The Nasty Cast, a show dedicated to the video nasty phenomenon, is the latest addition to the Film Stories Podcast Network. Find out more: For anyone of a certain age, the video nasty phenomenon will be a marker of the childhood, adolescence or grown up world, and the moral panic in the 1980s around what especially ... Film Stories Podcast Network | introducing The Nasty Cast
The Nasty Cast, a show dedicated to the video nasty phenomenon, is the latest addition to the Film Stories Podcast Network. Find out more:
For anyone of a certain age, the video nasty phenomenon will be a marker of the childhood, adolescence or grown up world, and the moral panic in the 1980s around what especially horror movies were doing to the youth of tomorrow was a powerful marker signifying the Britain of Thatcherism. It is a field that The Nasty Cast, developed by Mark’s McManus and Adams, will thoroughly explore and expose.
McManus explains: “As someone who grew up in the 80s, I still clearly remember the Video Nasties Panic. Fuelled by opportunistic politicians and campaigners, and tabloids in search of easy, sensational headlines and influence (some things never change…), this landmark period in modern British history had a lasting impact still felt to this day. In this series we unpack the hysteria, the campaigners, the censorship, and the films everyone was talking about but few had actually seen. From banned horrors to misunderstood cult classics, to films that are frankly best left unwatched, this is a personal journey back to when movies felt dangerous.”
Adams adds: “The Nasty Cast wasn’t the plan for my next podcast project now that Shipwrecked & Comatose and ChuckyVision have gone monthly, and I have a little more capacity for something new, but when Mark put out a post asking for a co-host for a podcast about the Video Nasties, it immediately ignited something inside me, and I jumped at the chance to join him. Horror films have always enticed me, and I’ve always been interested in the concept of censorship, why it happens and the morality of it all. I’m also fascinated by the public perception versus the reality of the films and surrounding history: which films were actually banned over the ones people thought were, what was cut from certain films, whether there were any real snuff films, etc. I’m excited to be sharing this journey with Mark and our listeners!”
Network producer AJ Black also weighs in: “The moment Mark McManus told me he wanted to do this, I was 100% in. There’s something profoundly fascinating about this era and, in truth, I wanted an excuse to learn more about. Where Mark McManus brings the sober analysis, Mark Adams brings the fire and fury to discussions including the history of the BBFC, the controversial Mary Whitehouse, and the specific movies that sparked panic. They’re a perfect balance of education and exasperation, which will make The Nasty Cast one of Film Stories’ edgiest shows.”
The Nasty Cast will begin with a series of episodes charting the history of the phenomenon before tackling the films. Challenging subject matter and language within, so get Nan on the valium before you put this on after the Sunday roast.
Available on all good podcast platforms (and the bad ones) but we prefer Spotify:
Do join in the conversation about this show and much more on the Film Stories Network Discord channel, which you can join for free here.
