10 Best Video Nasties (And Why They Were Banned)

The harrowing revenge flick with a dual identity. Is it a feminist empowerment story? Or just misogynistic exploitation? There was no debate among UK censors who refused a cinema certificate and later banned the VHS, which had previously bypassed them via the loophole taken by most nasties.

In the film Camille Keaton plays a young writer who is preyed upon by a group of sadistic men. They attack and rape her, eventually leaving her for dead. But Jennifer survives and returns to wreak ultimate revenge on her abusers.

The film was banned in the UK until 2001 when a heavily cut version was released, losing 7 minutes from scenes of sexual assault. To time with the release of the remake in 2010, it was resubmitted and the cuts were reduced to just 3 minutes, from the same scenes.

More than any others it's easy to see why films like ISOYG and Last House drew the censors' wrath. Even today these are upsetting, uncomfortable films to watch, but then that's the whole point. Zarchi was inspired to make ISOYG after a real-life encounter where he helped a young woman who'd been raped. He and Keaton (whom were later married) testify that the intent was to cast light on an issue affecting people worldwide.

In 2010 there was a remake, followed by three sequels, one with Keaton reprising her role forty years later.