Has everyone heard of the infamous "video nasties"? This was a list of films banned in the United Kingdom in the early 80's by the BBFC (British Board of Film Censorship) after the Video Recordings Act of 1984 was passed due to the concern about increasing amounts of violence in films that could potentially corrupt the children and contribute to increased crime rates. Unfortunately for those poor concerned saps over the pond, this act did the exact opposite. Many horror films that were otherwise crap started to become more and more popular as people sought to see them after they became a part of that elusive do-not-watch list. You see, generally people do not like being told what they can and cannot see. It's an interesting read if you want to head over to a search engine and read some of the history. I personally have seen almost every single film on the video nasties list, I kind of made it an agenda when I was younger. Check it out, maybe the list will invoke a little interest in those who have not yet seen all of the films. Some of the films on the list are quite famous, others will have you laughing and wondering why anyone would find some films on that list offensive.
Alan Birkinshaw's 1978 low-budget film Killer's Moon was a little before the time of the video nasties era, but it was probably one of the films that helped lead to its creation. Though I'm sure the subject of schoolgirl rape would probably be considered offensive by most, this film was just so over the top and hilarious that it made it hard to take seriously. The film focuses on a group of schoolgirls who are on a bus trip to a choir concert. Their bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere, and they are forced to go find a hotel to spend the night. Unfortunately for these girls, there are four local mental patients who have escaped from the local looney bin and are now wandering the forests high on LSD and thinking that they are in a dream. Now I don't know what you guys dream about (it's probably best for me not to discuss what my fucked up dreams consist of...), but apparently mental patients dream of murdering and raping and since "it's only a dream", these four escaped whack jobs can easily justify their actions without a pang of guilt. Not to mention that no one realizes that its still not a dream even when they're in pain and their face is bleeding.
The girls and their two teachers meet a gamekeeper while walking through the woods who shows them to the local hotel. As they arrive, the bus driver decides he better head back to the bus. This does not end well for him (nor the gamekeeper). Some locals camping nearby show up and try to be heroes after they realize that there are killers loose and they are going after the girls in the hotel. Pretty straightforward storyline. I should also warn you that there is some (faked) animal violence in this film for those that are sensitive.
The film has its charms. The dialogue is hilarious, and other times so wildly and over-the-top offensive. Here's an actual quote from the film - "You were only raped. As long as you don't tell anyone about it, you'll be alright." The film is littered with these stupid quotes, and the characters are so dumb that it's painful. The killers draw a close similarity to Alex and his gang from A Clockwork Orange. They are all dressed in white, and act like droogs right down to the way they talk about and glorify violence. Most of the reasons I enjoyed this movie were just watching for the sheer comical elements. If you don't have a smile on your face very early on, you probably won't enjoy the film because as a serious horror film, it fails. I can recommend this film for those who are looking for an over-the-top, weird, trippy kind of old school horror film. If you have any interest in British horror history, you definitely have to check this one out as well because it does have a small cult following.
3 OUT OF 5 STARS
*** out of *****
Alan Birkinshaw's 1978 low-budget film Killer's Moon was a little before the time of the video nasties era, but it was probably one of the films that helped lead to its creation. Though I'm sure the subject of schoolgirl rape would probably be considered offensive by most, this film was just so over the top and hilarious that it made it hard to take seriously. The film focuses on a group of schoolgirls who are on a bus trip to a choir concert. Their bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere, and they are forced to go find a hotel to spend the night. Unfortunately for these girls, there are four local mental patients who have escaped from the local looney bin and are now wandering the forests high on LSD and thinking that they are in a dream. Now I don't know what you guys dream about (it's probably best for me not to discuss what my fucked up dreams consist of...), but apparently mental patients dream of murdering and raping and since "it's only a dream", these four escaped whack jobs can easily justify their actions without a pang of guilt. Not to mention that no one realizes that its still not a dream even when they're in pain and their face is bleeding.
The girls and their two teachers meet a gamekeeper while walking through the woods who shows them to the local hotel. As they arrive, the bus driver decides he better head back to the bus. This does not end well for him (nor the gamekeeper). Some locals camping nearby show up and try to be heroes after they realize that there are killers loose and they are going after the girls in the hotel. Pretty straightforward storyline. I should also warn you that there is some (faked) animal violence in this film for those that are sensitive.
The film has its charms. The dialogue is hilarious, and other times so wildly and over-the-top offensive. Here's an actual quote from the film - "You were only raped. As long as you don't tell anyone about it, you'll be alright." The film is littered with these stupid quotes, and the characters are so dumb that it's painful. The killers draw a close similarity to Alex and his gang from A Clockwork Orange. They are all dressed in white, and act like droogs right down to the way they talk about and glorify violence. Most of the reasons I enjoyed this movie were just watching for the sheer comical elements. If you don't have a smile on your face very early on, you probably won't enjoy the film because as a serious horror film, it fails. I can recommend this film for those who are looking for an over-the-top, weird, trippy kind of old school horror film. If you have any interest in British horror history, you definitely have to check this one out as well because it does have a small cult following.
3 OUT OF 5 STARS
*** out of *****