavysFlicks]

@@seaoftranquilityprog And we didn't have them here.

[@jasongaylor2232]

@@vinniegiordano3243 No local horror host here as I recall. Did grow up with Elvira and Joe Bob Briggs though. I was watching Joe Bob on the Movie Channel before "Monstervision" on TNT. Love the guy.. and who doesn't love Elvira?

[@vinniegiordano3243]

@@seaoftranquilityprog any horror host from Joe Bob to Commander USA. It’s a shame if you never had that experience. Horror hosts are a rather fun way to watch some cheesy horror flicks

[@robjohnson4506]

My grandfather had a video store in England back in the early 80s til the mid 90s (Which was a magic place to be as a kid and getting free tapes) When the list was published he obviously pulled all the nasties and boxed them up in his attic. Years later I got my hands on them and still have a number of them to this day including Zombie Flesh Eaters, Driller Killer, Cannibal Apocalypse, House By The Cemetary and more. Some of them even still have the rental cards inside them with the members numbers hand written on them each time they were rented out. Nice to have a little piece of video history in my possession.

[@paulh6673]

I remember buying some films on "blank" VHS, from a classified ad, way way back. Including Anthropophagus, House on the Edge of the Park, Dont Go in the House, Absurd and Island of Death. And a few others I've forgotten now. It's hilarious when I see these on the shelves in HMV in fancy remastered/box set editions.

[@DavysFlicks]

It's the ultimate irony - these things now get world class treatment in the UK from Arrow, 88 and the likes!

[@adamsmashups4839]

I did the same back in the 90s'Chas Balun,Video Search Of Miami,Video Wasteland etc

[@trevdowson5810]

Love you guys for doing this. A really superb look at what was getting the ignorant folks’ knickers in a twist back in the days when the best horror was not only banned at the pictures but you couldn’t even legally buy any copies either. Crazy days. Special thanks to Davy, as Pete said, he researched much of this episode and made it even more special then usual.

[@DavysFlicks]

Hey, Cheers as always Trev!

[@trevdowson-z6o]

Fan-tastic! Many thanks for another excellent Monster's Den. Never boring, always plenty of good info and humour, brilliant!

[@DavysFlicks]

cheers!

[@Drinckx2]

It’s extraordinary looking back at this period (as a British person). Good overview by Davy. Mary Whitehouse is one of those weird characters who, as Davy points out, gain a cultural status way above any intrinsic importance or value they have. She had been around since the war, involved in evangelical Christian crusades. She formed the National Viewers and Listeners Association in the 1960s and this was her main vehicle for promoting her toxic activism. Regarding video nasties, she was allowed into parliament in the 1980s to present a showreel of clips from the films in question. She considered The Evil Dead the worst of them so perhaps she’d never seen the protracted rape and revenge of I Spit on Your Grave or just had it in more for films based in more of a fantasy/supernatural horror corner of the room. Of course, she was for ‘traditional Christian values’ in an increasingly secular country, anti-porn, anti-gay, anti-swearing. She was like Cnut trying to declare dominion over an incoming tide. A very silly Cnut, indeed.

[@DavysFlicks]

I should have mentioned her famous "I don't to see them to know what they're like" nonsense. Or the judge who said when told one nasty was "well staged if not a good idea" "SO WAS THE NAZI INVASION OF POLAND" - not sure there's an equivalence, M'lud! On one hand I find it hard to hate Mary Whitehouse, she wasn't fake, she believed she was helping. Yet at the same time I think her mindset gave rise to this awful notion of shy conservatism and she put back public discourse for years.

[@Drinckx2]

@@DavysFlicks Yes, although she had, perhaps just by associations as similar groups tend to create support networks, connections with quite staunch far-right tendencies within conservatism both in Britain and abroad. No doubt that she genuinely believed in what she saw as her mission, but it added toxicity to public life, especially in her ongoing campaign against gay culture, and a degree of ignorance, as evidenced by the Video Nasty campaign.

[@DavysFlicks]

@@Drinckx2 Yes, suffice to say I didn't want to get TOO political on Pete's channel but the line between this stuff and fascism is thin. Paved with good intentions etc.

[@adamsmashups4839]

How did you lose your virginity Mary Long? When will you lose your stupidity Mary Long?

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

A highly entertaining, interesting and informative episode of The Monster's Den that was made even better by having all six appear for choices and discussion. Kudos to Davy for such a great introduction and ongoing commentary about the Nasties themselves. Also, a special note to Dan from another person old enough to see Warhol's Frankenstein in the movie theatre. Went for the 3-D and had to see the movie again. Thanks, guys, for covering this topic so thoroughly. Now to print of the Wikipedia list. Thanks again.

[@DavysFlicks]

Thanks my man!

[@jasongaylor2232]

This show was so good. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Love these deep dives. And I love how you guys play off one another. There's amazing chemistry with this panel.

[@DavysFlicks]

Thanks!

[@lazyboneslv]

Great job gents lots of good stuff. Any books on the video nasties you recommend?

[@JaredLitherland]

Fantastic episode - great to have the entire MD crue in the house for this topic

[@DavysFlicks]

Yep, was a blast to be back for the first time in a while with all of us!

[@abe3802]

Sweden had a Censorship Authority from 1911-2010 that cut in movies or banned them. And we had many moral panic debates from the early 80s about the VHS violence. The last movie in Sweden that was cut by the Censorship was Casino 1995.

[@jeffreyrobinson9120]

Thanks to Davy for explaining the origins of something I`d been wondering about for years.

[@DavysFlicks]

A pleasure!

[@maxthepupp]

Great conversation fellas! Thank you !🤘👹🤘

[@DavysFlicks]

Cheers Max!

[@MarkAS56]

I first heard the phrase Video Nasty on an episode of The Young Ones when MTV was airing it in the 80's.

[@GordonHeaney]

Great episode, that one

[@0KT0BER]

Mondo Chelloveck Movies is a grand channel for covering the 'nasties' era of Britain, he's still very much enthused with the whole subject.

[@garyjoyce2160]

Phenomenal/ entertaining show. Loved it Thanks to all 👍💯

[@DavysFlicks]

A pleasure as always, nice to catch the chat for the first time in ages!

[@garyjoyce2160]

@@DavysFlicks / as usual: your insight and knowledge is insane. Well rounded my friend. Awesome job 👍💯

[@OveR1978]

10/10 ep. I was unsure how much of this would be of interest to non-English but David was powerful talking about censorship and that applies to movies and all life. You all give me many films to look for - and I see from Peter's list that I have seen more "Nasty" than I knew.

[@VampireJack10]

I've found there's been massive interest in the video nasties from the non UK horror community. It directly affected the Australian horror scene, for example, as much if what was banned in the UK was banned also in Oz. Oh, the movies themselves weren't completely banned. They were allowed to ve viewed in Private Members Clubs, which were frequented by non council estate riff raff, as the upper class who frequented such establishments considered themselves intellectually superior to the average Sun reader, so would be able to understand the films.....

[@DavysFlicks]

@@VampireJack10 That's also how cinemas like the Scala escaped issues. You had to be a "member" (which cost at various points, one penny or a smile) - then they were a "club" not just a cinema, so could show things the BBFC banned. Just shows the hypocrisy, that they don't REALLY care that people can see things. They care that the right sort of people get whipped to vote a certain way, that papers are sold and that small distributors don't mess with the big boys.

[@AStoryfromChina]

Hi everyone...watching from China...i am an ex-pat from England....love the show. You guys always brighten my day....

[@DavysFlicks]

Cheers pal!

[@AStoryfromChina]

@@DavysFlicks And i thank you sir

[@mintyfresh4987]

Love the long episodes!!! More merriment.

[@brizzieleif5258]

Mary Whitehouse mentioned on the Pink Floyd song Pigs.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

I was gonna comment the same. Mary Whitehouse is indeed one of the three pigs in Pigs (Three Different Ones) off Animals. Roger Waters refers to her as a "house proud town mouse" and accuses her of "trying to keep our feelings off the street." Many Americans and younger Brits incorrectly think he was referring to The White House. On his 2017 tour, Waters actually repurposed that part of the song to address Trump and his White House.

[@DavysFlicks]

She was in songs, comedy sketches, plays, there was a TV show named for her, and a porn mag named after her. She cast a BIG figure.

[@Cam-uv5sc]

I was literally looking through the comments for this as just an hour ago I was listening to Animals. As an American, when I first heard this I thought the same thing and I was confused until I heard the real meaning a little while back.

[@guillermomaldonado6277]

EPIC show, guys! Thanks 🍺🤘

[@DavysFlicks]

Thanks my man!

[@ydzhugdanov]

Kudos to Davey for his intellectual prowess in this one. The guy knows his shit!👏

[@DavysFlicks]

Thanks my man.

[@VampireJack10]

In regards to Mary Whitehouse, the UK top shelf magazine 'Whitehouse' was actually named after her!😂

[@GordonHeaney]

Well, there you go, I thought it was named after the US President's residence

[@VampireJack10]

@@GordonHeaney Nope, the creators of the magazine used her name as a bit of trollling as she was anti pornography.

[@Whazzat]

🎶Catch, catch the horror taxi I fell in love with a video nasty🎶

[@DavysFlicks]

I stuck that on Facebook as the theme song for this ep. ;)

[@jasongaylor2232]

@@DavysFlicks Love "The Damned". Love that song.

[@breakaleg10]

Love this discussion and the panel is wonderful with your knowledge. I have a suggestion for a future show: films showing ridiculous scenes that made the movie almost unwatchable

[@DavysFlicks]

Cheers folks - let us know how many of the "nasties" you've seen. A phenomenon whipped up by a reactionary media, seized upon by optimistic politicians. Would never happen now eh? Yeah... See you in 2 weeks for a Swag Show!

[@webbvandiver9139]

Davy…I’ve seen prob 25 of them. Looked at list on wiki during pandemic and watched a bunch. Didn’t realize there’s like 60+?!

[@VampireJack10]

Of the 72 officially banned, I've seen......all 72. It's a rite of passage for us British horror fans who grew up around it. Lot's of tape trading went on back in the day!😂

[@VampireJack10]

The newspapers tried it again in the UK back in the 90s when they tried to blame the murder of toddler Jamie Bulger (R.I.P.) by two 10 year old boys, on Child's Play 3. It was a crime that horrified Britain, which was jumped on by the same politicians who brought in the original bans. The newspapers were calling for the banning of not just horror movies, but ALL movies that were not PG f.f s.! It wasn't until it was pointed out that Schindler's List would be banned that they saw common sense.

[@griefforest1870]

Still happens to this day. Some examples of films and albums: First three Cannibal Corpse albums, a couple of the last ones. Most of their albums have censored covers, 5 you can't find on streaming services, three of their albums are on the index and two even banned overall and collected by the authorities - in the 90s and 2010s mind you. Strangely enough one of the available ones got rereleased and banned and one of the banned ones got rereleased and not banned. Some say it's because of the covers, but CC are forbidden to play any material from these albums. They tried to play them instrumentally, but even that ended in a huge outcry and they stopped performing these songs alltogether. Certain politicians even go to their concerts themselves to make sure they don't play anything nasty. They even contacted them throughout the decades. CC just laughs it off but has to stick to the guidelines nonetheless. The authorities weren't even that thorough - to my knowledge you can get 98% of nasty death metal, grindcore, covers lyrics and all, but CC is the devil and they're still prosecuted to this day. Violence Unimagined also had a censored cover. Another strange example are the Evil dead films, both the old ones and the 2013 one. The last one got distributed far and wide both in cinemas, videostores and at the advent of streaming but it was banned after most people already seen it. After 35-40 years the band on the originals were lifted, after it was unthinkable they'll ever get distributed even 15 years ago.

[@DavysFlicks]

@@VampireJack10 The Bulger case was another disgusting example, though later than the Nasties. I touched on it during our Child's Play ranking. That the scum press used, frankly, one of the tamer films to say "that's what did it" is one reason - among many - the red tops and Torygraph will never be in my house.

[@mackchats6520]

Aww man, sorry I missed this stream

[@AdrianHayes1950]

One of THE best Den eps. Davey steered this for sure and I appreciate not censoring the political side. A lot of new films to check out for me. Thanks fellas. After the debate...I needed this.

[@karlkarlos3545]

Most of our problems stem from the belief that it's rude to bring policy into the conversation. But I believe there are situations where it is far more dangerous not to get political.

[@DavysFlicks]

@@karlkarlos3545 I agree. I try not to on SOT as where I am, Bernie Sanders would be a conservative, but for subjects like this? To not talk about the politics of the scene would be to miss a massive part of the story.

[@jasongaylor2232]

@@DavysFlicks You did a great job, Davey. You can't talk about the "video nasties" and that time period without the politics that were involved. The facts are the facts. We have to be objective. It was indeed the Christian Right that were trying to ban and censor these films. And they even went so far as to arrest people. By the way, they're still trying to do the same thing. And yes, I'm American but I am to the left of Bernie. He's just a "Social Democrat". Pretty moderate in most other Countries. Still love the guy though. And I can't say that for many American politicians.

[@nickbovi]

There is a great documentary on this called "Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape"

[@DavysFlicks]

Yep, that's on Vol. 1 of the sets Chris and I talked about full of docs and trailers. Great stuff.

[@Rando1975]

I've 71.5 of the 72 Nasties. I haven't Boogyman II, but since that mostly footage from the first movie, I consider it half watched.

[@stephennorris2524]

Did Davy say The Exorcist wasn't released until 2000?, I remember watching that and The Heretic back in the early 80's.

[@DavysFlicks]

Well, - like all these there was a pre-cert version, that's how it ended up unavailable, it has to be released to be pulled in the first place. - but it was banned from the mid 80s (so the one you saw wouldn't have had a ratings logo and is now worth some money!) till 1999. James Freman who I mentioned was the tyrant in charge of the BBFC said "The Board must consider the work’s suitability for viewing in the home, where there is far less control of audience age… we have too much evidence of teenagers being disturbed by it in the cinema, particularly girls, as well as advice from child psychologists that it could be seriously disturbing to young people.” " - and all copies were removed from circulation with no new ones till the ban was lifted. Essentially ALL the nasties were released - that was the issue. Though The Exorcist is almost a different case. They couldn't put one thing on it like sex or violence - so banned it for just it's tone. Which is in some ways even more disturbing, I'd say.

[@simonlewis7253]

I think it’s worth saying that a lot of these films were not very good and, with 40 years of hindsight have received far more advertising than they ever would have got. Most of them would have quickly drifted into obscurity.

[@DavysFlicks]

Yep, the dichotomy of the movement. A lot were banned for no real reason, hence wanting to pick from all 3 lists - to show how dumb some of this truly was.

[@DJDOGG31]

Robert Englund was in Eaten Alive

[@karlkarlos3545]

And the great William Finley.

[@chavernac]

Zulawski’s Possession is a metaphor about the alienation of communism perverted by what can be called the « Temple of Doom syndrom » : created through a harsh divorce 🤣 A more direct and understandable movie would be its actual kinda north american doppleganger, born around the same time : Cronenberg’s The Brood 😉 P.S. : fleeing polish censorship a few times, Zulawski did a few movies in France, where he met the mother of one of his kids : Sophie Marceau (Braveheart, The World Is Not Enough...)

[@DavysFlicks]

I'd also say later on, there are parallels to Lynch's work with doppelgangers - Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive have heavy Zulawski vibes. Cheers

[@chavernac]

😎 ​@@DavysFlicks

[@PatKennedydon]

Here in Ireland The Life Of Brian and A Clockwork Orange were banned to name but two.

[@GordonHeaney]

True, but Life of Brian was banned for a quite different reason to the video nasties

[@PatKennedydon]

@@GordonHeaney Yes religious reasons I believe at the time.

[@jeffreyrobinson9120]

I`ve always loved "Don`t look In The Basement". Cheap and super low budget, but very effective. Some really great characters in the asylum.

[@hansgraichen8051]

I rented the Beast in Heat through Netflix back in the day, except it was under the title SS Hell Camp if I recall correctly. Chris is correct, don’t buy this.

[@social191]

Plus, Chris was also correct in his notions that The Beast In Heat (1977) was garbage. I agree.

[@Rando1975]

Other then that the lead doctor is hot, it's total garbage.

[@Timelord007]

Oh i lived through the 80s when loads of films were culled, thank god common sense prevailed in the end. Mary Whitehouse was a huge pain in the ass i remember Spitting Image mocking her as Rambo.

[@michaelsvoronos]

Again ...Chris forgot to turn on his light. Creeping in the shadows. LOL

[@hansgraichen8051]

I remember those back rooms with thre saloon doors that weren’t for porn. There was a small video store I went to with the “saloon door” room where you’d find Traces of Death, Faces of Death, Shocking Asia and similar films.

[@johnspaulding1681]

Pete's pick Mausoleum ...was actually bankrolled by a mobster trying to go legit

[@VampireJack10]

I suspect the Tobe Hooper movie Eaten Alive was confused with the Italian cannibal movie Eaten Alive.

[@DrOz-007]

Yep, that's what I thought. Wrong film!

[@DavysFlicks]

It happened twice to Tobe - they banned his Funhouse when the one the meant was Fun House (separate words) - this is the level of intellect here!

[@VampireJack10]

@@DavysFlicks I forgot about Funhouse!

[@Rando1975]

That movie ended up on Section 3 of the Nasties, which meant it was banned and able to be seized, but it was not prosecuted. But yes, that is much more graphic then Hooper's film.

[@Rando1975]

​@@DavysFlicksthere's NO DOUBT they screwed that up. Cause there is nothing offensive about The Funhouse. How The Last House on Dead End Street aka The Fun House escaped the list is beyond me.

[@philip-edwardphillis4313]

Andrzej Zulawski also made a french film featuring also a storyline on the overtaking of porn in quality cinema called "l'important c'est d'aimer" which is great but also dark and a bit nasty

[@Drinckx2]

On a side note, Davy’s audio sounds a bit tinny, which seems odd as he usually sounds fine and he has a proper microphone.

[@DavysFlicks]

Yeah - sorry about that. We obviously hear ourselves fine sitting talking, so we rely on others to say if there's issues. I've asked the guys to let me know in future, as the audio input defaulted to the cam mic, which is shit. So the big expensive mic in front of me? Useless last night! Oh well!

[@peterm.fitzpatrick7735]

we still have pet dogs being snapped up by alligators here in Tampa

[@thekivster]

It seems that movies in the 70s and 80s were way more exploitative and inappropriate than movies today.

[@DavysFlicks]

I'm not sure. There's little on the list as hard as even the Saw sequels or Hostel and those are mainstream Hollywood films much less some really out there films like the new French extreme or A Serbian Film. The list was made in the early 80s which explains the era most are from more than anything else.

[@thekivster]

@@DavysFlicks I mean in a modern movie they usually wouldn’t show naked women for no reason. There are some exceptions but it was way more prevalent in the 70s.

[@johnspaulding1681]

Dead and Buried...I think the point was gathering souls to use as slaves....the more souls you gather, the more slaves you have in the afterlife

[@cool927]

Sounds like a Tipper Gore type

[@DavysFlicks]

A bit - but without the political aspirations. Mary, for her faults, really did believe she was saving kids from moral sin. Tipper was out for Al, and herself.

[@jasongaylor2232]

It wasn't just Tipper Gore. It was a lot of the Washington Wives(PMRC). From both parties. More info: The Parents Music Resource Center was founded in May 1985. The group's formation was cemented with the financial help of Mike Love of the Beach Boys, and Joseph Coors, the owner of Coors beers. Both had actively supported Reagan's candidacy, and Coors offered offices to the PMRC. Mike Love has always been an insufferable DICK!

[@gordy3714]

I have got the "Box of the Banned" video nasties I spit on your grave and Driller Killer. were big in the UK. Nightmares in a Damaged Brain. Do they still have those in America where you have a dancer who is stripping off and you have to keep putting coins in the slot to keep watching. 🤣🤣

[@mulicuy]

The first movie I figured had to be on the list was "Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom," but it looks like it wasn't actually a Video Nasty? But it was banned theatrically and on video anyway? Either way, that one is a *rough* watch 😲 I haven't seen "Faces of Death" since a sleepover in 8th grade, but I almost wanna fast forward through all the animal deaths just to see how fake most of it actually is. I'm sure I bought into it at the time. I do remember the infamous monkey head restaurant scene! The sequel to the original "I Spit on Your Grave" from 2019 is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Avoid.

[@DavysFlicks]

I love Passolini, one of my favourite Italian directors. Not QUITE sure that means I can recommend Salo to most, but he was a stunning filmmaker.

[@Rando1975]

OMG, I saw I Spit on Your Grave Deja View a few months ago. One of worst films I've ever seen. It's one of those films you read reviews of and say, "It can't be that bad, can it?" No. It's worse. WAY worse.

[@srvuk]

This was a video nasty based on the inability for some to refrain from continuous potty mouth. Juvenile at best.

[@Jamie.Laszlo]

I think you would have gotten along with Mary Whitehouse just fine.

[@DavysFlicks]

@@Jamie.Laszlo She was a fucking shag and a half though, who wouldn't chat her up?

[@sotdude7]

Your constant bitching about 'potty mouths' has gotten old. Go complain somewhere else and leave things here to the adults who can handle adult language in a fun, informative conversation.

[@jasongaylor2232]

Grow up, dork. There's nothing wrong with cursing in context. Plus, we're all adults here. Do you have your kids watching or something?! Hey, Jamie. I agree. Whitehouse would have loved this prick. And like I say. It's usually the most ardent "moral crusaders" that end up having the most skeletons in their closet.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Your comments have gotten old...potty mouth? Who uses that term? These are episodes for adults, get with the program.

[@andybrett1152]

Obviously theirs a werewolf growing betwween her legs thats the title of this show !

[@thekivster]

The UK is such an insane country

[@AdrianHayes1950]

Just watched 2 old men in a "debate" that made me think no-one does insanity like us if this pair are our best..

[@thekivster]

@@AdrianHayes1950 It wasn't that crazy let's be real

[@AdrianHayes1950]

The "crazy" is still to come. That was more depressing.

[@thekivster]

@@AdrianHayes1950 what do you think is going to happen

[@jasongaylor2232]

Do you live in the United States? As George Carlin said.."front row seat to the freak show in this Country". Absolute insanity.

[@ErnestIII83]

Hearing about the "video nasties" reminds me of the book banning that's happening in the U.S. at the moment. And I'll just leave it at that.

[@jasongaylor2232]

You are correct. Christian Nationalists and their "project 2025". Very scary stuff.

[@cfick]

Can you name any single book that is currently banned? Just one title and evidence it has been banned, as you say.

[@DavysFlicks]

Yes...and I don't even live there. Since books are banned at state level you'll not see any federal ones. But - to pick a nice Monster's Den example - the graphic novels of The Walking Dead Vols. 1-11 are banned from Missouri libraries. Gender Queer and Flamer are banned from schools in 15 states. Handmaiden's Tale is banned in schools in 4 and libraries in 2.

[@cfick]

@@DavysFlicks well I don't know that it's true but assuming it is, you went from "books are banned" to "some books are not allowed for school aged children" real fast. Amazing.

[@DavysFlicks]

Jesus - try harder. And yes, you strike me as someone who doesn't know if facts are true or not...but that it doesn't matter as your mind is made up anyway. When did libraries become "for children"? I gave two examples, one library, one school. And since I didn't make the original post, I didn't go anywhere real fast. No wonder you see libraries and think "kids" - probably the last time you read a book was at school. You've made your insignificant points on various posts now and you're not worth it, my man. A nameless, faceless person just looking to be THAT guy in a comments section? Yeah - cheerio.

[@tommyaddison6539]

Haha the hot witch lady, Alo rules

[@kamranmalik8546]

The Fly (1986)

[@DavysFlicks]

Too late for the list, tho Cronenberg's Scanners and Rabid were included.

[@tommyaddison6539]

Joe Spinel was every woman’s dream

[@liamhemmings9039]

PMRC was left wing