Severin Films and Nucleus Films To Present Remastered VIDEO NASTIES - THE DEFINITIVE

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Press release!

Severin Films and Nucleus Films To Present Remastered VIDEO NASTIES - THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE in North America

3 Disc Set Will Be The First Of Many US Releases Of Nucleus' Hit Line Of Compilation DVDs

Los Angeles, December 4, 2013 -- Severin Films has announced a partnership with UK based cult movie label Nucleus Films to release select titles of their popular line of horror and exploitation DVDs. The union will commence with the highly acclaimed VIDEO NASTIES - THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE, which boasts three discs of banned film newly remastered trailers, introductions by critics and experts, Jake West's award-winning documentary MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP & VIDEOTAPE and much more.

The video nasty era in the UK in the early 80s is now notorious amongst horror fans for branding movies like THE EVIL DEAD, DRILLER KILLER, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST and ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS as likely to deprave & corrupt those who view them in British homes. Says David Gregory of Severin Films, "Nucleus' collection was a smash hit in the UK both critically and commercially and with more and more awareness recently in the US of the notorious 'nasties', from books on the subject, to festivals celebrating the condemned films, to ours and other labels' releases proudly touting "Banned in Britain", there's no reason why the set shouldn't resonate with US fans of horror and exploitation cinema." Severin Films have released titles from the official nasties list in the past, such as THE HOUSE ON STRAW HILL, BLOODY MOON, DEVIL HUNTER and CANNIBAL TERROR, and have more lined up for 2014. Severin co-founder Carl Daft continues, "David and I have known Marc Morris of Nucleus since we were in High School. We used to trade illegal nasties at dodgy all-night horror shows at London's legendary Scala Cinema. There couldn't be a better collection to start our partnership of releasing their carefully selected compilation discs from the labyrinthine archive of Mr. Morris." Morris adds, "My partner Jake West and I are delighted to be in business with David and Carl as we obviously share similar sensibilities when it comes to our tastes in exploitation cinema -- both of our labels debuted with Just Jaeckin's GWENDOLINE on different sides of the pond back in 2006." Nucleus co-founder and filmmaker Jake West (DOGHOUSE, EVIL ALIENS, ABCs OF DEATH) concludes, "We've been talking for years with David and Carl about finding something to work on together and now's the time to do it."

VIDEO NASTIES will be followed up by GRINDHOUSE TRAILER CLASSICS VOLUME 1 and more will be released throughout 2014.

[sukebanboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sukebanboy]

This was great!

[Ignatius Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ignatius]

Absolutely. Nice to see it getting a wider release. Though I would consider a truly remastered release to be one without the poor introductions that Allan Bryce did. Particularly given the superb work done by commentators like Stephen Thrower, Patricia MacCormack, and Kim Newman. In fact, it was Stephen's intros on this set that got me into Andy Milligan.

[MarcM Member Find all posts View Profile Close MarcM]

We're very excited this is happening. We've been asked for years if there would ever be a US release.

It was also issued in Australia last week too.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Nucleus just posted this on their FB page... not sure what the release date is yet but it's nice to see this is still in the works.

[sukebanboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sukebanboy]

I must say I prefer the ORIGINAL cover to this new one...

Any new extras or anything on this release?

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

This is a follow up to the original, an all new documentary. Not sure on extras, spects, etc. yet.

[sukebanboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sukebanboy]

This is a follow up to the original, an all new documentary. Not sure on extras, spects, etc. yet.

Whoops!

I missed the "PART 2" on the cover!!...Thought it was the cover of the US release!

Seriously looking forward to this then!!

[Jens Thomsen Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jens Thomsen]

Any difference between the UK and US release of volume 1? "Remastered" in what way?

[sukebanboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sukebanboy]

Any difference between the UK and US release of volume 1? "Remastered" in what way?

I would like to know this too please anyone?

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Press release!

Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide DVD
3 Discs
Label: Severin Films
PRE-BOOK: 05/06/2014 STREET DATE: 06/03/14
SRP: 29.98 UPC: 663390000205 Cat: SEV9205
Run Time: 540 Minutes Language: English Color
Widescreen 1.78:1 Dolby Digital 2.0
Production Year: 2010 Genre: Documentary MPAA Rating: NR
Directed by: Jake West
Stars: Ruggero Deodato, Neil Marshall, Christopher Smith

Every Video Nasty critiqued and explored, followed by the original trailers, for the first time ever on DVD in America! Prepare to be corrupted and depraved once more with this 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, The era-defining and critically acclaimed documentary VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP AND VIDEOTAPE directed by Jake (Doghouse) West and produced by Marc Morris features interviews with filmmakers 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.

Disc Two presents the 39 titles that were successfully prosecuted in UK courts and deemed liable to deprave and corrupt. These included: Absurd, Cannibal Holocaust, The Driller Killer, I Spit on Your Grave, Nightmares in a Damaged Brain, Snuff, and Zombie Flesh-Eaters.

Disc Three presents the 33 titles that were initially banned, but then subsequently acquitted and removed from the DPP's list. These included: Death Trap, Deep River Savages, The Evil Dead, Human Experiments, The Toolbox Murders and Zombie Creeping Flesh. Discs 2 and 3 can be viewed either as a non-stop trailer show, or with newly-filmed introductions from a wide range of acclaimed media academics and notable genre journalists. Each disc is preceded by a brief introduction by cult horror presenter Emily Booth.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Updated info from Severin:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

VIDEO NASTIES - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION 3 DISC SET STREETS 6/3/14

14 HOURS OF TRAILERS & MUCH MORE FOR ALL 72 TITLES ON THATCHER?S NOTORIOUS BANNED LIST

PLUS NAZISPLOITATION SPECIAL EDITIONS FROM INTERVISION

Severin Films has announced June 3rd as street date for the US DVD debut of the UK smash hit VIDEO NASTIES - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION. The set includes the acclaimed documentary by Jake West (EVIL ALIENS, ABCs OF DEATH) and Marc Morris (Editor of 'The Art Of The Nasty') MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP & VIDEO TAPE, newly remastered trailers for all 72 movies on the banned list which caused witch hunts and widespread hysteria in the early 80s including lurid gems like THE GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY, THE DRILLER KILLER, ZOMBIE CREEPING FLESH, FACES OF DEATH, NIGHTMARES IN A DAMAGED BRAIN and CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE, plus commentary from critics, scholars and filmmakers on each title.

The video nasty era in the UK is now notorious amongst horror fans for branding certain genre movies as likely to deprave & corrupt those who view them in British homes. Video stores were raided up and down the land, distributors were fined and jailed and the British public were denied the right to view certain titles which the authorities deemed too dangerous for public consumption. Across 14 hours the full shameful story, the political lies, the corrupt press and the denial of basic freedoms are laid bare in this monumental 3 disc set.

Also on June 3rd, Severin's sub-label Intervision will release UNCUT SPECIAL EDITION DVDs of two notorious ?nazisploitation? titles: GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY and DEPORTED WOMEN OF THE SS SPECIAL SECTION. The Italian 'nazisploitation' cycle of films were amongst the first to attract the attention of the video nasty police and GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY and DEPORTED WOMEN are two of the most notorious and now remastered from the original camera negatives. For extras both titles include a new in-depth featurette with Film Historian Dr. Marcus Stiglegger on the history of the cycle starting with WWII propaganda and comic books, through early cinematic examples in the 50s and 60s before the commercial success of THE NIGHT PORTER and Visconti's THE DAMNED paved the way for ILSA SHE WOLF OF THE SS and a host of Italian productions including SS EXPERIMENT CAMP, NAZI LOVE CAMP 27 and SALON KITTY. In addition DEPORTED WOMEN features a jaw-dropping interview with late director Rino Di Silvestro (WEREWOLF WOMAN, HANNA D. THE GIRL FROM VONDEL PARK) and amusing recollections from star John Steiner (CALIGULA, TENEBRAE).

Bundles of all three (VIDEO NASTIES - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY & DEPORTED WOMEN OF THE SS) purchased through the Severin Films store will come with a free VHS replica of the GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY video nasty original release as well as a postcard of the original art designed by notorious nasty cover artist Graham Humphreys signed by Jake West and Marc Morris.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Press release for the upcoming release of Part Two:

FILM NEWS (UK) VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE PART 2 GETS RELEASE DATE PLUS FRIGHTFEST HOSTED LONDON PREMIERE EVENT AT THE PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA

Prepare to be corrupted and depraved once more as Nucleus Films releases the sequel to the definitive guide to the Video Nasties phenomenon - the most extraordinary and scandalous era in the history of British film.

Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Part 2, a three-disc collector's edition box set, is being released on DVD on July 14th 2014, to tie in with the 30th Anniversary of the Video Recordings Act 1984

For the first time ever on DVD, all 82 films that fell foul of the Director of Public Prosecutions “Section 3” list are trailer-featured with specially filmed intros for each title, alongside a brand new documentary - VIDEO NASTIES: DRACONIAN DAYS, directed by Jake West.

To celebrate the release, Film4 FrightFest is hosting a special event - the world exclusive London Premiere of the finalised unseen extended 97 minute cut of 'Video Nasties Draconian Days' at The Prince Charles Cinema on Thurs 3 July, 8.30pm. The screening will be followed by an extensive, Q & A debate, hosted by FrightFest's Paul McEvoy, with director Jake West, producer Marc Morris, author/film critic Alan Jones plus other special guests.. There will also be the chance to buy a signed copy of the numbered limited edition run.

Jake West commented: “I see 'Draconian Days' as a companion piece and a direct continuation of the fascinating history of Video Nasties, which I started in the last Documentary “Moral Panic, Video Nasties and Videotape”. This one picks up the story from the passing of the Video Recordings act 1984 and the effect it had on censorship under James Ferman's rule at the BBFC up until 1999. This and the further moral panic that ensued, together with the impact of the Michael Ryan Massacre, the Bulger Murder and David Alton's notorious Amendment that would have banned all films above PG created a strange situation for the horror fan.

I was a teenager in the 80s, I grew-up with the Video Nasties - trying to get hold of them and watch them,” he recalls. “It could take us years and years to find a film that we were interested in, and certainly that created the whole underground horror scene and the camaradarie that was born. I was very influenced by Video Nasties in terms of wanting to make gory, fun horror movies, because we felt like there was some kind of danger or subversive feel to that material which we were growing up with”.

Producer Marc Morris, co-author of 'Art of the Nasty' and 'Shock Horror: Astounding Artwork from the Video Nasty Era' added::

“I too remember this time, and how renting horror videos was a frustrating experience. I became part of the underground tape trading network, and travelled abroad to import my own uncut horror videos. I attended film fairs, horror film festivals and have a lot of scary memories of those days. We feel this documentary pays tribute to those days. We've been working on this this amazing follow-up box set for over two years. We know collectors won't want to miss it”

The documentary premiered at this year's Glasgow Film Festival, as part of Film4 FrightFest, where it received critical acclaim.

Ironically, the documentary has come along at a time when the UK government, together with the Department for Culture Media and Sport are callling for much stricter regulation of home video by changing the BBFC's “exemption” guidelines. UK On-Demand TV will also be coming under ATVOD regulation.

Nucleus Films have been at the forefront of tackling the new exemption ruling head-on by setting up a meeting with the UK's independent video labels and challenging the BBFC and British Video Association. A petition was set up on 38 Degrees which has seen almost 4,000 signatues and continues to grow daily.

Disc One: “Video Nasties: Draconian Days”

Nucleus Films' critically acclaimed follow-up documentary to 'VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP AND VIDEOTAPE' (2010) from director Jake West and producer Marc Morris who continue to uncover the shocking story of home entertainment following the introduction of the 1984 Video Recordings Act. The United Kingdom was plunged into a new Dark Age of the most restrictive censorship, where the horror movie became the bloody eviscerated victim of continuing dread created by self-aggrandizing moral guardians, and the film charts the consequences of this, including subversive social culture that sprung up around it. With fascinating interviews and more jaw dropping archive footage, get ready to reflect and rejoice on the passing of a turbulent time.

People you'll see in this documentary include: Martin Barker, Sian Barber, James Ferman (Head of BBFC up to 1999), Sir Graham Bright, Lavinia Carey, Alex Chandon, Tony Clarke, Kate Egan, David Flint, John Hayward, Spencer Hickman, David Hyman (BBFC), Neil Keenan, C.P. Lee, Alan Jones, David Kerekes, Craig Lapper, Neil Marshall, Paul McEvoy, Marc Morris, Kim Newman, Julian Petley, Geoffrey Robertson QC, Christopher Smith, Stephen Thrower, Cathal Tohill, Carol Topolski & Nigel Wingrove.

Discs Two and Three: "The Section 3 List"

This presents the official additional 82 titles that were designated under "Section 3" of the Obscene Publications Act by the Director of Public Prosecutions. These titles were liable for seizure and forfeiture by the police, removed from sale or hire and then destroyed; although they were not ultimately prosecuted. This amazing list was discovered whilst researching legal paperwork for the original "VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE" and finally clears up why so many additional titles were historically considered to be "Video Nasties".

Every shocking Section 3 title is presented with its original trailer and a newly filmed featurette that includes a wide range of notable genre journalists and acclaimed media academics that explore and uncover the sordid history of each release.

Introductions by: Evrim Ersoy, Julian Grainger, Justin Kerswell, Alan Jones, Patricia MacCormack, Marc Morris, Kim Newman, Karen Oughton, Stephen Thrower,

DVD Extras include a gallery of original video poster art and a fabulous peek back at Britain's independent fanzine scene which sprung up during the 80s and 90s.

The 82 “DPP Section 3” Videos were:
Abducted (Don Jones, 1973)
Aftermath, The (Steve Barkett, 1980)
Black Room, The (Elly Kenner & Norman Thaddeus Vane, 1981)
Blood Lust (Marijan Vajda, 1976)
Blood Song (Alan J. Levi, 1974)
Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll, The (Carlos Aured, 1973)
Brutes and Savages (Arthur Davis, 1977)
Cannibal (Ruggero Deodato, 1976)
Cannibals (Jess Franco, 1980)
Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, The (Fred Schepisi, 1978)
Child, The (Robert Voskanian, 1977)
Christmas Evil (Lewis Jackson, 1980)
Communion (Alfred Sole, 1976)
Dawn of the Mummy (Farouk Agrama as Frank Agrama, 1981)
Dead Kids (Michel Laughlin, 1981)
Death Weekend (William Fruet, 1976)
Deep Red (Dario Argento, 1975)
Demented (Arthur Jeffreys, 1980)
Demons, The (Jess Franco as Clifford Brown, 1972)
Don't Answer the Phone! (Robert Hammer, 1979)
Eaten Alive (Umberto Lenzi, 1980)
Enter the Devil (Frank Q. Dobbs, 1972)
Erotic Rites of Frankenstein, The (Jess Franco, 1972)
Evil, The (Gus Trikonis, 1977)
Executioner, The (Dominico Miceli as Duke Mitchell, 1978)
Final Exam (Jimmy Huston, 1981)
Foxy Brown (Jack Hill, 1974)
Friday the 13th (Sean S. Cunningham, 1980)
Friday the 13th 2 (Steve Miner, 1981)
G.B.H. (David Kent-Watson, 1983)
Graduation Day (Herb Freed, 1981)
Happy Birthday to Me (J. Lee-Thompson, 1980)
Headless Eyes (Kent Bateman, 1971)
Hell Prison (Eduardo Mulargia as Edward G. Muller, 1979)
Hills Have Eyes, The (Wes Craven, 1977)
Home Sweet Home (Nettie Peí±a, 1980)
Honeymoon Horror (Harry Preston, 1982)
Inseminoid (Norman J. Warren, 1980)
Invasion of the Blood Farmers (Ed Adlum, 1972)
Killing Hour, The (Armand Mastroianni, 1982)
Last Horror Film (David Winters, 1982)
Last Hunter (Antonio Margheriti as Anthony M. Dawson, 1980)
Love Butcher, The (Mikel Angel & Don Jones, 1975)
Mad Foxes (Paul Grau, 1981)
Mark of the Devil (Michael Armstrong, 1969)
Martin (George A. Romero, 1976)
Massacre Mansion (Michael Pataki, 1975)
Mausoleum (Michael Dugan, 1982)
Midnight (John Russo, 1980)
Naked Fist (Cirio H. Santiago, 1981)
Nesting, The (Armand Weston, 1980)
New Adventures of Snow White (Rolf Thiele, 1969)
Night of the Living Dead (George A. Romero, 1968)
NightBeast (Donald M. Dohler, 1982)
Nightmare City (Umberto Lenzi, 1980)
Oasis of the Zombies (Jess Franco, 1981)
Parasite (Charles Band, 1982)
Phantasm (Don Coscarelli, 1977)
Pigs (Marc Lawrence, 1972)
Prey (Norman J. Warren, 1977)
Prom Night (Paul Lynch, 1980)
Rabid (David Cronenberg, 1976)
Rosemary's Killer (Joseph Zito, 1981)
Savage Terror (Sisworo Gautama Putra, 1979)
Scanners (David Cronenberg, 1980)
Scream for Vengeance (Bob Bliss, 1979)
Shogun Assassin (Robert Houston, 1972)
Street Killers (Sergio Grieco, 1977)
Suicide Cult (James Glickenhaus, 1977)
Superstition (James W. Roberson, 1982)
Suspiria (Dario Argento, 1977)
Terror (Norman J. Warren, 1978)
Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974)
Thing, The (John Carpenter, 1982)
Tomb of the Living Dead (Gerardo De Leon & Eddie Romero, 1968)
Toy Box, The (Ron Garcia, 1970)
Werewolf Woman (Rino Di Silvestro, 1976)
Wrong Way (Ray Williams (as Ron Kelly, 1972)
Xtro (Harry Bromley Davenport, 1982)
Zombie Holocaust (Marino Girolami (as Frank Martin, 1980)
Zombies Dawn of the Dead (George A. Romero, 1978)
Zombies' Lake (Jean Rollin & Julian de Laserna, 1980

VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINIVE GUIDE PART 2 is produced by Marc Morris & Jake West, Nucleus Films. RRP: £24.99 Cert: 18 Running Time:

[Ignatius Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ignatius]

YES! Fantastic trailer. This looks just as superb as the first release. I've been through that one several times over and it never ceases to entertain. Great list of people involved in the doco interviews and trailer introductions. It really looks like Nucleus has knocked it out of the park; I don't buy that many discs on initial release due to a tight budget but this is an immediate pre-order.

The extra feature(s) looking back at the fanzine culture should be fascinating. Having entered my teenage horror phase at the beginning of the DVD era I was a bit late to get involved in fanzines or tape trading, though I'm fully aware of how much they contributed to the fan culture that exists today. It'll be great to take a proper dig into all that stuff.

[Kevin Coed Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kevin Coed]

As far as I'm aware the fanzine bit is just a slideshow of covers of UK fanzines from the eighties to early nineties (I supplied them with scans from some of my collection).