10 Best Video Nasties (And Why They Were Banned)

This camp-set slasher rode the coattails of runaway hit Friday the 13th, with a similar plotline, setup and even that movie's star player - makeup effects maestro Tom Savini. Only this time his methods apparently proved too much for the UK's censorship board.

The story of The Burning is based on an urban legend shared at summer camps around New Jersey. Cropsey, a janitor at the summer camp, is horribly burned in a prank gone wrong. Years later, he returns to the camp to exact grisly revenge on the teens there with aid of his trusty garden shears.

Although The Burning was originally cut for cinema, Thorn EMI accidentally released the uncut version onto video, which quickly became a nasty. The difference came down to just 26 seconds of film, which were later removed from the standout raft sequence and another murder scene, effectively neutering the movie's best parts.

UK Horror fans celebrated when the film finally arrived uncut on VHS and DVD in 2002. Arrow's recent blu-ray release is also uncut. But even though the film is readily available in these formats, copies of Thorn EMI's uncut VHS from back in the day are now sought-after collector's items.

Today, The Burning's notoriety feels totally misplaced. The film stands as a competent slasher of its time, with entertaining set pieces and is notable mainly for its likeable cast and offbeat score from Rick Wakeman.