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Fighting in films is something of a genre unto itself. Whether you love the kung-fu classics of the Shaw Bros. era, the macho heroics of Eighties blockbusters or today’s Marvel superhero punch-ups, the choreography, inventiveness and sheer brutality of a well shot fight can be thrilling to watch. In the early Eighties, however, Cliff Twemlow, a small-time star who would go on to become a legend, conceived of making a film whose fights would reflect what he had seen in real life over the course of his career as a nightclub bouncer. This, directed by his good friend David Kent-Watson, is that film, and it quickly became a cult classic.

Starring Twemlow himself, it is most popularly known as G.B.H. – the full phrase ‘grievous bodily harm’ being splashed across the screen during the opening credits sequence for those unfamiliar with it (which perhaps suggests that he was already dreaming of.

Cliff Twemlow is, for me, something of an enigma, an urban legend, even a myth if you like. I remember reading about this self-made film star in the pages of Darkside Magazine – his films seemingly lost to the VHS era in much the same way as Lindsay Shonteff’s oeuvre. Speaking of VHS, Twemlow is probably best known for G.B.H., a British gangster movie that became notorious after it featured on the video nasties list thanks to the garish artwork – Cliff’s character covered in blood brandishing a hammer!

What I didn’t know about Twemlow is that he wrote music, and performed not only as part of a band (under the name Peter Reno) but also penned theme songs under the same name for the De Wolfe label – over 2000 pieces of music in fact, themes that went on to be featured on TV shows of the era! Twemlow was also a novelist,...

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...