News

Prepare to be corrupted and depraved once more as Nucleus Films releases the sequel to the definitive guide to the Video Nasties phenomenon – the most extraordinary and scandalous era in the history of British film. Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Part 2, a three-disc collector’s edition box set, is being released on DVD on July 14th 2014, to tie in with the 30th Anniversary of the Video Recordings Act 1984.

For the first time ever on DVD, all 82 films that fell foul of the Director of Public Prosecutions “Section 3” list are trailer-featured with specially filmed intros for each title, alongside a brand new documentary – Video Nasties: Draconian Days (review), directed by Jake West.

And to celebrate the release, Film4 FrightFest is hosting a special event – the world exclusive London Premiere of the finalised unseen extended 97 minute cut of Video Nasties: Draconian Days at The Prince Charles Cinema on Thurs 3 July, 8.30pm. The...

Spanish horror legend Paul Naschy’s Empusa, one of the final fright films he starred in (and the last one he wrote and directed under his real name, Jacinto Molina) is finally complete and hitting the sales markets. Naschy, who died last November, began production on Empusa in 2007, taking over the reins from its original helmer, longtime collaborator Carlos Aured.

Spanish horror legend Paul Naschy’s Empusa, one of the final fright films he starred in (and the last one he wrote and directed under his real name, Jacinto Molina) is finally complete and hitting the sales markets. Naschy, who died last November, began production on Empusa in 2007, taking over the reins from its original helmer, longtime collaborator Carlos Aured.

Spanish actor Paul Naschy was a leading star in horror films for forty years from the late 1960s. He was best known for his role as the tragic werewolf, Waldemar Daninsky, which he originated in the 1968 film La Marca del Hombre Lobo (Mark of the Wolfman) from his own script. Though the film pitted Daninsky against a pair of vampires, the movie was oddly retitled Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror when it was released in the United States. He went on to play the werewolf in nearly a dozen subsequent films, many that he also co-scripted under his real name, Jacinto Molina.

Naschy was born Jacinto Alvarez Molina in Madrid on September 6, 1934. He began working in films as an extra in the 1961 biblical feature King of Kings. He appeared in small roles in a handful of films in the 1960s before creating the role of the werewolf Daninsky.

Daninsky returned in...

Yesterday’s list of overlooked slasher flicks got me thinking about their European cousin, the giallo. Sure, most gialli were cranked out before the slasher craze was under way, but it’s hard to ignore the similarities: knife-wielding, black-gloved lunatics, tragic prologues often used establish our killer’s motivations and, of course, excessive female exploitation. In short: total bliss!

I’ve limited this list to one film per director so to prevent my own personal bias from creeping into it. But, really, there’s so many of these damn things I didn’t think it’d be fair to turn this into a showcase for just two or three directors. Next to the slasher, the giallo is my favorite subgenre. Outlandish plot twists, a staggering amount of degenerate red herrings, sinister animals and lots and lots of J & B Scotch, if you’ve got just a few of these elements...