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Video Nasties
16 horror tales in the tradition of Stephen King, Richard Matheson and The Twilight Zone!
Video Nasties - After discovering a box of old video tapes outside an abandoned warehouse, a young film enthusiast inadvertently releases horror director Nicolo Funelli and his "video nasties" from VHS imprisonment.
How to Kill a Celebrity - New hire Annie Watkins's pre-emptive obituaries at Live @ 5 New Orleans News seem to be killing off famous people.
Cuttings - A used delivery van causes Katie and Gavin's lives to take an unimaginable wrong turn into very dark territory.
Mental - A teen orphan with a unique ability is held captive in a secret government lab, forced to submit to their whims.
He Is Risen - Vacationers become a grotesque part of the Easter festivities in a small English town.
These are just a handful of the 16 dark tales that await you in Video Nasties. Tune in, sit back, and turn up the terror. But don't touch that dial… it just might kill you.
Video Nasties - After discovering a box of old video tapes outside an abandoned warehouse, a young film enthusiast inadvertently releases horror director Nicolo Funelli and his "video nasties" from VHS imprisonment.
How to Kill a Celebrity - New hire Annie Watkins's pre-emptive obituaries at Live @ 5 New Orleans News seem to be killing off famous people.
Cuttings - A used delivery van causes Katie and Gavin's lives to take an unimaginable wrong turn into very dark territory.
Mental - A teen orphan with a unique ability is held captive in a secret government lab, forced to submit to their whims.
He Is Risen - Vacationers become a grotesque part of the Easter festivities in a small English town.
These are just a handful of the 16 dark tales that await you in Video Nasties. Tune in, sit back, and turn up the terror. But don't touch that dial… it just might kill you.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2017
300 people are currently reading
1043 people want to read
About the author
Duncan Ralston
73 books1,982 followersAuthor of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. In 10 years of publishing, Duncan Ralston hasn't won or been nominated for sh*t outside of screenwriting awards, and is definitely not bitter about it. His latest novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel.
For 7 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
For 7 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
March 12, 2019
Of the sixteen stories in this compilation, two were great and two were a whole lot of nothing. They cancel each other out. For the rest, I have to say they were mostly good-ish...
If you were a fan of The Colbert Report, you'll remember a segment called "Tip of the hat/Wag of the finger" - where he used to point out something good and bad about something. I'm going to do that here:
VIDEO NASTIES (the story itself) didn't start off great, but the way it ended was completely unexpected and kind of perfect, so I have to give the author a tip of the hat for that.
CUTTINGS (which was very good) was probably the most extreme story in this collection. However, starting off with it created an expectation for that level of stories, which never comes again. This made it difficult not to see the rest of the stories as perhaps too meek or mild. So, a wag of the finger for the choice to start the book off with this story, instead of putting it closer to the end.
Look, I've read a few Ralston stories which have impressed me a lot. I also have some of his work on my wish list. It just felt like he was still trying to find himself in this collection - the stories were diverse (which may not have been a bad thing), but the ones I didn't enjoy felt like a total waste of time. As far as the investment in this collection goes...there was just enough to make me feel like it was worth it.
Ralston also mentions (at the end of the book) how the movie IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS inspired him. Well, sir, I totally get it - that movie was fucking awesome, and in my opinion completely underrated. Surprisingly, I also discovered it on video, and I've been singing its praises ever since.
In the end, this is an author to keep an eye on, I think there will be great things to come in the future.
If you were a fan of The Colbert Report, you'll remember a segment called "Tip of the hat/Wag of the finger" - where he used to point out something good and bad about something. I'm going to do that here:
VIDEO NASTIES (the story itself) didn't start off great, but the way it ended was completely unexpected and kind of perfect, so I have to give the author a tip of the hat for that.
CUTTINGS (which was very good) was probably the most extreme story in this collection. However, starting off with it created an expectation for that level of stories, which never comes again. This made it difficult not to see the rest of the stories as perhaps too meek or mild. So, a wag of the finger for the choice to start the book off with this story, instead of putting it closer to the end.
Look, I've read a few Ralston stories which have impressed me a lot. I also have some of his work on my wish list. It just felt like he was still trying to find himself in this collection - the stories were diverse (which may not have been a bad thing), but the ones I didn't enjoy felt like a total waste of time. As far as the investment in this collection goes...there was just enough to make me feel like it was worth it.
Ralston also mentions (at the end of the book) how the movie IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS inspired him. Well, sir, I totally get it - that movie was fucking awesome, and in my opinion completely underrated. Surprisingly, I also discovered it on video, and I've been singing its praises ever since.
In the end, this is an author to keep an eye on, I think there will be great things to come in the future.
October 6, 2021
I think most short story collections are hit and miss, this particular one had more hits than misses; it was gruesome, outrageous, disturbing and more importantly - well written.
I only started it yesterday, probably the quickest I've read a short story collection; as soon as i finished one of the stories I just had to know what the next one was like straight away.
Also gets bonus points for the VHS cover, that's very cool.
Anyway, that's my first time reading anything by Duncan Ralston, definitely not the last!
Give this one a go horror fans!
I only started it yesterday, probably the quickest I've read a short story collection; as soon as i finished one of the stories I just had to know what the next one was like straight away.
Also gets bonus points for the VHS cover, that's very cool.
Anyway, that's my first time reading anything by Duncan Ralston, definitely not the last!
Give this one a go horror fans!
October 21, 2020
This was a twisted romp through the mind of author, Duncan Ralston!
There are quite a few stories contained within this book so will just insert a few that grabbed my attention. The rest of the stories you will just have to grab the book and read it for yourself so you can also enter the mind of this author!
Cuttings: There is more than flower cuttings in this story.
Chompers: A different take on dentures.
Dead Men Walking: A man in an electric chair refuses to die.
The Eye at the Door: No privacy at all within a bathroom stall.
Sanctuary: When the animals rise up there will be hell to pay!
Do Not Shake or Rattle: Always read the warnings on presents!
Sharp: A blade grinder gets more than he bargained for when he tries to help a customer.
Video Nasties: A video tape that becomes all too real for the character in this story!
All the stories were really good and all of them have certain twists within the stories which gives this book a crazy ride into horror! Giving this book four "twisted" stars!
There are quite a few stories contained within this book so will just insert a few that grabbed my attention. The rest of the stories you will just have to grab the book and read it for yourself so you can also enter the mind of this author!
Cuttings: There is more than flower cuttings in this story.
Chompers: A different take on dentures.
Dead Men Walking: A man in an electric chair refuses to die.
The Eye at the Door: No privacy at all within a bathroom stall.
Sanctuary: When the animals rise up there will be hell to pay!
Do Not Shake or Rattle: Always read the warnings on presents!
Sharp: A blade grinder gets more than he bargained for when he tries to help a customer.
Video Nasties: A video tape that becomes all too real for the character in this story!
All the stories were really good and all of them have certain twists within the stories which gives this book a crazy ride into horror! Giving this book four "twisted" stars!
December 10, 2024
Like most collections the story is varied, some I found
We’re great others I found weren’t for me. What I appreciate the most about this collection is that I’m a big fan of Duncan and this has stories that cover a long period of his writing. It was really cool reading some earlier stuff and his newer stuff.
I think this will make for a good read for people who are fans of Duncan already, but I’m not sure if I would recommend it to for someone’s for read by this author.
We’re great others I found weren’t for me. What I appreciate the most about this collection is that I’m a big fan of Duncan and this has stories that cover a long period of his writing. It was really cool reading some earlier stuff and his newer stuff.
I think this will make for a good read for people who are fans of Duncan already, but I’m not sure if I would recommend it to for someone’s for read by this author.
August 2, 2024
Enjoyed thos one, the stories are a good mix and most were fab, I did enjoy the title novella at the end the best!
July 8, 2020
This horror anthology contained a good variety of short stories which I found both interesting and highly entertaining. From the trauma and deadly seriousness of an American execution chamber to visions of all the snow and "greige" of Toronto and the UK and then finally to end the journey in the virtual nastiness of finding oneself in 'videolimbo' I am pleased to say that, although a couple of tales didn't really resonate with me, there were no out and out real clinkers in this fine collection of dark and sinister tales. Quite an achievement in my humble experience of reading such anthologies. I particularly loved "Sharp" which had such a unique cutting edge to it and also "He Is Risen" which, although set in a modern day UK, certainly had a dark, mysterious and satanic air about it - just like the almost non-stop miserableness of the weather over here! A very enjoyable read of stories from a 'wordslinger' with an undoubted natural talent for writing in this genre and I look forward to reading more of his gruesome and horrifying work in future. Rating: 4.2 stars.
March 2, 2019
Anthologies are always hard to review because so many of the stories are hit and miss. This was not the case with this one. I enjoyed all of the stories in here. There is a little something for every type of horror fan in here. Mental was probably my favorite. Check it out!
December 1, 2017
Review originally published at: http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
This is a collection of sixteen short horror stories about different subjects. Some are gruesome, some are claustrophobic, others cause psychological horror. I found the quality level to be variable, and while I enjoyed some of them, others didn’t touch me.
Rick Gregory’s narration was adequate for this material, delivering the story without interfering, with a very clear diction and the right nuances to make the characters distinguishable. All in all, an enjoyable narration.
I would recommend this book to anyone into horror, and the format of the stories makes them perfect to listen to during short idle moments.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
This is a collection of sixteen short horror stories about different subjects. Some are gruesome, some are claustrophobic, others cause psychological horror. I found the quality level to be variable, and while I enjoyed some of them, others didn’t touch me.
Rick Gregory’s narration was adequate for this material, delivering the story without interfering, with a very clear diction and the right nuances to make the characters distinguishable. All in all, an enjoyable narration.
I would recommend this book to anyone into horror, and the format of the stories makes them perfect to listen to during short idle moments.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2023
I’d been wanting to read Video Nasties ever since I first saw the cover art. It evoked memories of looking through old video stores back in the 80s and seeing the weird and wonderful images that spoke out to me with either their promises of mysterious creatures, buckets of blood or heaving bosoms, in fact, the cover to Video Nasties with its image of a hand bursting out of a video cassette reminded me of a movie called The Video Dead, which featured on its cover the face of a zombie with his decaying arm reaching out at the viewer from within a glowing blue, electricity spewing TV set.
Obviously, the fact that the Anthology is written by Duncan Ralston was a major selling point too, but what first grabbed my attention was the cover art. Happily, the contents didn’t disappoint either.
There are 16 stories contained within and not a single dud amongst them which is pretty damn good as far as anthology pieces are concerned, usually you’ll get the odd one that you end up skipping when re-reading the book but I can’t see that happening here. Sure, some stories resonated with me more than others so for example I could identify with the subject matter of the final story, the self-titled Video Nasties, more than I could with the story In The Shadows Of The Masters but that’s simply because I have more of an affinity with horror movies that I do with works of art, but that lack of knowledge never detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
There’s a lot to like here and in a similar vein to the cover art, there’s a lot here that reminded me of horror movies from the 80’s too. Opening story Cuttings initially made me think of Stephen King’s Christine, whereas Chompers gave me happy memories of titles such as Oliver Stone’s The Hand. Some of the stories feel like they’ve jumped straight out of an episode of The Twilight Zone with others reminding me of more Giallo-style movies and some just carve their own niche that thankfully I don’t think I’ve seen on screen before – yes I’m looking at you The Eye At The Door with your tale of empowerment via the unlikely route of a mysteriously menacing meat manipulating mall man (you’re welcome alliteration fans). There’s even some of that familiarity here with some of the titles, although the tale in here titled Squirm is very different to the movie which shares that title.
In addition to the slight comfortable familiarity with some of the themes here, the stories themselves are a great mixture that vary in tone so where the opening title of Cuttings is probably the most extreme piece in the anthology there are some light-hearted moments too with the aforementioned The Eye At The Door being disgustingly hilarious with the finale (or more specifically the final spoke words) to He Is Risen also being so gloriously silly/cheesy that they made me laugh out loud. Speaking of He Is Risen though, don’t focus on the comment about Pilate, just put it down to the character of the reverend getting it wrong and not the author because that subject’s already been broached elsewhere.
So, to get to the point. I really enjoyed this collection of tales from Duncan Ralston. I don’t think I could pick a favourite out of them but if I had to, I’d probably say it was My Protector that resonated with me the most. Either way, this is another great title from Duncan Ralston and if you’re a fan of horror and/or anthology titles then I think you’ll really enjoy Video Nasties.
Obviously, the fact that the Anthology is written by Duncan Ralston was a major selling point too, but what first grabbed my attention was the cover art. Happily, the contents didn’t disappoint either.
There are 16 stories contained within and not a single dud amongst them which is pretty damn good as far as anthology pieces are concerned, usually you’ll get the odd one that you end up skipping when re-reading the book but I can’t see that happening here. Sure, some stories resonated with me more than others so for example I could identify with the subject matter of the final story, the self-titled Video Nasties, more than I could with the story In The Shadows Of The Masters but that’s simply because I have more of an affinity with horror movies that I do with works of art, but that lack of knowledge never detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
There’s a lot to like here and in a similar vein to the cover art, there’s a lot here that reminded me of horror movies from the 80’s too. Opening story Cuttings initially made me think of Stephen King’s Christine, whereas Chompers gave me happy memories of titles such as Oliver Stone’s The Hand. Some of the stories feel like they’ve jumped straight out of an episode of The Twilight Zone with others reminding me of more Giallo-style movies and some just carve their own niche that thankfully I don’t think I’ve seen on screen before – yes I’m looking at you The Eye At The Door with your tale of empowerment via the unlikely route of a mysteriously menacing meat manipulating mall man (you’re welcome alliteration fans). There’s even some of that familiarity here with some of the titles, although the tale in here titled Squirm is very different to the movie which shares that title.
In addition to the slight comfortable familiarity with some of the themes here, the stories themselves are a great mixture that vary in tone so where the opening title of Cuttings is probably the most extreme piece in the anthology there are some light-hearted moments too with the aforementioned The Eye At The Door being disgustingly hilarious with the finale (or more specifically the final spoke words) to He Is Risen also being so gloriously silly/cheesy that they made me laugh out loud. Speaking of He Is Risen though, don’t focus on the comment about Pilate, just put it down to the character of the reverend getting it wrong and not the author because that subject’s already been broached elsewhere.
So, to get to the point. I really enjoyed this collection of tales from Duncan Ralston. I don’t think I could pick a favourite out of them but if I had to, I’d probably say it was My Protector that resonated with me the most. Either way, this is another great title from Duncan Ralston and if you’re a fan of horror and/or anthology titles then I think you’ll really enjoy Video Nasties.
August 23, 2017
I'm a bona fide Ralston "fangirl," so I'd already read many of the stories in this collection. Ralston is one of my favorite authors for a very good reason- he manages to deliver the most gruesome, horrific, nightmarish material, in the most elegant way. I never stumble over prose or wince at dialogue while reading his work. Many of these tales are nasty and sick, but some, like the story "Mental," go beyond to deliver a deep, psychologically compelling, dystopian vision that I wish could be developed into a full novel. The titular story "Video Nasties" is a delightful Cronenberg/Burroughs/Fulci style tribute to all that is glorious about "schlock" horror videos. I loved the reality-bending, disbelief-suspending, playful tribute to Italian horror masters, like my favorite, Dario Argento. There isn't a dud in the collection, and each story offers readers something fresh and diabolical. Fangirl for life.
November 13, 2018
A good, if not great, collection of short stories by - new to me - author, Duncan Ralston. Great title and cover art evoking the great era of VHS and in particular the video nasty furore. Some really good stories here, a few not so. One of my favourites was the shortest, Do Not Shake or Rattle - great.
Some of these did remind me of other authors works and I do think the author has an obsession with the male member! But all told a readable collection and one I’d recommend.
Some of these did remind me of other authors works and I do think the author has an obsession with the male member! But all told a readable collection and one I’d recommend.
March 10, 2019
I took my time with this one. Kind of had to because my mind needed time to process everything.
This isn’t a collection you can burn through and forget, this is one comprised of sixteen stories that will get to you.
Short story collections are always difficult to review since it might be too easy to spoil another reader’s fun, they’re usually hit or miss, but this is definitely one you should pick up. The blurb compares it to some big names, but this is different.
Better.
Original.
I enjoyed that each time I thought I knew exactly what would happen, the ending would always surprise me. The characters were very believable in the dark worlds and confusing times the author chose for them, each of the stories well thought out and structured to make you think about them long after you’ve finished a reading, and the arrangement is setup to deliver the best experience for you.
Truly enjoyable read for anyone that loves horror, or a good story, and is looking for a new experience that surpasses the names that he drops in the blurb. His voice and the comfortable style he uses to scare you is refreshing. Sixteen dark tales, gruesome and frightening, but laced with dark humor and surprises waiting for you in every dark corner. Really liked this one.
This isn’t a collection you can burn through and forget, this is one comprised of sixteen stories that will get to you.
Short story collections are always difficult to review since it might be too easy to spoil another reader’s fun, they’re usually hit or miss, but this is definitely one you should pick up. The blurb compares it to some big names, but this is different.
Better.
Original.
I enjoyed that each time I thought I knew exactly what would happen, the ending would always surprise me. The characters were very believable in the dark worlds and confusing times the author chose for them, each of the stories well thought out and structured to make you think about them long after you’ve finished a reading, and the arrangement is setup to deliver the best experience for you.
Truly enjoyable read for anyone that loves horror, or a good story, and is looking for a new experience that surpasses the names that he drops in the blurb. His voice and the comfortable style he uses to scare you is refreshing. Sixteen dark tales, gruesome and frightening, but laced with dark humor and surprises waiting for you in every dark corner. Really liked this one.
January 24, 2018
An excellently written and narrated collection of shorts. I am a fan of Duncan's work. Gregory's too as a matter of fact. Nicely done.
December 22, 2018
Duncan Ralston describes Video Nasties as a “Horror Mixtape.” The descriptive writing in each story of this sixteen story collection will allow the reader to “see” or experience dread and horror for 426 (Kindle) pages. Readers can then close the book and go back to a cheerful, safe, and sane real world. If that were only so.
HOW TO KILL A CELEBRITY ***** Annie Watkins wrote obituary “standbys” for Channel 5 news. If someone famous or noteworthy died, Channel 5 had to be ready with breaking news. The trick was to write the obituaries in advance. Many of Annie’s obituaries were spot on. She should advance quickly in her career.
CHOMPERS ***** Everyone hates to go to the dentist. A large part of that feeling involves the high cost. When Ray heard from a friend about Dr. Barrera, a dentist who worked cheap because he wasn’t technically “legal,” Ray was happy. He could even pick out the teeth he wanted from a display full of available teeth. Ray didn’t wonder where they came from. Too bad for Ray.
MENTAL ***** Marigold was an empath. True, her powers weren’t great when she was younger. Luckily, the government had discovered her before her teenage years. They were able to nurture her development and powers during her teenage years. Despite being under constant observation, Marigold had her doubts about the ultimate purpose of her training. Dr. Lex solved the problem for her by falling in lust with Mary. Now, she had to escape.
DEAD MEN WALKING ****** Standardized procedures for execution by lethal injection insured a choreographed ceremony ending predictably. Jose Vasquez didn’t go quietly into that dark night. But there was a lot of justice meted out to more than Jose on the appointed date. Palomino might even get a promotion. Or he could win the lottery.
THE EYE AT THE DOOR ***** Todd’s problem was that he never stood up for himself. He was a doormat, all his colleagues directed the most unpleasant projects to him, and he was too timid to do anything but accept the abuse. Until the unacceptable behavior of the guy in the next stall of the public restroom enraged Todd with its inappropriate crudeness. All it took was a little outrage to make a new Todd.
CUTTINGS ***** Katie made acceptable earnings as a writer, it paid the bills. She knew that the situation was uncomfortable for Gavin, a husband who was trying to find himself. Although she was upset when Gavin spent their last $1200 on a decrepit “ex-hippie” van, she was willing to help him convert the van into the couple’s dream job of a mobile florist shop. The shop succeeded financially but Gavin’s behavior changed as he spent more “alone” time with the van. And who was Tony?
BUS DRIVER MAN: A DARK PINES STORY ***** Mr. McAllister was scrupulous in his duties as a school bus driver. He was always on time or checked in if there were unavoidable delays, and kept his bus spotlessly clean. He also liked order and didn’t like bullies on the bus, like the insufferable Jessie Kinsmen, the mayor’s son. McAllister was politically aware enough to not push things too far until the day McAllister decided some sort of revenge was necessary. But he went too far. And that was when one of his student riders, Janey Freely, taught Mr. McAllister a lesson.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MASTERS ***** Tremaine was an art forger. Paint a forgery of a great master, break into a museum, switch the original for the fake, and sell the original to private collectors. Tremaine didn’t work alone; he was practically a slave to Ziminski, an employer he despised. Tremaine hadn’t been to Ziminski’s house more than a couple of times and had never been with Ziminski to see the vault. He had met Magda, Ziminski’s trophy wife and had enjoyed meeting her (several times). She could not compare with the art in the vault.
MY PROTECTOR ***** Jenny was sometimes bullied at school but she never lost a confrontation. Aaron was there to help her. No one else could see him but the results were visible to all that Jenny did not lose. The school’s inability to believe Jenny led to her expulsion and sent to special camp. The rules there did not allow her to tell tall tales that would scare others. When she did so, she was to be punished. Jenny warned them not to punish her. They should have listened.
SANCTUARY ***** This is a straightforward nature strikes backstory. In a meme from the past, “You shouldn’t mess with Mother Nature.”
DO NOT SHAKE OR RATTLE ***** Donnie should have known better. The warning was printed clearly. The result was predictable. As his wife Grace said, “Merry Christmas.”
STRAY ***** Max was a high school teacher of history to several groups of unappreciative students. Max was taking it more than a little bit seriously when he packed a duffel bag with guns and ammunition and proceeded to his high school earlier than usual. He would teach the students realistic history. But he had not counted on the dog.
HE IS RISEN ***** Madison was Colin’s latest teacher assistant (TA). With a large disparity in age, she served Colin inside and outside the classroom. The two were on vacation and stopped in a town with an unpronounceable name. The people of the town were in the midst of unique and unfamiliar ceremonies and invited the couple to join. It was an invitation they couldn’t refuse. This story has some interesting language unique to Scotland.
SQUIRM ***** Libby first noticed the problem with her husband, Bill. Humans should not have a nictitating membrane closing to protect the eyes. Then Libby noticed the same thing with sons Ryan and Dylan. Her family was becoming reptilian. What did this mean for her? What about her place in the family?
SHARP ***** The truck with JERRY’S GRINDING SERVICE lettered on the side announced its arrival with a musical tune that was not reminiscent of an ice cream truck. It was more funereal than happy. True, Jerry was providing a service by sharpening knives. But he was also looking for “Sandras,” an objective that, if achieved, would bury childhood trauma. Jerry could never have anticipated the healing powers of Rose.
VIDEO NASTIES ***** Think of this story as similar to Poltergeist. It is a “spirits trapped inside the machine” story. After reading this, many will examine their VHS tapes before discarding.
This is a collection of stories with no “clunkers.” I encourage readers to read a story and then go do something else. This is a collection that should not be read in one session. There would be a sort of sensory overload. I put this in my “currently reading” collection of about six novels. I read one story here, another novel, then back to another story. It’s equivalent to not eating one food item at a time when there are several dishes in a meal. This is a five Amazon star read and a great example of its genre.
HOW TO KILL A CELEBRITY ***** Annie Watkins wrote obituary “standbys” for Channel 5 news. If someone famous or noteworthy died, Channel 5 had to be ready with breaking news. The trick was to write the obituaries in advance. Many of Annie’s obituaries were spot on. She should advance quickly in her career.
CHOMPERS ***** Everyone hates to go to the dentist. A large part of that feeling involves the high cost. When Ray heard from a friend about Dr. Barrera, a dentist who worked cheap because he wasn’t technically “legal,” Ray was happy. He could even pick out the teeth he wanted from a display full of available teeth. Ray didn’t wonder where they came from. Too bad for Ray.
MENTAL ***** Marigold was an empath. True, her powers weren’t great when she was younger. Luckily, the government had discovered her before her teenage years. They were able to nurture her development and powers during her teenage years. Despite being under constant observation, Marigold had her doubts about the ultimate purpose of her training. Dr. Lex solved the problem for her by falling in lust with Mary. Now, she had to escape.
DEAD MEN WALKING ****** Standardized procedures for execution by lethal injection insured a choreographed ceremony ending predictably. Jose Vasquez didn’t go quietly into that dark night. But there was a lot of justice meted out to more than Jose on the appointed date. Palomino might even get a promotion. Or he could win the lottery.
THE EYE AT THE DOOR ***** Todd’s problem was that he never stood up for himself. He was a doormat, all his colleagues directed the most unpleasant projects to him, and he was too timid to do anything but accept the abuse. Until the unacceptable behavior of the guy in the next stall of the public restroom enraged Todd with its inappropriate crudeness. All it took was a little outrage to make a new Todd.
CUTTINGS ***** Katie made acceptable earnings as a writer, it paid the bills. She knew that the situation was uncomfortable for Gavin, a husband who was trying to find himself. Although she was upset when Gavin spent their last $1200 on a decrepit “ex-hippie” van, she was willing to help him convert the van into the couple’s dream job of a mobile florist shop. The shop succeeded financially but Gavin’s behavior changed as he spent more “alone” time with the van. And who was Tony?
BUS DRIVER MAN: A DARK PINES STORY ***** Mr. McAllister was scrupulous in his duties as a school bus driver. He was always on time or checked in if there were unavoidable delays, and kept his bus spotlessly clean. He also liked order and didn’t like bullies on the bus, like the insufferable Jessie Kinsmen, the mayor’s son. McAllister was politically aware enough to not push things too far until the day McAllister decided some sort of revenge was necessary. But he went too far. And that was when one of his student riders, Janey Freely, taught Mr. McAllister a lesson.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MASTERS ***** Tremaine was an art forger. Paint a forgery of a great master, break into a museum, switch the original for the fake, and sell the original to private collectors. Tremaine didn’t work alone; he was practically a slave to Ziminski, an employer he despised. Tremaine hadn’t been to Ziminski’s house more than a couple of times and had never been with Ziminski to see the vault. He had met Magda, Ziminski’s trophy wife and had enjoyed meeting her (several times). She could not compare with the art in the vault.
MY PROTECTOR ***** Jenny was sometimes bullied at school but she never lost a confrontation. Aaron was there to help her. No one else could see him but the results were visible to all that Jenny did not lose. The school’s inability to believe Jenny led to her expulsion and sent to special camp. The rules there did not allow her to tell tall tales that would scare others. When she did so, she was to be punished. Jenny warned them not to punish her. They should have listened.
SANCTUARY ***** This is a straightforward nature strikes backstory. In a meme from the past, “You shouldn’t mess with Mother Nature.”
DO NOT SHAKE OR RATTLE ***** Donnie should have known better. The warning was printed clearly. The result was predictable. As his wife Grace said, “Merry Christmas.”
STRAY ***** Max was a high school teacher of history to several groups of unappreciative students. Max was taking it more than a little bit seriously when he packed a duffel bag with guns and ammunition and proceeded to his high school earlier than usual. He would teach the students realistic history. But he had not counted on the dog.
HE IS RISEN ***** Madison was Colin’s latest teacher assistant (TA). With a large disparity in age, she served Colin inside and outside the classroom. The two were on vacation and stopped in a town with an unpronounceable name. The people of the town were in the midst of unique and unfamiliar ceremonies and invited the couple to join. It was an invitation they couldn’t refuse. This story has some interesting language unique to Scotland.
SQUIRM ***** Libby first noticed the problem with her husband, Bill. Humans should not have a nictitating membrane closing to protect the eyes. Then Libby noticed the same thing with sons Ryan and Dylan. Her family was becoming reptilian. What did this mean for her? What about her place in the family?
SHARP ***** The truck with JERRY’S GRINDING SERVICE lettered on the side announced its arrival with a musical tune that was not reminiscent of an ice cream truck. It was more funereal than happy. True, Jerry was providing a service by sharpening knives. But he was also looking for “Sandras,” an objective that, if achieved, would bury childhood trauma. Jerry could never have anticipated the healing powers of Rose.
VIDEO NASTIES ***** Think of this story as similar to Poltergeist. It is a “spirits trapped inside the machine” story. After reading this, many will examine their VHS tapes before discarding.
This is a collection of stories with no “clunkers.” I encourage readers to read a story and then go do something else. This is a collection that should not be read in one session. There would be a sort of sensory overload. I put this in my “currently reading” collection of about six novels. I read one story here, another novel, then back to another story. It’s equivalent to not eating one food item at a time when there are several dishes in a meal. This is a five Amazon star read and a great example of its genre.
April 1, 2019
Great Torontonian writer
I realized very quickly that Duncan was a Torontonian as I read “The Eye at the Door” as he mentions the TD Center, Canoe, and Hy’s Steakhouse. That endeared him to me just a little bit more.
So, why the three star rating? Well... I found that this collection was a bit of a mixed bag. Some stories were terrifying like “The Eye At the Door” and “Chompers” (this story I had read before) but I struggled with the endings. I just felt that they left me unsatisfied.
That being said....there are some real gems in this collection. Must read:
CUTTINGS
SQUIRM
DO NOT SHAKE AND RATTLE
SHARP
Also CHOMPERS is worth a read.
Duncan is obviously a very talented writer and if the collection had just been composed of five or six stories, I think he would be placed at the top of the list of horror writers.
I am looking forward to explore his full-length novels next.
I realized very quickly that Duncan was a Torontonian as I read “The Eye at the Door” as he mentions the TD Center, Canoe, and Hy’s Steakhouse. That endeared him to me just a little bit more.
So, why the three star rating? Well... I found that this collection was a bit of a mixed bag. Some stories were terrifying like “The Eye At the Door” and “Chompers” (this story I had read before) but I struggled with the endings. I just felt that they left me unsatisfied.
That being said....there are some real gems in this collection. Must read:
CUTTINGS
SQUIRM
DO NOT SHAKE AND RATTLE
SHARP
Also CHOMPERS is worth a read.
Duncan is obviously a very talented writer and if the collection had just been composed of five or six stories, I think he would be placed at the top of the list of horror writers.
I am looking forward to explore his full-length novels next.
January 26, 2018
I enjoyed most of these short stories.Some,not so much.One,in particular,stands out.A trip to the dentist ends horrifically.It was my fave.Rick Gregory does a fine job narrating.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”
February 21, 2019
Gruesome and often funny horror collection. The first story is the weakest (also the only story, I believe, with any actual sexual assault) and is a bit hard to follow; the rest are solid and a lot of fun.
December 29, 2019
VIDEO NASTIES is a fantastically morbid collection of short tales by a writer who knows how to write. Ralston's work is engaging and fluid, moving from moment to moment like a pool of blood circling a mold and mildew-encrusted drain to the depths of Hell. I thoroughly enjoyed these shorts. All were entertaining, but my favorites by far were "Mental," "The Eye at the Door," "Cuttings," and this collection's eponymous short "Video Nasties."
I listened to the audiobook edition of this collection. The narration was high quality and engrossing, although there were a few pauses between words that came off awkward when parsing the meaning of the sentence. In any case, I highly recommend this book for fans of horror shorts.
I listened to the audiobook edition of this collection. The narration was high quality and engrossing, although there were a few pauses between words that came off awkward when parsing the meaning of the sentence. In any case, I highly recommend this book for fans of horror shorts.
August 30, 2017
Video Nasties is a wildly inventive and varied collection of short fiction from Duncan Ralston. Short horror has great potential for brutal tales and he definitely pulls no punches. The cover for the book is amazing and if you can hang the expense, go for the paperback. If you are of a generation that remembers VHS tapes, this will feel very familiar for you.
I liked all the stories but here are a few in particular.
Choppers was a great, dark telling of a story type that has been done before but Ralston makes the concept shine. I love the idea of the evil that exists in a monster somehow able to reside dormant within their physical body itself. And what could happen when those body parts are separated from the monster. I love how there is a lot of effective suggestion here without going over the top with dry explanation. Adam might ruin everything but Duncan is the one who ruins the shopping mall Santa Claus. There are some quick and horrifying moments here, leading to a disturbing ending that ties the whole story together with a great line.
Cuttings was a nice exploration of a descent into madness. I love the disorientation of the narrative and the feel that what the main character might be perceiving might not be entirely what's happening. It was also an effective use of shifting points of view as a way of building tension. There is a nice element of mystery here and it all builds up to a pretty brutal finish.
Do Not Shake Or Rattle is a quick story but it's a great one and despite the dark nature of the outcome, it still managed to make me laugh. For sure, this one will make those of you who shake their presents think twice.
Video Nasties, the title story has a great feel of gritty sci fi. The concept is wild and fun to follow along with. With the vibe created by the cover art, I thought it was a great note on which to end the book. Ralston manages to take a concept that is pretty fantastical and complex and still make it relatively easy to follow along with and enjoy. Somehow a gritty horror novella also somehow manages to carry some elements of a superhero origin story as well.
Overall this was a great collection. I'd highly recommend checking it out.
I liked all the stories but here are a few in particular.
Choppers was a great, dark telling of a story type that has been done before but Ralston makes the concept shine. I love the idea of the evil that exists in a monster somehow able to reside dormant within their physical body itself. And what could happen when those body parts are separated from the monster. I love how there is a lot of effective suggestion here without going over the top with dry explanation. Adam might ruin everything but Duncan is the one who ruins the shopping mall Santa Claus. There are some quick and horrifying moments here, leading to a disturbing ending that ties the whole story together with a great line.
Cuttings was a nice exploration of a descent into madness. I love the disorientation of the narrative and the feel that what the main character might be perceiving might not be entirely what's happening. It was also an effective use of shifting points of view as a way of building tension. There is a nice element of mystery here and it all builds up to a pretty brutal finish.
Do Not Shake Or Rattle is a quick story but it's a great one and despite the dark nature of the outcome, it still managed to make me laugh. For sure, this one will make those of you who shake their presents think twice.
Video Nasties, the title story has a great feel of gritty sci fi. The concept is wild and fun to follow along with. With the vibe created by the cover art, I thought it was a great note on which to end the book. Ralston manages to take a concept that is pretty fantastical and complex and still make it relatively easy to follow along with and enjoy. Somehow a gritty horror novella also somehow manages to carry some elements of a superhero origin story as well.
Overall this was a great collection. I'd highly recommend checking it out.
March 21, 2019
If you made a number of B-Horror movies into short stories, they would make up this book. Overall a lot of fun, scary/hokey stories of all shapes and sizes.
November 13, 2017
I received this book from the narrator of my own free will for an honest review.
This is the second book of the narrator I hear, his performance was pretty good I don't have any complaints with it, he had a good voice and a good pace when he narrates.
At the time, I found some that I liked some stories than the others. The one of the brothers was pretty wicked, I like ghosts stories. The last one video nasties was so cool and when you read or hear something and you know to what they are referring to it was so amazing.
In an all it was a pretty cool book with many different stories with mixed backgrounds and points of views.
This is the second book of the narrator I hear, his performance was pretty good I don't have any complaints with it, he had a good voice and a good pace when he narrates.
At the time, I found some that I liked some stories than the others. The one of the brothers was pretty wicked, I like ghosts stories. The last one video nasties was so cool and when you read or hear something and you know to what they are referring to it was so amazing.
In an all it was a pretty cool book with many different stories with mixed backgrounds and points of views.
October 21, 2017
Looking for some scary stories for the Halloween season? Video Nasties was great! It's a collection of 16 creepy short stories, some better than others, but all were great and very creative. Great narration by Rick Gregory! I also want to applaud the author for the cover art on this book. Very nostalgic! Good cover art is always a nice touch, at least in my opinion.
August 22, 2023
This collection is a blast of retro-video-horror craziness! My only experience with Duncan Ralston before this is when I DNF'd Woom. It just wasn't my thing. But this one ... this one is right down my alley.
Most of the stories read like dusty old video shelf favorites from the 80's. My favorites from this collection:
HOW TO KILL A CELEBRITY - Where a young reporter gets a job writing celebrity obits and realizes she's not cut out for the stress....
THE EYE AT THE DOOR - A PR guy with stomach issues is relieved...but only for a second.
VIDEO NASTIES - The title story that closes the collection is more fun than a box of rare video tapes.
Also, He Is Risen reads exactly like an old Hammer Film from the 70's! Except for the Spinal Tap reference, that is.
Most of the stories read like dusty old video shelf favorites from the 80's. My favorites from this collection:
HOW TO KILL A CELEBRITY - Where a young reporter gets a job writing celebrity obits and realizes she's not cut out for the stress....
THE EYE AT THE DOOR - A PR guy with stomach issues is relieved...but only for a second.
VIDEO NASTIES - The title story that closes the collection is more fun than a box of rare video tapes.
Also, He Is Risen reads exactly like an old Hammer Film from the 70's! Except for the Spinal Tap reference, that is.
October 22, 2019
An awesome collection. This was my introduction to Ralston's work. My favorite stories were "How to Kill a Celebrity," "He is Risen," "Sharp," and "Video Nasties." Give it a read if you're a fan of Cronenbergian horror.
April 21, 2019
This book started with the strongest story by far, "Cuttings," but every other story never quite reached that level of greatness. There is no doubt that the author is talented, I just wished some of the stories could have baked a little more in his brain as they felt incomplete.
March 11, 2019
This thoroughly enjoyable anthology from Duncan Ralston remains true to the spirit of its cover. There are few subtle chills here, instead it's a technicolour nightmarescape.
A lot of the stories are very reminiscent of 1980s trade paperbacks - and that's not meant as a criticism. I've spent a great deal of time reading more lofty books recently, so it's good to get back to a something that doesn't demand a great amount of intellectual effort and is just damn good entertainment.
Some of the writing style veers into Stephen King territory - Bus Driver Man reads like a King pastiche. Ralston says in the afterword that one of the stories was accidentally very thematically close to a published King short.
I preferred that stories that seemed to be more authentically in the authors own voice, such as Chompers, about the perils of cut-price dentistry. Coincidentally (or not) those are the more gory ones, which probably says more about me than the author!
A lot of the stories are very reminiscent of 1980s trade paperbacks - and that's not meant as a criticism. I've spent a great deal of time reading more lofty books recently, so it's good to get back to a something that doesn't demand a great amount of intellectual effort and is just damn good entertainment.
Some of the writing style veers into Stephen King territory - Bus Driver Man reads like a King pastiche. Ralston says in the afterword that one of the stories was accidentally very thematically close to a published King short.
I preferred that stories that seemed to be more authentically in the authors own voice, such as Chompers, about the perils of cut-price dentistry. Coincidentally (or not) those are the more gory ones, which probably says more about me than the author!
July 2, 2020
Spine tingling,hair raising tales of terror by a master of horror. Ralston knows how to make you cringe and sit on the edge of your seat while quickly flipping or swiping the pages to see how these horrifying shorts end. Each short is unique in it's own way except for the fact that it will want you wanting more. I highly recommend this book to fans who love the horror genre. You will not be disappointed.
April 8, 2019
Very good short stories.
This book is full of short horror stories that really sucks you into them. I know if you like scary stories then there will be some to keep you awake.
This book is full of short horror stories that really sucks you into them. I know if you like scary stories then there will be some to keep you awake.
March 26, 2019
I was very excited to start reading this collection - I had read some great reviews and thought I would get some very creepy horror stories.
The collection did start very well, the first two stories Cuttings and Chompers were the kind of creepy stories I was looking for and if the whole collection held up to them, this could have easily been a 4-star-review. But, unfortunately it was just all downhill from there.
I don’t now whatever happened, but the third story, Mental, was just so boring. I kept waiting for it to end and it felt like it just dragged on and on. And all the stories after that – to be honest, I don’t remember any of them, they are just a big blur in my head, so there’s not much to write about them. I felt bored most of the time, and bored is the last thing I want from horror stories. The only reason I kept reading was that I was hoping there would be another story like the first two stories, but unfortunately there wasn’t and I was just left feeling so disappointed.
I am sure there are people who will love this collection, but this just wasn’t for me.
The collection did start very well, the first two stories Cuttings and Chompers were the kind of creepy stories I was looking for and if the whole collection held up to them, this could have easily been a 4-star-review. But, unfortunately it was just all downhill from there.
I don’t now whatever happened, but the third story, Mental, was just so boring. I kept waiting for it to end and it felt like it just dragged on and on. And all the stories after that – to be honest, I don’t remember any of them, they are just a big blur in my head, so there’s not much to write about them. I felt bored most of the time, and bored is the last thing I want from horror stories. The only reason I kept reading was that I was hoping there would be another story like the first two stories, but unfortunately there wasn’t and I was just left feeling so disappointed.
I am sure there are people who will love this collection, but this just wasn’t for me.
April 27, 2019
This collection of short stories was as hit and miss as any collection of short stories is, but the hits certainly made up for the misses. I still think Gristle & Bone is Ralston’s best collection of shorts, but this one wasn’t bad either and the titular story was fantastic, if a little creepy. It was one of those unpredictable short stories where you don’t know what’s going to happen next, and that was one of the reasons why it was so haunting.
I also liked the way that Ralston used the gimmick of video nasties to theme the whole book, and even the front cover ties directly back to one of the stories on top of the fact that it’s designed to look like a VHS tape. The only thing it was missing was a slip case, but I suppose that would be impractical to produce and ship it in.
If you haven’t read Ralston before then I wouldn’t suggest starting here, even though I did enjoy reading it. Ralston just has so many books out that it’s hard for me to recommend this one over either Gristle & Bone or The Method, and Woom was fantastic as well if you’re into more hardcore horror. He’s one of the authors who was on the same horror imprint as me back in the Booktrope days and while I haven’t followed everyone from those days, I grabbed one of his books back in the day and just couldn’t stop reading. He has something, although I’m not quite sure what it is, and it’s always interesting to see what he’s up to even if I don’t enjoy the book.
I did enjoy this one, I just didn’t enjoy it as much as some of his others. It was also a good choice for me to follow Night Shift by Stephen King, and I probably got a pretty similar level of enjoyment of the two of them. It’s difficult to beat Stephen King and I don’t think Ralston pulled it off here, but he did manage to match him, and that’s still pretty impressive.
All in all, I would recommend this book, but only if you’re a fan of horror shorts. If novels are more your thing, I’d suggest grabbing one of Ralston’s novels instead, but I also think you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t manage to get to him at all. What are you waiting for?
I also liked the way that Ralston used the gimmick of video nasties to theme the whole book, and even the front cover ties directly back to one of the stories on top of the fact that it’s designed to look like a VHS tape. The only thing it was missing was a slip case, but I suppose that would be impractical to produce and ship it in.
If you haven’t read Ralston before then I wouldn’t suggest starting here, even though I did enjoy reading it. Ralston just has so many books out that it’s hard for me to recommend this one over either Gristle & Bone or The Method, and Woom was fantastic as well if you’re into more hardcore horror. He’s one of the authors who was on the same horror imprint as me back in the Booktrope days and while I haven’t followed everyone from those days, I grabbed one of his books back in the day and just couldn’t stop reading. He has something, although I’m not quite sure what it is, and it’s always interesting to see what he’s up to even if I don’t enjoy the book.
I did enjoy this one, I just didn’t enjoy it as much as some of his others. It was also a good choice for me to follow Night Shift by Stephen King, and I probably got a pretty similar level of enjoyment of the two of them. It’s difficult to beat Stephen King and I don’t think Ralston pulled it off here, but he did manage to match him, and that’s still pretty impressive.
All in all, I would recommend this book, but only if you’re a fan of horror shorts. If novels are more your thing, I’d suggest grabbing one of Ralston’s novels instead, but I also think you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t manage to get to him at all. What are you waiting for?
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