10 Video Nasties That Became Horror Classics

Just prior to the release of the DPP’s official video nasty list, Sam Raimi’s classic horror The Evil Dead was enjoying its status as Britain’s most popular video rental. Unfortunately, its popularity most likely singled it out as a target for the video nasty movement.

In fact, its success led moral crusader Mary Whitehouse to dub it ‘the number one nasty’ and in late 1983 clips from The Evil Dead were screened by Whitehouse at the House of Commons to lobby support for the movement despite the fact it differed from a lot of its fellow video nasties in that its tone was firmly tongue in cheek.

Angry molesting tree aside, The Evil Dead was eventually found not guilty of violating the Obscene Publications Act. Meanwhile, the furore surrounding its repute as a video nasty no doubt helped elevate it to the rank of ‘cult film’ amongst horror fans. Take that, Mary Whitehouse!