Young people on horror hunt: The dark world of video nasties!

Young people on horror hunt: The dark world of video nasties!

On June 2, 2025, a new series entitled "Video Nasty" will be presented in the ARD. In this humorous mixture of thriller, comedy and coming-of-age, the action tells the story of three young people from Dublin that collect the forbidden horror films. Your search for a last, sought -after film takes you to England, where you are involved in a murder investment. The series not only offers excitement, but also addresses the historical context of the 1980s, when in Great Britain and Ireland heated debates about films that endanger the youth took place and critical voices were loud, in particular with regard to the availability of these films for young people. The first six episodes are available in the ARD media library both in German and in the English original.

The controversy about the so-called “video nasties” began in the early 1980s, as a variety of films, mostly low-budget horror or exploitation films, began on VHS. The National Viewers 'and Listeners' Association (Nvala) shaped the term "Video Nasty" to describe a number of films that were strongly criticized in public because of their violent content. These films were not checked by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which led to a heated debate about the availability of such content. Organizations such as the Nvala and media reports contributed to the creation of public awareness of these films, which reinforced the discussion about censorship and responsibility in the film industry.

The influence of the video recording act

A crucial turning point in the history of the video nasties was the adoption of the Video Recording Act 1984. This law demanded certification of all video publications by the BBFC and made the distribution of unclassified films a criminal offense. The discussions broke out again, since there was no specific legislation in the introduction of video records in the 1970s to regulate the video content, apart from the obscene publications act from 1959. The uncertainty about the definition of obscene material led to the director of public prose (DPP) created a comprehensive list of 72 films Criteria could be condemned.

films such as "The Driller Killer" and "Cannibal Holocaust", which came onto the market in 1982, ensured an enormous media echo and tightened the debates about censorship. These films showed a drastic representation of violence, which led to demands for strict measures against violent content. While some of these titles remained on the original list of video nasties, many have reached an uncut publication since then and are now easily available.

Current streaming offers

Apart from "Video Nasty", the streaming offer of the week also offers a highlight on Apple's platform. "Bono: Stories of Surrender" is a film adaptation of Bonos One-Man stage show and the book "Surrender: 40 Songs, One story". In this work, Bono's life is discussed as a rock star, family man and activist and contains unpublished material from his concerts.

In addition, the ZDF series "Twisted Metal" starts: an action series that plays in a post-apocalyptic USA, with the package supplier John Doe navigating through dangerous areas. Also on Prime Video, the thriller can be seen "The Perfect Sister", who addresses the dramatic story of Chloe and her relationship with her sister Nicky, which is involved in a murder investment. These versatile streaming options offer something for everyone, while at the same time expanding the view of the historical and cultural contexts.