Video Nasty concludes on a pleasingly chaotic note. Here’s our Video Nasty episode 6 review.
Warning! Unlike previous episode reviews, this review will be full of spoilers for Video Nasty episode 6!
Video Nasty comes to an end with episode 6 and what a chapter to conclude on. Episode 5 ended with Zoe and Joe getting hit by the parents’ car, but luckily Zoe is alright. You can’t really say the same about Joe, who is just about alive but not for long as Zoe runs him over with the car.
I mentioned in the last episode review that I had a feeling Topher might switch sides and that’s exactly what happens in the finale here. Topher ends up helping Billy and Con escape Ethel and the village priest, but it ultimately costs the poor kid his life.
Video Nasty has been implying gore and violence throughout its previous five episodes but hasn’t really been able to commit to it. With this being a BBC production it’s not exactly surprising, but it’s still slightly frustrating to see a show that’s been made with so much love for not just horror but extreme horror pull its punches. The finale does go a lot further with the gore and Topher’s kill is satisfyingly gruesome, but I can’t help but think how this would look on a streaming service with a little more freedom.
Regardless, Video Nasty episode 6 is excellent.
“I feel like this is going full Wicker Man,” Billy mutters as they realise the villagers intend to burn more than just the video nasties. Relying strongly on feelings of nostalgia and constant references can often work against you by reminding you of all these other, sometimes better films and TV shows out there, but somehow Video Nasty is making it work. Maybe it’s because the plot moves faster than lightning and the central trio, Justin Daniels Anene, Cal OāDriscoll and Leia Murphy, are all charming and have plenty of chemistry and screen presence or maybe it’s because Video Nasty is crafted with so much love for everything it references.
If anything feels out of place here, it’s the inclusion of a detective, played by Jade Jordan, who suddenly appears in Ashdale and saves the day together with the teens and their parents. We only met her at the end of episode 5 so her role here feels unnecessary and distracting.
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In the end, good defeats evil and Ethel, having lost everything, burns herself in the pyre. The horrific truth about Ashdale comes out and seemingly all is well. However, we catch up with Billy, Con and Zoe as they’re getting ready to go to a school dance. Once they stumble back in late at night, Con goes to fetch a bottle of whiskey and spies Billy and Zoe making out. More shocking, Con finds a note that says “I’m watching you”.
No second season has been announced, but one is certainly set up here. Who could be watching them? Someone from Ashdale? Hopefully BBC is able to bring Video Nasty back for another season that’ll provide us with some answers and more video nasties.
All episodes of Video Nasty are available on BBC iPlayer.