One-off Hallowe’en show explores the legacy of the video nasties of the 1980s

A one-off event exploring the legacy of the “video nasties” of the 1980s takes place at Square Chapel this Hallowe’en.

The Scarred For Life Video Nasty Special show, on Saturday, October 30, will see writers Stephen Brotherstone, Dave Lawrence and Bob Fischer sharing their memories of the furore which surrounded the emergence of an underground market in low budget, high-impact and often rather gory horror films thanks to the arrival of the home video recorder.

Films like Zombie Flesh Eaters, The Texas Chainsaw

Massacre and Cannibal Holocaust became readily available from video rental stores and corner shops alike, drawing outrage from clean-up campaigner Mary Whitehouse.

The British Board of Film Classification even drew up a “Video Nasty List” of films that could be seized and destroyed by the police.

The show will explore the lurid headlines, the playground myths, and the actual films of the time.

There will be a Q and A for audience members to take part in and a special screening of Abel Ferrara’s classic 1979 video nasty, The Driller Killer, from an actual VHS tape.

“Video nasties were a huge formative part of my teenage years,” said Stephen.

“We held regular screenings at a friend’s house while his folks were at work.

“I was, and remain, the most squeamish horror fan ever, and had to watch the gory bits through my fingers!

“They were everywhere. You’d see the likes of The Driller Killer and Cannibal Holocaust next to the Slush Puppy machine in the local newsagents.”

Dave added: “Suddenly everyone wanted a slice of the video nasty pie.

“My local video shop - the optimistically-named ‘LA Video’ - was full of soon-tobe-banned titles.

“Every shop had a rotating wire rack filled with gore - including, appropriately, my local butchers!

“One half of the shop was filled with sausages, the other half with sensationalist films.”

The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £14 and available from the Square Chapel website at www.squarechapel.co.uk, or by calling 0343 2086016.