Night of the Bloody Apes is a 1969 Mexican horror by Rene Cordona Jr. With José Elías Moreno, Carlos López Moctezuma and Armando Silvestre.
A heavily censored version was released in Mexico whilst it was distributed
worldwide in an International Version with added sex and violence.
The International Version was cut by the BBFC for 1974 cinema release. The uncut version was later banned as a Video Nasty in 1983. The heavily cut Mexican Version was released in
1999. The International Version was finally passed 18 uncut by the BBFC in 2012. Uncut and R rated in the US.
Summary Review: Pretty Grim
A mad scientist attempts to cure his son's leukemia by doing the
first ape-to-human heart transplant. He decides to put a gorilla's heart into the lad and orders his flunky to prepare the gorilla! . There is actual footage of a graphic open heart surgery inserted in the ape operation scenes. This of
course causes the boy to turn into a big stinky man-ape...
The film is a very cheap Mexican 'horror' and it is pretty grim. And really most of the film is so comic book and likeable, dammit, that you can forgive
the rather shoddy idea of using said transplant footage as a main point of sale.
People say that really bad films are funny to watch because they are so bad. I have only found this to be the case with one film
before now, Death Wish 3, but now Night Of The Bloody Apes has become one of my pet films. A desert island treasure.
International Version
International Version
run:
83:42s
pal:
80:21s
UK: The International Version was passed 18 uncut
for strong gore, violence, nudity and sexual violence, with previous BBFC cuts waived for:
The film features strong violence, including stabbings and a scalping. The film also includes scenes of sexual violence as women's breasts are exposed and the
beast appears to maul his victims. These scenes appear dated and carry little erotic charge by contemporary standards and so the BBFC classified the film 18 without cuts.
UK: In 1993 there was a mysterious uncut Vipco version. It was nominally slated as pre-cut but somehow got a limited unsanctioned uncut release. It was withdrawn within days.
Thanks to Adrian: Withdrawn Within Days
I can elaborate slightly on the Vipco release. I remember a piece in the Darkside saying that if you bought the video in July (1993) it would be uncut, this was a couple of months after they reviewed the cut version, I
expected it to be re-released cut but I don't think it ever was.
I spent a couple of years trying to track one down without success, I was told it was never released although I still believe it was albeit briefly. I finally picked
up a review copy a couple of years later; from the outside it looks like the other Vipco releases of the time but has release details etc on the inside of the insert, and a computer printed (dot matrix) label. The film has an on-screen clock running
throughout and is cut to ribbons; I think it ran a few seconds longer than the Satanica release but I couldn't vouch for this. It has an official BBFC 18 certificate despite the BBFC website not having an 18 for this film until 1999. The release details
inside the sleeve list the release date as 26th July 1993 so it was withdrawn within days. This is the only copy I have ever seen on Vipco and I've never even met anyone who's seen another, I reckon the old Iver pre-cert is probably easier to find than
this.
International Version cut for print damage
cut:
~1:10s
run:
82:37s
pal:
79:19s
UK: The International Version was released uncut for sex and violence but missing 2 plot
scenes on pre-cert video for:
1983 Iver VHS
t was released nearly uncut in January 1983 by Iver Film Services. By November 1983 it had been listed as a
video nasty and suffered a successful prosecution. It remained on the list throughout the panic and so became one of the collectable DPP 39s.
Thanks to Chris:
Although uncut for sex and violence there re 2 missing scenes probably through print damage. These are:
42 minutes - After the green-dress wearing female has been ravaged in the park it cuts to the professor and his assistant pulling up and taking the body of another girl out of their car. We then cut back to the green-dress woman
getting up with bushes all over her and looking around. The IVER tape misses out the doctor in the car as well as the green-dressed female recovering from the ordeal - approx 1 minute.
74 minutes - There is an extra brief shot
in the DVD of the monster running off to the left after he takes the heroine down to the floor in the park. In this shot, you can see the studio and a ladder at the corner of the screen - approx 10 seconds.
These scenes were restored on later DVD releases.
cut
cut:
1m
run:
pal:
sub:
81:12s
UK: Presumably the International Version was passed X (18) after about 1m of BBFC cuts for:
1974 cinema release
The BBFC cuts were:
Heavily edited the rape & murder of the woman in the bedroom
cut to remove a close up shot of a stabbing
Mexican Version
Mexican Version cut
cut:
2:50s
run:
80:10s
pal:
76:58s
UK: The heavily cut Mexican Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for:
2002 Film 2000 R2 DVD
1999 Sovereign/Satanica VHS
In 1999 the video was released on the Satanica label, in a version that was obviously taken from Vipco's planned cut version (Vipco's logo remains). This time the Mexican Version removes every single violent scene. Strangely the scene where the doctor
assistant is killed contains several shots of a completely different character being killed, whose demise doesn't happen until a few scenes later in the film.
Night of the Demon is a 1980 US horror by James C Wasson. With
Michael Cutt, Joy Allen and Bob Collins.
Banned as a video nasty in 1983. Later heavily cut for 1984 VHS and the cuts continued to the 2004 DVD. Finally passed 18 uncut for 2022 Blu-ray. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.
Summary Review: Cheap
Another film that is something like an urban legend: being banned in countries like Germany or Norway and also very hard to find. The reputation of Night of the Demon is much more interesting than the movie itself!
The story is simple: a professor and some students travel to the dark forests to investigate some cruel murders which were caused by a Bigfoot-like monster that looks like Chewbacca from Star Wars . A feeble minded woman who
lives in a lonely hut plays an important role in the solution of the mystery.
Well, the acting is bad, the F/X are pretty cheesy and only the many murders featured in this flick will keep you away from falling asleep!
These deaths however are pretty are gory and violent, so fans of splatter movies won't be disappointed!
Versions
uncut
run:
95:36s
pal:
91:47s
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong gory
violence, sexual violence:
1:41s cut to remove nearly all scenes of graphic
violence including:
the arm removal of a camper
the castration of the cyclist and his bloody run back to his motorcycle
shot of the creature ripping into a camper's neck
shots of bloody wounds after an axe attack
several shots of
knife cuts and stabs as two knife wielding women are knocked together
the creature disemboweling a young man
shots of a young woman with a pitchfork in her back
a man's face being burnt on a stove.
The film is being shown on the Zone Horror Channel uncut so presumably the film would now pass the BBFC uncut
uncut
run:
95:44s
pal:
91:54s
UK: Released
on pre-cert video for:
1982 Vipco VHS
Released by Vipco in June 1982. The video was banned as a video nasty in October 1983. It stayed on the list throughout the panic and so became one of the collectable DPP39's
Nightmare Maker is a 1982 USA horror by William Asher. With Jimmy McNichol, Susan Tyrrell and Bo Svenson.
Banned as Video Nasty in 1983. Banned again by the BBFC for video in 1987. Uncut and BBFC 18 rated for 18 rated Blu-ray in 2024. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.
Summery Review: Gripping
An orphaned teenager finds himself being dominated by his aunt who's hell-bent on keeping him with her...at all costs.
It seems rather strange that the the director of the I Love Lucy TV series could ever
make something on the DPP's list of banned movies, but that's exactly what happened to William Asher's 1981 feature. Despite several undoubtedly shocking scenes this seems particularly unfair, as it is actually a gripping and well made horror thriller,
which was even nominated for a Saturn Award as Best Low Budget Film of the Year.
Versions
uncut
run:
96:31s
pal:
92:39s
Spain
UK: Butcher: Uncut and BBFC 18 rated with a trigger warning for strong bloody violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence references:
2024 Severin Films R0 4K Blu-ray/(RB) Blu-ray Combo at UK Amazon #ad
UK: A short version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts (in a pre-cert voluntary submission scheme) for:
1983 Atlantis VHS
uncut
run:
96:16s
pal:
92:25s
UK: Released on pre-cert video for
1983 Atlantis VHS
The film was released in April 1983. It made the list of banned video nasties by November of the same year. It was dropped from the list in December 1985
Nightmares in a Damaged Brain is a 1981 USA/Italy horror by Romano Scavolini. With Baird Stafford, Sharon Smith and CJ Cooke.
Cut by the BBFC for X rated 1982 cinema release. Famously banned as a video nasty with the distributor being jailed. A cut US R rated version was released in the UK for an 18 rated 2002 DVD. The most complete version is distributed by
88 Films in the UK (BBFC 18 rated) and Severin in the US (MPAA Unrated).
An uncut version, or as near as dammit, was released in the UK in November 2015 but was soon withdrawn presumably for a lack of BBFC paperwork. However the BBFC certificate was
published shortly after and the DVD went back on sale.
Summary Review: Great Slasher Movie
A mental-patient, who is troubled with horrible nightmares, has escaped from his hospital. Now on the streets
he can't help killing innocent people. But there is one family he is more than interested in and when he tries to kill them, he finds that it's not that easy.
An underrated and under recognized slasher film of the early
1980s.
The plot is very interesting and is not at all a typical "slasher by numbers" flick, and is not predictable. There gore is pretty insane and gruesome, and Tom Savini was the make-up effects consultant.
There is a tense, uneasy feeling throughout the film, and some very memorable scenes showing how disturbed the killer is, like the part at the peep show in NYC where he gets so aroused he has a seizure. Pretty crazy stuff.
Highly recommended!
Versions
uncut
run:
98:54s
pal:
94:57s
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong bloody
violence, horror, strong sex with all previous cuts waived for:
Finally unleashed in the UK, uncut and uncensored, for the first time since VHS (back when the distributor of this bloodthirsty HALLOWEEN cash-in was imprisoned for 18 months just
for daring to unleash it!).
Thanks to Simon and Braintree:
The Code Red DVD and BD truncated the scene where a young boy finds a dead girls body in an abandoned house and is subsequently grabbed from
behind by the killer. Instead it cuts just as you see the shadow moving behind then you hear him scream off camera.
Some of those missing seconds have been restored by 88 Films, but not quite all of them.
This scene is on the old Dutch VHS, but that version misses some dialogue out from elsewhere. So, a truly complete version of the uncut print is difficult to find.
uncut
Germany
Germany: There is also an uncut German DVD noted as the Blood Edition from Laser Paradise, but I am not sure which
version it is.
cut
cut:
run:
99:26s
pal:
95:27s
Netherlands
Netherlands: Details in one sex scene are shunted off screen by
framing. There are also reports of missing dialogue.
slightly shortened
cut:
run:
98:09s
pal:
94:13s
US: The best available version is MPAA unrated for:
2011 Code Red 30th Anniversary Edition R1 DVD at US Amazon titled Nightmare
Kathy sends some kids she is looking after back off to bed. She is rather ominously being watched by George.
Set up shots of a bar have been removed
Also removed is a shot of George grabbing Tony by the neck.
The report also notes that a scenes showing a phone sex operator shows more explicit detail of masturbation in the shortened version.
cut
cut:
51s
run:
97m
pal:
93m
Amazon
UK: Cut for:
Hypercube Media VoD [UK Amazon Prime only] at UK Amazon
Thanks to Ronnie:
Currently playing and described onsite at Amazon Prime Video UK as NEW Uncut HD Version Digitally Restored from 35mm --- It is CUT (at 15min 44Sec, an estimate) with a 51 Second cut.
The missing
sex scene shows a phone sex worker talking to George whilst do naughty things with a vibrator. (Note that in the Netherlands VHS described below, the sight of this vibrator is shunted off screen. See
article from movie-censorship.com )
cut
cut:
3:04s
run:
96:02s
pal:
92:12s
UK: The cut R Rated version was passed 18 for
strong, bloody horror and sex without further BBFC cuts for:
2015 88 Films RB Blu-ray
2007 International Trading/Screen Entertainment R0 DVD
2005 Anchor Bay Box of the Banned R2 DVD
2002 International Trading/Screen Entertainment VHS
The US R Rated Version is 3:04s shorter than the uncut version. The cuts are along the lines of the BBFC cinema cuts but less drastic. See pictorial cuts
details from movie-censorship.com .
The fact that there are some pre-cuts made the BBFC decision a little easier to grant a certificate as this
version is cut more than the banned video nasty version. It still took several viewings by the BBFC before the decision was reached.
cut
cut:
run:
89:26s
pal:
85:51s
UK: Released on pre-cert video for:
1982 Oppidan VHS
This version is said to be more complete than the cinema release with the restoration of about 1 minute of material.
The video was banned as a
video nasty in July 1983. Perhaps something to do with promotional material such as the distribution of vomit bags and guess the weight of a human brain in a jar. The video remained on
the list throughout the panic and so became one of the collectable DPP39s
One of the victims of the video nasty panic was David Hamilton-Grant, the owner of Oppidan, who was jailed for 18 months under section 2 of the OPA.
cut
cut:
run:
92:43s
pal:
89:00s
UK: Passed X (18) after cuts for:
1982 cinema release
Thanks to Vincenzo. The BBFC cuts were:
Reel 2 - In the murder of the woman at the beginning of the reel, remove repeated close ups of throat slitting and blood pumping, and repeated stabs into torso.
Reel 4 - In the killing of
Kathy, remove repeated hacks at her body with ice pick and the rotating of the pick in the wound.
Reel 5 - In the flashback to George's killing of his father and mistress, remove repeated swipes with axe and spurting
blood from torso of woman. Reduce axing of father to remove head gushing blood. Sight of corpse may remain.
v Possession
- 1981 France/West Germany horror drama by Andrzej Zulawski.
Possession is a 1981 France/West Germany horror drama by Andrzej Zulawski. With Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill and Margit Carstensen.
Never cut by the BBFC, but was banned as a video nasty.
Version history
There are several versions around the world but the 118min PAL/123min NTSC version is attributed with the tag Director's
Cut. There is a rumour that 5 minutes were edited out the octopus baby miscarriage on the metro. This appears to be false. The director himself has stated that the birth scene never did last 10 minutes. However a fair few scenes were cut
during editing one of which clarifies what happens to Anna (Adjani). To the director's knowledge, none of these have ever made it to any release of the film.
Summary Review: Art Horror
Set in the outbreak of world war 3, a couple, Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill, are undergoing a marital breakdown apparently mirroring the split of Berlin where they live. The wife cuts herself in the neck with an electric carving knife and
partakes in an affair with an octopus creature.
During a secretive business trip away, Mark learns that his wife Anna is growing restless in what he believed was their happy marriage. Upon his return home, he learns from
her that she wants a divorce. They both go through a series of different emotions related to their situation
Possession is totally extraordinary. Packed with symbolism, it can be read on so many possible levels of
interpretation it's bewildering. Set in a European city (obviously cold war Berlin) in an alienating mixture of ultra modern buildings and decaying grandeur, visually it evokes a sense of dislocation.
Thematically, it
seems to be a study of a marriage in the last phase of destruction, with Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani. What follows is a nightmarish and surreal two hours of startling images, bizarre acting and frequent bloodletting. Possession is a challenging
art-horror.
UK: The Director's Cut was released uncut on pre-cert video for:
1982 VTC VHS
VTC released the film on VHS in September 1982. It was banned as a video nasty in September 1983. In September 1984 it was cleared of obscenity in a jury trial and was removed from the list. VTC
re-released the film with a toned down cover in December 1984.
Long Version
Long Version
run:
127:15s
pal:
122:10s
UK: A long version was passed X (18) uncut for:
1981 cinema release
v Pranks
- 1982 US slasher by Jeff Obrow & Stephen Carpenter.
Pranks is a 1982 US slasher by Jeff Obrow & Stephen Carpenter. With Laurie Lapinski, Stephen Sachs and David Snow.
Teenage slasher movie with Daphne Zuniga set in a disused
dorm. Includes the use of spiked clubs to the eyes, garrotting, amputation and even a human head turning up in the stew.
Summary Review : Typical Slasher Stuff
Another 80's college
film in which all the "students" look older than expected. This is typical slasher stuff, with overly dramatic music that sounds ripped off from Psycho . Don't expect anything earth-shattering; you do get a cheapie, yet solid release for
fans of 80's slasher/horror.
Expect a low budget, some bad acting, and if those are things you are able to tolerate then Pranks ain't half bad. Best served with lots of beer and a roomful of friends.
Availability
The R Rated Version was released uncut by Canon in June 1982.
It was added to the DPP list of banned video nasties in October 1983. It was dropped from the list in September 1985
If you think you've seen this film totally uncut... think again! Synapse Films is presents The Dorm that Dripped Blood in a never-before-seen alternate version containing additional scenes,
extended gore sequences and a different sound mix.
This transfer was created from the only existing 35mm answer print of the original Directors' Cut entitled Death Dorm , a version of the film thought to have been lost for over thirty
years.
Prisoner of the Cannibal God is a 1978 Italian adventure by Sergio Martino With Ursula Andress and Stacey Keach.
All UK releases have been cut for animal cruelty. The film was banned as a
video nasty in 1983. There is an uncut extended version released in the US. This Extended Version was passed 18 for 2018 UK video but was still cut for animal cruelty.
Summary Review: Very tasty little snack
Explorer is held as a deity because his Geiger counter continues to tick as if his heart, even when his flesh has perished. This perished flesh gets daubed all over his wife, Ursula Andress.
Another 70's
cannibal flick that is much better than expected.
You've got the hot, scantily-clad Ursula Andress and her crew on a quest through the jungles of New Guinea. They get ambushed by some blood thirsty savages of course. This
tribe looks extremely heinous. Their masks are what really stood out for me in this movie. Freaky! When the maniacal tribe leader sees Ursula, he might develop a different kind of hunger.
You've got all your basic cannibal
flick essentials--blood, gore, decapitations, nudity, violence with animals. The acting and dialogue are good enough not to hamper the story. It may not be extremely original, but hey, if it ain't broke...
Availability
Passed X for the cinema in 1978 with extensive cuts to animal cruelty. Passed for titles Prisoner of the Cannibal God & The Mountain of the Cannibal God
The cinema cut version was released on pre-cert VHS by Hokushin in
1981, titled Prisoner of the Cannibal God This was banned and added to the DPP list in November 1983. It was removed from the DPP list in May 1985
Revenge of the Bogeyman is a 1983 USA horror by Bruce Pearn and Ulli Lommel. With Suzanna Love, Ulli Lommel and Shannah Hall.
Lame sequel that re-uses most of the first film. It was banned as a video nasty under the title Revenge of the Bogeyman. The film was later released in a Director's
Cut/Redux version, but this was no better then the first time round, and was possibly worse. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US,
Summary Review: Re-hash
The Boogeyman is a minor 80's classic. The
story is pure hokum, but the film is full of absurdly grotesque murder sequences and extreme gore. Ulli Lommel and his buddies must have been so proud on their accomplishment that they decided to re-use all the best footage to fill up almost three
quarters of the sequel.
Boogeyman II is stuffed like a Christmas turkey with key footage of the original, and that's the main reason why it receives so many negative reviews around here.
Boogeyman
II is 50 minutes of stock footage and 25 minutes of non-stop new murders. The new massacres are very lame in comparison with those of the original, though. Death by electric toothbrush and suffocation in shaving gel, for example. The film still got
included in the infamous list of video nasties, but only because of the stock footage of the original and not because of the ridiculous new murder set pieces.
Availability
The Original Version was released on video by
VTC. It was banned as a video nasty in September 1984 but was removed from the list in July 1985.
The Redux Version/Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut for the 2003 Hollywood DVD. This is very different to the Original Version.
Current UK Status: Different version passed 18 uncut
UK: The Redux Version/Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut for:
The Slayer is a 1981 US horror by JS Cardone With Sarah Kendall, Frederick Flynn and Carol Kottenbrook.
Banned as a video nasty in 1983. Unbanned and passed 18 after 14s of BBFC cuts in 1992. Cuts waived in 2001. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.
Summary
Review: Minimal Gore
Eric & his surreal artist sister Kay, her doctor husband David, her sister-in-law Brooke along with pilot Marsh become stranded on a rugged isle face off against a supernatural beast drawn
to Kay who dreams of its killings.
The film is quite good. two couples fly to a quiet island for a well-earned break, but Kay knows the horror that is waiting for them & sure enough they are killed off by this monster. Once the killings start & the storm comes, there's a good atmosphere .
Unfortunately, the gore is way too minimal, with a decent pitchforking scene being its only saviour.
Availability
Vipco released the uncut VHS in June 1982. It appeared on the video nasties list
in October 1983 but was dropped in April 1985
Summary Review: Publicity is more interesting than the film
Like many films that appeared in the early 70s and raised a stink for one reason or another - the publicity surrounding the Findlay's film Snuff is more interesting than the film itself.
In fact, this film - which supposedly depicted the actual dismembering of a young girl - caused such a fuss when it played in New York that the mayor demanded that the perpetrators be captured and prosecuted. That is, of course,
until the producers admitted that the film was a fraud and produced the dead actress for all to see.
This film is nothing more than a late 60s Hell's Angels biker movie with a tacked on ending in which the film's director
disembowels a young blond girl. Not sexual, and hardly interesting - the snuff bit of the film is hardly impressive as far as either shock or special effects.
Of course, you have to sit through a turgid tale of bikers and
drug smuggling to even get to this bit - and it just isn't worth it.
Availability
The uncut VHS was set to be
released by Astra in May 1982. The release was cancelled but bootleg copies and Belgian imports filled the void.
The video was added to the video nasties list in July 1983. It stayed on the list throughout the panic and so became one of the
collectable DPP39's
Passed 18 uncut for Blue Underground in 2003 but never released
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut but not released.
SS Experiment Camp is a 1976 Italy war horror by Sergio Garrone. Starring Mircha Carven, Paola Corazzi and Giorgio Cerioni.
Banned as a video nasty in 1983. Released uncut on 18 rated 2006 DVD. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.
Notoriety achieved from the bad taste
poster rather than the video itself. The most outrageous experiment is that commandant commands the removal of the balls of the hunkiest soldier "OK you bastard what have you done with my balls"
Passed uncut
when submitted in 2005. The BBFC had few qualms in passing it uncut for sale in the UK with the following justification (reproduced from one of the newsgroups):
The content of the film is in fact very
mild and poorly executed. If anything, it was the title of the film and its original packaging that led to difficulties, rather than the content. The idea of the film may, of course, be offensive to some but that is not a good enough reason to cut or
reject it. We would only cut or reject a film for adults if the content was illegal or harmful. SS Experiment Camp is neither illegal or harmful, just tasteless.
Summary Review: Highly dubious taste
This is a sleazy WW2 Nazi camp movie which plays more like a black comedy. In this film the poor female POW's get raped and groped by all and sundry at the camp.
They are subjected to some inexplicable experiments, which often
seem to involve forced copulation with a group of Nazi studs. The purpose of the experiments is to find the best stud from this Aryan select and transfer his balls onto the camp commandant who, as we discover, lost his when a Russian woman he was raping
bit his off.
Now, the above synopsis may well make the film sound deeply depraved and offensive. Well, it is sleazy and in highly dubious taste but the execution of the film is so amateurish and unrealistic that it really sounds a lot worse than
it actually is.
Cover art
Garish video magazine adverts featuring the iconic VHS cover art for SS Experiment Camp have been attributed as kicking off the video nasty moral panic. The other 2 films cited
are Cannibal Holocaust and Driller Killer.
Availability
Video released uncut on the Go label in January 1982 under the title SS Experiment Camp
Banned as a video nasty in July 1983 and stayed listed throughout the panic to become one of the collectable DPP39s.
The uncut region 2 DVD should have been available in Feb 2006, BUT due to some unfortunate mistake in production, the film actually release was a 1981 soft porn film,
Love Camp, starring Laura Gemser. Sorted by the reissue in April 2006.
Current UK Status: Passed 18 Uncut
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong violence, sex and nudity for:
Tenebrae is a 1982 Italy horror mystery thriller by Dario Argento. With Anthony Franciosa, Giuliano Gemma and Christian Borromeo.
Cut by the BBFC by 4s for cinema release. This cut version was then banned on VHS as a video nasty. The film was then cut for 2000 VHS. These BBFC cuts were waived in 2003 but the release suffered print damage. However a fully uncut
version was released on UK DVD and Blu-ray in 2003. There is also a shortened US Version entitled Unsane.
Summary Review : Gore filled giallo
Tenebrae is a thriller about a
writer of thrillers who, whilst on a promotional tour in Italy for his new book (...also called Tenebrae), finds himself the focus of a deranged serial killer, who is offing his victims according to the grisly murders found in the very same author's
work.
Argento has a great deal of fun in devising these bizarre scenes and scenarios, whilst simultaneously orchestrating this grandiose, gore-filled Giallo with a bold approach to cinematography, montage and music.
As with a lot of Argento's work, the performances aren't all peerless, although, that said, there's some admirable moments, particularly from Anthony Franciosa as the author, Peter Neal, Argento's former muse Daria Nicolodi as
his assistant Ann, and b-movie stalwart John Saxon as Neal's publisher.
The ending of the film is a satisfying one that is sure to delight those familiar with his previous works.
Theatrical Version
uncut
run:
100:53s
pal:
96:51s
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong bloody violence:
2022 Arrow Video Limited Edition [Theatrical Version + US Version] R0 4K Blu-ray/(RB) Blu-ray Combo
at UK Amazon #ad
The pre-cut footage is missing from many international prints and is due to damage to the master:
Ann walking to the sideboard and putting down her books
The last stab of a woman being repeatedly stabbed in her stomach
The end of a scene showing Jane looking at new shoes followed by the
start of a scene with Bullmer walking around town
total
cut:
26s
run:
100:21s
pal:
96:20s
5s
pre-cut 21s
UK: Passed 18 after 5s of BBFC cuts for:
2000 Nouveaux VHS
This is an extra BBFC cut of 1s over and above the previous 4s cinema cuts to ensure that the BBFC were not passing a video that had recently been found to be 'obscene'.
Videomedia released the BBFC cut cinema version on video in 1983. It was doomed to take a leading position on the video nasties list . It was listed in March 1984 and stayed on the list
throughout the panic. It is therefore one of the collectable DPP39s
UK: Passed 18 after 4s of BBFC cuts for:
1983 cinema release
The BBFC cuts were:
Removed shots: Jane's arm gets chopped off with a hatchet. She yells in pain, blood splatters. Then a shot of her chopped-off arm on the table.
US Version/Unsane
US Version shortened
run:
90m
pal:
86m
UK: The US Version was passed 18 uncut for strong bloody violence:
2022 Arrow Video Limited Edition [Theatrical Version + US Version] R0 4K Blu-ray/(RB) Blu-ray Combo
at UK Amazon #ad titled Unsane
Terror Eyes is a 1981 US slasher by Ken Hughes. With Leonard Mann, Rachel Ward and Drew Snyder.
Cut by the BBFC for an X rated 1981 cinema release. Released uncut on
pre-cert VHS only to be banned as a video nasty. Cut by the BBFC for an 18 rated 1987 VHS. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.
Summary Review: Action over Suspense
Rachel Ward as psycho
killer dressed in full biker leathers and crash helmet. She beheads various women and leaves their heads in a bucket, a ditch, down the toilet and in a saucepan of Irish stew.
A Boston police detective investigates a series
of gruesome decapitations of various college coeds committed by a helmeted, black-leather clad serial killer which leads him to suspect a well known anthropology professor as well as his female live-in assistant.
A slasher
flick with more action than horror. But the acting is above par as are the overall production values, and there isn't a lot of padding. There's also something of a story complete with characterization.
One could certainly
do (much) worse in picking a slasher film from this era.
Availability
The BBFC cut the 1981 cinema release.
The uncut Guild VHS was released in February 1983. It was banned as a video nasty in March 1984. It
was dropped from the list in June 1985.
The Toolbox Murders is a 1978 US horror by Dennis
Donnelly. With Cameron Mitchell and Pamelyn Ferdin.
Cut by the BBFC for 1979 X rated cinema release. Banned as a video nasty on VHS in 1983. Cut by the BBFC for VHS and DVD from 2000 until the BBFC cuts were waived for
2017 18 rated DVD and Blu-ray. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.
Summary Review: Grisly
The Toolbox Murders starts out with 20 minutes or so of grisly and very well done kill scenes, all of which
involve tools. If you like violence, then you'll love the introduction of this film. If you're a sucker for nudity in horror films, then you'll appreciate the introduction to this film for that as well.
After the kills
are complete, the middle portion of this movie is a lot of talk with little or no gore. However the dialog between the killer and the kidnapped girl is very interesting.
If you have the attention span to sit through
'slower' moments of this film, then you'll find something to enjoy in it.
Versions
uncut
run:
93:51s
pal:
90:06s
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong bloody
violence, sexualised nudity with all previous BBFC cuts waived for:
A scene was cut showing a naked woman fleeing from the masked attacker with a nail gun. as he pursues her around a bedroom. He shoots her in the back. She slumps to the ground and he shoots her in the head.
The film has been playing uncut on Zone Horror channel so presumably the BBFC would not cut the film if it were to be resubmitted.
cut
cut:
run:
87:26s
pal:
83:56s
UK: Released on pre-cert video for:
1981 Hokushn VHS
Released on Pre-VRA video by Hokushn in November 1981 and made it onto the video nasties list in November 1983. It was removed from the list in May 1985 as it was a BBFC approved version.
There are conflicting reports about versions released by Hokushin. The best theory seems to be that there were two versions released:
A cut version missing around 6 minutes of footage. This seems to be in excess of the often quoted cinema version which was missing around 2 minutes. This seems to the most common version with a runtime noted as 83:56s. Maybe there is a possibility
that it was doubly speeded up during NTSC to PAL conversion
UK: Passed X (18) after about 2 minutes of BBFC cuts for:
1980 cinema release
Thanks to Scott who obtained the BBFC cuts list:
Reel 1
Remove close-shots of bloody drill as killer advances on his wounded victim and all shots of her being chased around flat with blood oozing from her arm.
Reels 1 and 2
Remove two shots of Debbie lying bloody on floor when police photographer is filming at end of Reel 1 and beginning of Reel 2.
Reel 2
Eliminate all shots of girl victim masturbating in bath before murderer enters.
Considerably reduce nail-gun murder by deleting most shots of nude victim being chased around flat and the
complete section in which she is cornered naked on her bed.
Implication of girl's death from nail-gun in head may remain, but remove all sight of blood running down her face.
After girl's death, remove flashback cross-cut shot of her nude and bloody.
Remove further shot of girl's nude dead body at the end of crosscut sequence.
Remove sight of bloody girl as police investigate her murder.
Unhinged is a 1982 US horror by Don Gronquist. With Laurel Munson, Janet Penner and
Sara Ansley.
Unrecommended video following a bunch of runaway girls meeting a freaky family in the woods. Some of the girls become a hickory smoked dinner morsel.
Summary Review : Check it out
Three college girls on their way to a jazz festival crash their car in the isolated woods during a rainstorm, and are taken in by a mysterious family in an old mansion. Little do the girls know, the family has a dark, murderous
secret.
Of course the acting is second rate and mundane in places, of course the camera work is shoddy, of course the direction is somewhat inept and the script is tacky. But it was made on a tight budget for crying out loud.
In fact, I'll gladly offer a billion quid to anyone who can name me just one perfectly directed slasher film.
Nevertheless, there are more upsides than downsides to this movie: the violence can be quite shocking in places
(especially the machette killing) which happens off screen but is still relentless and brutal. The synth music is eerily brilliant and the overall brooding atmosphere makes you think twice about visiting the toilet for a while.
C
heck it out - it's a really good horror film.
Availability
Passed 18 uncut for 1983 cinema release.
Released uncut on pre-cert VHS by Avatar in 1983. This was banned as a
video nasty in November 1983. It was dropped from the banned list in May 1985.
Visiting Hours is a 1982 Canada horror thriller by Jean-Claude Lord. With Michael Ironside, Lee Grant and Linda Purl.
Cut by the BBFC for 1982 cinema release. The same cut version was briefly banned as Video Nasty in 1984. Released again in the same cut form on VHS in 1986. The BBFC
cuts were waived for 2017 18 rated DVD and Blu-ray. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.
Summary Review: Not your everyday slasher
A crazed, women-hating killer (Ironside) attacks journalist Deborah Ballin
(Grant). When he discovers that his attack didn't kill Deborah, he comes to the hospital to finish what he started.
The movie is really quite tense at times. The attack at Deborah's home is frightening, especially
the dumb waiter scene. And the climactic chase is amazingly pulled off. The acting is alright and the music is also to note, and adds a lot of atmosphere.
This is much different from what you'd probably expect, and is worth a look. Definitely not
your everyday slasher.
The Werewolf and the Yeti is a 1975 Spanish horror by Miguel Iglesias. With Paul Naschy, Mercedes Molina and Silvia Solar.
Banned as a video nasty in 1984. Not released in the UK since. Uncut and
MPAA Unrated in the US.
Summary Review: Monster Movie
A team of scientists travel to Tibet to track down the Yeti. Among the group is Waldemar (Naschy) who falls in with some vampire handmaidens and
somehow gets turned into a werewolf.
The film turns out to be a low budget monster movie with just a couple of decent performances keeping it from total inanity. There's hardly any horror, and there's a few hints that
maybe it was once intended to be a sexy horror...but isn't. The evil Tibetan chieftain and his wicked witch are better than the 'monsters'.
Availability
Released uncut on video by Canon in October 1982.
Added to the video nasty list in August 1984 and remained listed throughout the panic, so becoming one of the collectable DPP39s
Current UK Status: No UK release since
US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
2017 Shout! Factory Paul Naschy Collection II RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
2014 One 7
Movies R0 DVD titled Werewolf at US Amazon
The Witch who
Came from the Sea is a 1976 US horror by Matt Cimber. With Millie Perkins, Lonny Chapman and Vanessa Brown.
Always uncut but briefly banned as a video nasty in 1984. Passed 18 uncut
for 2006 DVD. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.
Summary Review: Odd little gem
A sensationalist cover got this video into trouble "A young woman's nightmare of incest and
castration... Molly has a way with razors!" The actual castration scene of course is well toned down.
Here is an odd little gem of a film that fortunately has resurfaced on DVD, boasting a pristine film transfer.
Descriptions of the film, the title of the film, and even the DVD cover itself do little to relate, or even hint at what is, as it turns out, an altogether strange, unsettling, humorous, and entertaining cinematic treat.
The off
kilter acting styles, unnatural tone, and dark humor of the film shares a kinship to the works of David Lynch. Highly recommended.
Availability
Released on VHS by VTC. It was banned as a
video nasty in august 1984 but was dropped from the DPP list following unsuccessful prosecutions in June 1985.
Passed 18 uncut by the BBFC in 2006.
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: Passed 18 uncut for:
2020 Arrow American Horror Project 1 Special Edition (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon
2017 Arrow Special Edition (RB) Blu-ray
at UK Amazon
Women Behind Bars is a 1975 French/Belgian sexploitation film by Jess Franco With Lina Romay, Martine Stedil and Nathalie Chape.
Banned as a video nasty in 1984 but otherwise not released until uncut 18 rated DVD in 2017. Uncut and MPAA unrated n the US.
Summary Review: Naked Isn't a Problem
A small-time hood
attracts the attention of the law with an insurance scam and diamond theft, but things become even more interesting when his moll murders him and is slammed behind bars where she faces all manner of electric shock treatments to various parts of her
anatomy.
There's tons of nudity, a lesbian scene and a couple torture sequences but this is still fairly clear for a Franco WIP film.
Romay has never been accused of being a good actress but she fits her role
fine here and she's certainly cute so watching her naked isn't a problem.
Zombie Creeping Flesh is a 1980 Italy/Spain horror by Bruno Mattei. With Margit Evelyn Newton, Franco Garofalo and Selan Karay.
Pre-cut for violence cinema release. Further shortened for brevity for 1982 VHS which was later banned as a video nasty in 1983. Unbanned and uncut in 2002. Uncut in the US
Summary Review: Awful but lots of Fun
A tough female reporter and her cameraman boyfriend team up with a four-man commando unit in the New Guinea jungle whom are fighting flesh-eating zombies.
Sure it has an amazingly inept Ed
Wood-ian sort of quality... ok yes, it IS in fact a terrible film, but it does have a lot going for it.
The film remains totally enjoyable and even has a certain lovable quality. It's lots of fun and there's never a dull
moment.
There are some truly effective Zombie sequences. The scenes involving the zombie priest at the mission, the zombie kid coming to life in his fathers arms, the dead native coming to life after his funeral ceremony .
Last but not least, the gore. As the producers said, without blood and entrails, a film like this would be pointless. This film will make your stomach turn. The use of real raw meat and pig guts definitely helped Hell of the
Living Dead live up to the splatter genre and then some. The extreme close-ups of maggots crawling through rotting flesh and a native picking them off and eating them were absolutely nasty! Also there are some well done exploding zombie heads.
2013 Blue Underground Midnight Movies 9 Double Feature R0 DVD titled Hell of the Living Dead
at US Amazon
2007 Blue Underground R1 DVD titled Hell of the Living Dead at US Amazon
pre-cut
cut:
~1m
run:
99:13s
pal:
95:15s
UK: A pre-cut version with about a minute of violent scenes removed was passed X (18) without further BBFC cuts for:
1982 cinema release (unreleased)
However the distributors felt that the film was too long and decided not to release this version but to shorten it.
Shortened Version
banned
UK: Informally banned by the BBFC for:
1993 Video Gems VHS
James Ferman refused to view a 1993 submission from Video Gems. This was during the Jamie Bulger moral panic and Ferman advised that it was not a good time to release a video nasty.
pre-cut
cut:
14:32s
run:
84:59s
pal:
81:35s
UK: The significantly shortened and pre-cut cinema version was released on video for:
1982 Merlin VHS
The video was released in October 1982 and was banned as a video nasty in July 1983 after being successfully prosecuted in Brighton. It was dropped from the list in July 1985.
Zombie Flesh Eaters is a 1979 Italian horror by Lucio Fulci With Tisa Farrow and Ian McCulloch.
Zombies are exuding from an old Spanish cemetery. The cut
version loses eye skewering, profuse bleeding from ripped necks and the zombies feasting on intestines.
Summary Review: Horror Classic
Strangers looking for a woman's father arrive at a tropical
island where a doctor desperately searches for the cause and cure of a recent epidemic of the undead.
This is a horror classic of Lucio Fulci with a simple, but interesting screenplay. The unforgettable story begins like
Nosferatu, with an empty boat arriving in a harbor with a zombie instead of a vampire; shows the naked body of two beautiful actresses, Auretta Gay and Olga Karlatos; is very gory, with a death that slightly recalls the famous scene of Buñuel in
"Un Chien Andalou", when the zombie perforates the eye of Paola Menard; and has a very scary and impressive make-up, with zombies eating human flesh and biting and killing people.
The sister of Mia Farrow, Tisa Farrow, has a
good performance in this cult-movie.
Availability
The cinema version was passed X by the BBFC in 1979 with 14 cuts totalling 1:46s.
This X rated cinema version was released on video by Vipco in 1980. Vipco then issued the "strong uncut version" in 1981 at a
premium price which then got out on the Video Nasties list in October 1983. It stayed on the list throughout so became one of the collectable DPP 39s
The heavily cut cinema version was passed 18 in 1992 & 1996. Vipco
misleadingly tried to pass off their version as 'complete'
Re-released on Diskline video in 1999 with most cuts restored but still 23s missing
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong gory violence and horror after all cuts waived for:
2012 Arrow Steelbook RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon released on 26th November 2012
2012
Arrow Special Edition RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon released on 26th November 2012
2012
Arrow R2 DVD at UK Amazon released on 26th November 2012
Note that the 2012 Arrow Blu-Ray disc included in Steelbook and Special Editions erroneously omits 6s immediately after the opening credits when the zombie carrying boat first comes into view. Replacement disks were provided.
US: Uncut and
MPAA Unrated for:
2018 Blue Underground 40th Anniversary Limited Edition RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
t was released nearly uncut in January 1983 by Iver Film Services. By November 1983 it had been listed as a
