Say Yes To VHS, Ep 3: Eject - Video Nasties, Uncensored Horror and Moral Panic

In the third episode of Say Yes to VHS, Brian and Sam press eject and discuss how the popularity of uncensored horror films such asThe Driller Killer and I Spit on Your Grave led to the video nasty scare of the early 1980s.

As home video grew in popularity, the furore surrounding surrounding these films quickly spread to Northern Ireland, where the flames of moral panic were fanned by social conservatives. But it was difficult for the police to remove any videos from shelves, as Northern Ireland had different legislation to the rest of the United Kingdom. A questionable Belfast News-Letter survey claimed that over 80% of schoolchildren had watched a video nasty, the results of which were shared by Mary Whitehouse, founder of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association. Unlike previous legislation, the 1984 Video Recordings Act applied in Northern Ireland and required all videos to receive a BBFC certificate. Though the moral panic moved elsewhere from the mid-1980s, it led some video shops to make greater efforts to show off their family friendly credentials.

Links

The Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive, '80s Tech!' collection

Counterpoint: Video Pirates (includes an interview with Mary Whitehouse)

Family Viewing Video Rental Shop

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Written and presented by Dr Sam Manning and Brian Henry Martin
Music by Score Draw Music
https://thewondercinema.buzzsprout.com