Video Nasties Draconian Days To Make Its DVD Debut Part Of Video Nasties 2: The Definitive Guide Release

It's time  to be corrupted and depraved once more as Nucleus Films announces the release of 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,”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 made it's world premier  at this year’s Glasgow Film Festival, as part of Film4 FrightFest, where it received critical acclaim (read our review here)

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.

checkout the trailer...

Video Nasties 2: The Definitive Guide will be a 3 disc release with Disc 1 containing Draconian Days Documentary 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.

Disc 2 and 3 presenting 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.

Pre-order/buy: Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide 2 Limited Edtion of 6,666 [DVD]