Review by VinnieRattolle

As a young American horror fan, I was vaguely aware of the "video nasty" craze as it happened, because it catapulted back across the pond, resulting in increasingly ridiculous censorship. So when I noticed this doc on a streaming service, I figured there were many things that I didn't know about the British video crackdown. I was right, but certainly didn't find answers here.

The only thing that I can say about "VHS Nasty" that hasn't already been said is the interviewees aren't uninteresting, and several make valid points. This footage could have worked if it had been framed properly as a documentary, giving a more historical context to the story. Unfortunately, as is, it's just random people giving their thoughts and opinions. And since the opinions are largely the same, it quickly devolves into tedious redundancy.

I had no intention of writing a review for this, but because I watched it a few weeks ago, the algorithm gods recommended a 2005 doc called "Ban the Sadist Videos!" That one does a much better job of presenting the same story, with the aid of clips, vintage interviews, and insights from various industry persons.