Video Nasties News

The Cannibal Man is a 1972 Spanish thriller by Eloy de la Iglesia.
With Vicente Parra, Emma Cohen and Eusebio Poncela.      

Banned as a video nasty in 1983. Cut by the BBFC for 18 rated VHS in 1993. Later passed 15 uncut for 2025 Blu-ray. There is also an extended integral version assembled from unique footage from several other versions, such as the German Cinema Version.

Summary Review: Pseudo-sleazy

Real slaughterhouse footage and scenes of dirty urban slums set the tone for this stark and obsessive Spanish thriller.

A slaughterhouse employee named Marcos gets attacked by a cabdriver who takes objection when he and his girlfriend are making out in the back seat, and Marcos kills him. This sets in motion a week of killing, first to cover up the cabdriver's death, and afterward to keep the bodies piling up in his bedroom a s ecret.

Weird, pseudo-sleazy film that works even though it doesn't even attempt to live up to its title - there's *no cannibalism*.

The dubbing is pretty bad and there's not much gore (most of the nastiness happens off-screen), but there's plenty of atmosphere and a sense of desperation builds in Marco's apartment. 

International Version

International Version run: 98:33s pal: 94:36s		UK: The International Version is uncut and BBFC 15 rated for strong violence, bloody images, threat, sex: 2025 88 Films Blu-ray (rated 06/01/2025) titled La Semana Del Asesino US: The International Version is uncut and MPAA  R rated for: 2021 Severin [International + Extended Integral Version] R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon #ad 2021 Severin [International + Extended Integral Version] R0 DVD at US Amazon #ad 2012 Blue Underground Midnight Movies [Cannibal Man + Cannibals] R1 DVD at US Amazon 2012 Real 3D DVD-R at US Amazon [check compatibility details] 2007 Blue Underground R0 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon
cut cut: 3s run: 98:02s pal: 94:07s		UK: The International Version was passed 18 after 3s of BBFC cuts for: 1993 Redemption VHS See pictorial cuts details from movie-censorship.com . The BBFC cuts were: 3s removed from a shot where Marcos cuts Carmen's throat
uncut run: 98:09s pal: 94:13s		UK: The International Version was released uncut on pre-cert video for: 1981 Intervision VHS It was released in November 1981 and banned as a video nasty in July 1983. It stayed on the list throughout the panic and became one of the collectable DPP39s. The cover was a flimsy slip case that didn't last long so adding to the rarity of a mint condition cover.

The BBC has published a trailer for a new six-part comedy horror drama filmed in Northen Ireland and Ireland earlier this year. It tells the story of three teenagers who go on an epic quest to complete a cult horror VHS collection.

A description of the series reads:

Set in 1985, when the home video revolution is in full analogue swing, Video Nasty tells the story of three mostly-normal-but-kind-of-weird teenagers who go on an epic quest to complete a cult VHS collection.

Instead, they get mixed up in a murder investigation, becoming chief suspects and public enemies. The series is a deadly, deadpan comedy with a raucous, racy, retro flavour. Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer set to film latest blockbuster in Northern Ireland Who are Marian and Dolours Price?

Written and created by Hugh Travers and directed by Christopher Smith and Megan K. Fox the series promises to be a, raucous, racy, retro 80's throwback that blends laugh-out loud comedy with compelling horror-themed drama.

The series will be available on iPlayer on 8th January 2025.

Cannibal Holocaust is a 1979 Italian adventure by Ruggero Deodato.
With Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi and Perry Pirkanen.    

Famously banned in the UK as a Video Nasty in 1983. Unbanned for the heavily cut 2001 DVD. The cuts were reduced to animal violence only for 2011 DVD. Deodato produced a new edit in 2011 to more tidily remove the animal violence. Uncut in the US and Italy

The BBFC have reconfirmed its animal cruelty cuts to Cannibal Holocaust commenting:

This work required a compulsory cut to a scene of animal cruelty.

The film had been submitted by 88 Films.

Presumably these are the same cuts as the previous submission in 2011 when the BBFC cut a 15s scene of a coatimundi being killed.

Note that all the old cuts for violence were waived for that 2011 submission.