The Art of the Nasty

by Nigel Wingrove, Marc Morris

The most comprehensive collection of video nasty and pre-certificate video sleeves ever reproduced in one volume. In the early 1980s video was a new technology that allowed people the freedom to view films in the privacy of their own homes. It was also a technology forever stigmatised by its association with the video nasty. The Art of the Nasty explains and conveys the media furore, fear and the rush for political legislation that greeted the arrival of uncensored horror films on video in the UK. The hysteria was generated and fuelled as much by the sleeves and marketing as by the films themselves. In fact, many of the biggest critics of the nasties only ever saw the sleeves. Some of the early video sleeves are indeed an unbelievably over-the-top mixture of outrageous graphics and in-your-face visual shock tactics, guaranteed to offend. The nasty sleeves were to sow the seeds of their own destruction. Banned by an Act of Parliament after a frenzied and hysterical press campaign, the video nasty was deemed at the time to be a threat to society as we know it, even being directly implicated as a catalyst for murder. The Art of the Nasty reproduces almost 400 pre-certificate video covers in all their lurid glory. From the ludicrous and extreme imagery of SS Experiment Camp and the gross savagery of Cannibal Holocaust to the powerful and confrontational rape victim used to promote I Spit On Your Grave. The early video distributor was brash and out for profit, using packaging and marketing techniques reminiscent of the '30s pulps; videos image was the catalyst of its own demise. Provoking reactions of revulsion and disgust in the viewer, these video sleeves were often far more extreme than the films themselves. With over 300 reproductions covering the whole gambit of pre-certificate video sleeves, from the

Genres: Horror, Film, Nonfiction, Art

140 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Mad Medico · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice selection of lurid VHS covers which deserves extra credit for going beyond the canonical DPP lost, acknowledging the full range of video sleaze that characterised the pre-cert era, rather than focussing on the basically random assortment of DPP titles, many of which have become the subject of an unwarranted level of interest and study as compared to their less infamous contemporaries for this fact alone. I also like the little historical factual nuggets that adorn each page, which give an added eighties flavour and help to contextualise the presented material in quite a clever way. However this collection is far from perfect: 2/3 of the covers are presented in thumbnail sizes (the subject covers of the larger spots are largely well chosen though), and the overall page layout leaves an unnecessary amount of void space, especially important and frustrating given the relegation of so much of the material to near-unexaminable sizes. Also, the introduction is presented in minuscule font and has a juvenile libertarian tone, adding very limited value to the book (and poorly rehashing the arguments of the excellent Pluto Press video nasty essay collection) - and that cover is hideous!

[boofykins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. It is what it is, and what it is, is a collection of movie poster art of all the films marked as “video nasties”, as well as tangential films that are associated with the term but may never have been marked official. With the poster art, there are small blurbs giving factoids about the films. Admittedly, the written content is sparse but the book is fun nonetheless and can introduce you to a world of films that were once nigh impossible to see. These days, thanks to boutique blu-ray labels such as Mondo Macabro, Severin, Arrow Video, Scream Factory, etc, many of these films are coming to light.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly pictures of video cassette box art. The text provides little insight into the Video Nasty controversy or the films themselves.

[Jyri Luoma · Rating 4 out of 5]

One star missing simply because of the front cover image & the fact that one third of covers on the pages are in good size. The material as such is wonderful and well researched - perhaps time-sensitivity might be an issue: perhaps we'll have a blu-ray update shortly!

[brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

complete Video Nasty listings, plus a synopsis=awesome. Pity the cover sucks so bad.