In recent years there has been a real boom in documentaries surrounding popular culture. Films such as Electric Boogaloo, Video Nasties, The Search for Weng Weng and Adjust Your Tracking have captured the zeitgeist of fans across the globe, and in turn inspired more people to create their own documentaries about pop culture subjects that matter to them…
But not all these documentaries see the same success. Having been on something of a documentary kick lately, I thought I’d break down the ten of the best little-known, or better yet little-discussed, pop-culture documentaries from the many, many examples I have been watching. So here they are and, for once, they’re in order:
1) Slaughter Nick For President
There’s a good reason this film is at the top of my list. This is the documentary that kicked off my exploration of pop culture documentaries (eventually ending up at compliling this list) and,...
But not all these documentaries see the same success. Having been on something of a documentary kick lately, I thought I’d break down the ten of the best little-known, or better yet little-discussed, pop-culture documentaries from the many, many examples I have been watching. So here they are and, for once, they’re in order:
1) Slaughter Nick For President
There’s a good reason this film is at the top of my list. This is the documentary that kicked off my exploration of pop culture documentaries (eventually ending up at compliling this list) and,...
- 8/18/2015
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
The moral panic associated with 'Video Nasties' in 1980s Great Britain is a cultural and political phenomenon that continues to live on in infamy in the memories of UK horror fanatics, including indie comic writer Mario Covone, who spoke to us about his new series, Video Nasty, which takes place during the mindless witch hunt of the times.
Having previously been founder and manager of the pioneering comic book store 'Apocalypse Comics', Covone makes his physically published debut with Video Nasty.
So what exactly was the turning point in his career? What gave him the inspiration and drive to take the leap from store manager to getting his very own product into the market?
Covone says, "I have always had a deep love for the medium of comic books and known that I wanted to be a part of the industry in some capacity, but growing up in a small...
Having previously been founder and manager of the pioneering comic book store 'Apocalypse Comics', Covone makes his physically published debut with Video Nasty.
So what exactly was the turning point in his career? What gave him the inspiration and drive to take the leap from store manager to getting his very own product into the market?
Covone says, "I have always had a deep love for the medium of comic books and known that I wanted to be a part of the industry in some capacity, but growing up in a small...
- 5/20/2014
- by Gareth Jones
- DreadCentral.com
We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes release details for Zombie, Indiana, a Circus of the Dead teaser trailer, news on the line-up for FearFest Glasgow, an Escaping the Dead trailer, the trailer for Bb, and much more:
Zombie, Indiana Release Details: “The newest novel in Scott Kenemore’s bestselling series, Zombie, Indiana is the tale of a harrowing undead attack on the heartland of America. From the highest echelons of state government—to the gritty world of an eastside narcotics detective—to the elite folds of the state’s most-expensive prep school—this novel explores the impact of an invading zombie horde on a trio of Hoosier protagonists… each of whom has some dark secrets to keep.
Indiana governor Hank Burleson has spent eight years cutting social services, castrating the unions (not literally…yet), and chipping...
Zombie, Indiana Release Details: “The newest novel in Scott Kenemore’s bestselling series, Zombie, Indiana is the tale of a harrowing undead attack on the heartland of America. From the highest echelons of state government—to the gritty world of an eastside narcotics detective—to the elite folds of the state’s most-expensive prep school—this novel explores the impact of an invading zombie horde on a trio of Hoosier protagonists… each of whom has some dark secrets to keep.
Indiana governor Hank Burleson has spent eight years cutting social services, castrating the unions (not literally…yet), and chipping...
- 1/26/2014
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Film4 FrightFest Glasgow 2014 has today announced a 4(!) day event to include eight World, European and UK premieres, Ti West special event and Sunday repeat screenings in the festivals biggest programme ever. From Thursday February 27th to Sunday March 2nd, the UK’s favourite horror fantasy festival returns to its second home at the Gft for the 9th year with an impressive slate of the hottest new horror films.
The line-up in full:
Thurs 27 Feb – Gft Screen 2 21:00 In Conversation With Ti West (Special event)
Nobody does nostalgia-brushed spookiness and minimalist horror like independent director Ti West, King of the slow-burn shocker. FrightFest has been there from the very start – our video label released his 2005 debut feature The Roost – and we’ve watched with pride as the Delaware-born quirky talent has grown in global genre stature through The House Of The Devil, The Innkeepers, V/H/S and now his game-changing Eli Roth produced The Sacrament.
The line-up in full:
Thurs 27 Feb – Gft Screen 2 21:00 In Conversation With Ti West (Special event)
Nobody does nostalgia-brushed spookiness and minimalist horror like independent director Ti West, King of the slow-burn shocker. FrightFest has been there from the very start – our video label released his 2005 debut feature The Roost – and we’ve watched with pride as the Delaware-born quirky talent has grown in global genre stature through The House Of The Devil, The Innkeepers, V/H/S and now his game-changing Eli Roth produced The Sacrament.
- 1/21/2014
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Tenth edition of the Glasgow Film Festival to host a record 60 UK premieres; Under the Skin to receive Scottish premiere as closing film.
Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel will receive its UK premiere as the opening film of this year’s Glasgow Film Festival (Gff) on Feb 20.
With the festival celebrating its tenth edition this year, its opening gala recalls their first-ever closing gala, Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, which will also receive a screening during the festival on Glasgow’s Tall Ship.
Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, which was partly shot in Glasgow and stars Scarlett Johansson as a predatory alien seductress, will receive its Scottish premiere as the closing film on March 2.
Premieres
This year’s edition (supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, EventScotland and Creative Scotland) will feature a record 60 UK premieres, including Michel Gondry’s Mood Indigo; Sandra Nettelbeck’s Mr. Morgan’s [link...
Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel will receive its UK premiere as the opening film of this year’s Glasgow Film Festival (Gff) on Feb 20.
With the festival celebrating its tenth edition this year, its opening gala recalls their first-ever closing gala, Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, which will also receive a screening during the festival on Glasgow’s Tall Ship.
Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, which was partly shot in Glasgow and stars Scarlett Johansson as a predatory alien seductress, will receive its Scottish premiere as the closing film on March 2.
Premieres
This year’s edition (supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, EventScotland and Creative Scotland) will feature a record 60 UK premieres, including Michel Gondry’s Mood Indigo; Sandra Nettelbeck’s Mr. Morgan’s [link...
- 1/21/2014
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
Grindhouse Trailer Classics Vol. 3
Introduced by Kim Newman | Produced by Marc Morris, Jake West
Nucleus Films follow up the critically acclaimed first two volumes in the Grindhouse Trailer Classics series with this all-new third volume, featuring even more outrageous and crazy trailers for movies from the heady days of cult and exploitation cinema, the likes of which have sadly been lost in this day and age of Hollywood blockbusters and high definition entertainment.
Throwing politically correctness out the window, the trailers in this third epic volume run the gamut from sexploitation movies (which seem to have an obsession with swinging Sweden and the activities which apparently go on there), biker movies, blackploitation classics – who doesn’t want to watch The Spook Who Sat By the Door?, martial arts masterpieces such as Deadly China Doll and Revenge of the Ninja, good old nazispolitation (Nazi Love Camp 27 I’m looking at you...
Introduced by Kim Newman | Produced by Marc Morris, Jake West
Nucleus Films follow up the critically acclaimed first two volumes in the Grindhouse Trailer Classics series with this all-new third volume, featuring even more outrageous and crazy trailers for movies from the heady days of cult and exploitation cinema, the likes of which have sadly been lost in this day and age of Hollywood blockbusters and high definition entertainment.
Throwing politically correctness out the window, the trailers in this third epic volume run the gamut from sexploitation movies (which seem to have an obsession with swinging Sweden and the activities which apparently go on there), biker movies, blackploitation classics – who doesn’t want to watch The Spook Who Sat By the Door?, martial arts masterpieces such as Deadly China Doll and Revenge of the Ninja, good old nazispolitation (Nazi Love Camp 27 I’m looking at you...
- 11/9/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Prepare to relive the early 80s again and be “depraved and corrupted” once more as Horror Channel broadcasts a season of films that define the Video Nasties phenomenon – one of the most extraordinary and scandalous eras in the history of British film – the Season of the Banned.
Headlining this new season is the world TV premiere of Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship and Videotape, which will be broadcast on November 4th @ 10.55pm
Directed by renowned filmmaker Jake West (Doghouse, Evil Aliens) and produced by Marc Morris, (co-author of ‘Art of the Nasty’ and ‘Shock Horror: Astounding Artwork from the Video Nasty Era’) – both of whom are pictured above – this era-defining documentary features reflective interviews with filmmakers Neil Marshall and Christopher Smith as well as charting the heroic stand taken by journalist/author Martin Barker, who single-handedly came out in protest against what he saw as the erosion of civil liberties.
Headlining this new season is the world TV premiere of Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship and Videotape, which will be broadcast on November 4th @ 10.55pm
Directed by renowned filmmaker Jake West (Doghouse, Evil Aliens) and produced by Marc Morris, (co-author of ‘Art of the Nasty’ and ‘Shock Horror: Astounding Artwork from the Video Nasty Era’) – both of whom are pictured above – this era-defining documentary features reflective interviews with filmmakers Neil Marshall and Christopher Smith as well as charting the heroic stand taken by journalist/author Martin Barker, who single-handedly came out in protest against what he saw as the erosion of civil liberties.
- 10/17/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Okay, so here’s a quick question for you all … how many dog owners amongst you have suddenly experienced man’s best friend exhibit unusually disturbing behavioural tics after sitting them down in front of the television and watching a few horror movies together?
Anyone? No? No sudden canine savagery? No impulsive howling at the moon? No gratuitous tearing of flesh? No violent rending of bone? Not even any unwelcome soiling of carpets?
I only ask this question as, in regards to the Video Nasties furore of the mid-Eighties, Conservative MP Graham Bright once (in)famously appeared on television and categorically stated that “I believe there is research taking place and it will show that these films not only affect young people … but I believe they affect dogs as well.”
But regardless of whether such research will mean poor Fido sadly misses out on his one opportunity to catch “The Beast In Heat...
Anyone? No? No sudden canine savagery? No impulsive howling at the moon? No gratuitous tearing of flesh? No violent rending of bone? Not even any unwelcome soiling of carpets?
I only ask this question as, in regards to the Video Nasties furore of the mid-Eighties, Conservative MP Graham Bright once (in)famously appeared on television and categorically stated that “I believe there is research taking place and it will show that these films not only affect young people … but I believe they affect dogs as well.”
But regardless of whether such research will mean poor Fido sadly misses out on his one opportunity to catch “The Beast In Heat...
- 12/21/2010
- by Nick Turk
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
[Fyi, this review will cover the documentary only, the rest of the package will be covered separately]
The early 1980's was a magical time for movie lovers. The dawn of home video. Everyone was scooping up $700 VCRs like their lives depended on it. Thousands upon thousands of films that you'd never had a chance to see either in a theater or at home on television were suddenly at one's fingertips. This was the same all around the world. In the UK, something happened in those early years that went on to define the tastes of a generation of horror fans, the advent of the Video Nasty.
I'll assume that most of you, my fair readers, are at least aware of the Video Nasty. Here is the briefest of descriptions, courtesy of Wikipedia:
"Video nasty" was a term coined in the United Kingdom in the 1980s that originally applied to a number of films distributed on video cassette that were criticized for their violent content by various religious organizations,...
The early 1980's was a magical time for movie lovers. The dawn of home video. Everyone was scooping up $700 VCRs like their lives depended on it. Thousands upon thousands of films that you'd never had a chance to see either in a theater or at home on television were suddenly at one's fingertips. This was the same all around the world. In the UK, something happened in those early years that went on to define the tastes of a generation of horror fans, the advent of the Video Nasty.
I'll assume that most of you, my fair readers, are at least aware of the Video Nasty. Here is the briefest of descriptions, courtesy of Wikipedia:
"Video nasty" was a term coined in the United Kingdom in the 1980s that originally applied to a number of films distributed on video cassette that were criticized for their violent content by various religious organizations,...
- 11/22/2010
- Screen Anarchy
If you’ve been paying any attention this past few days you’ll know Jake West’s and Marc Morris’ excellent new compilation reel and documentary – Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide – has been released. I reviewed it a week or so ago (see here) and have posted an in-depth two part interview with West – click on the links: Part 1 and Part 2.
During the interview he told me plans are afoot for a companion piece, but asked me not to say too much, because things are still in the early stages. He also let me know the working title – again, which I won’t reveal until he says it’s okay. He did tell me this – the only printable quote I have:
“It looks like we may be doing a follow-up to it [Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide]. Keep it under your hat. But there maybe a sequel!”
The ‘sequel’ sounds like it could be another...
During the interview he told me plans are afoot for a companion piece, but asked me not to say too much, because things are still in the early stages. He also let me know the working title – again, which I won’t reveal until he says it’s okay. He did tell me this – the only printable quote I have:
“It looks like we may be doing a follow-up to it [Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide]. Keep it under your hat. But there maybe a sequel!”
The ‘sequel’ sounds like it could be another...
- 11/9/2010
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Yesterday we posted our exclusive interview with director Jake West discussing his superb compilation reel and documentary, Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide. It is an incredible work and one horror fans and film students alike should see. You can read the first part of the interview here.
West and his co-producer Marc Morris released Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide on 8th November via their Nucleus Films company. It is highly recommended viewing and really can claim to be the ‘definitive’ word on the subject. You can read my review here.
Did you go back and watch all the films that were on the Dpp list?
I’d kind of tracked all those films down over the years so I’ve seen them all. All of the really goods ones like The Evil Dead, Inferno, Tenebrae and Driller Killer, I knew those films pretty well. It was looking back at films...
West and his co-producer Marc Morris released Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide on 8th November via their Nucleus Films company. It is highly recommended viewing and really can claim to be the ‘definitive’ word on the subject. You can read my review here.
Did you go back and watch all the films that were on the Dpp list?
I’d kind of tracked all those films down over the years so I’ve seen them all. All of the really goods ones like The Evil Dead, Inferno, Tenebrae and Driller Killer, I knew those films pretty well. It was looking back at films...
- 11/9/2010
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Very recently I sat down with film director Jake West for a fascinating and lively discussion on the history of the ‘video nasty’. It was a highly peculiar time in British cinema and legal history which saw films effectively demonised for being, well, a horror film.
West and his co-producer Marc Morris release Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide today (8th November) via their Nucleus Films company. It is highly recommended viewing and really can claim to be the ‘definitive’ word on the subject. You can read my review here.
I interviewed Jake last year when the great horror comedy, Doghouse, was released and it was cool to chat again. Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide was a labour of love for the director and his co-producer but what we get is a brilliant dissection of British history, censorship and some good old-fashioned horror celebration.
If you’re a film fan, film...
West and his co-producer Marc Morris release Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide today (8th November) via their Nucleus Films company. It is highly recommended viewing and really can claim to be the ‘definitive’ word on the subject. You can read my review here.
I interviewed Jake last year when the great horror comedy, Doghouse, was released and it was cool to chat again. Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide was a labour of love for the director and his co-producer but what we get is a brilliant dissection of British history, censorship and some good old-fashioned horror celebration.
If you’re a film fan, film...
- 11/8/2010
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Iron Man 2; A Nightmare on Elm Street; Video Nasties - The Definitive Guide
There's an inevitable tension at the heart of the Iron Man franchise between the humans and the hardware, the acting and the action. In the first film, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges formed an entertaining axis of anxiety whose verbal fisticuffs declined as the smash-em-ups increased. The same is true of Iron Man 2 (Paramount, 2010, 12), although hats off to Downey for once again tearing up the role of Tony Stark, the rubber-mouthed billionaire whose "weapon" (he prefers the term "suit") has enabled him to "successfully privatise world peace". It's a terrific turn tailor-made for the once disastrously ill-disciplined Downey, all gabbling flippancy, smart-ass smugness, and borderline megalomaniacal madness. This time his nemesis is Ivan, an embittered Ruskie with a family grudge played with a rolling accent by the barely human Mickey Rourke whose...
There's an inevitable tension at the heart of the Iron Man franchise between the humans and the hardware, the acting and the action. In the first film, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges formed an entertaining axis of anxiety whose verbal fisticuffs declined as the smash-em-ups increased. The same is true of Iron Man 2 (Paramount, 2010, 12), although hats off to Downey for once again tearing up the role of Tony Stark, the rubber-mouthed billionaire whose "weapon" (he prefers the term "suit") has enabled him to "successfully privatise world peace". It's a terrific turn tailor-made for the once disastrously ill-disciplined Downey, all gabbling flippancy, smart-ass smugness, and borderline megalomaniacal madness. This time his nemesis is Ivan, an embittered Ruskie with a family grudge played with a rolling accent by the barely human Mickey Rourke whose...
- 10/23/2010
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide
The UK in the early 1980’s. The birth of the video age and the birth of one of the most notorious periods in British movie history – the era of the Video Nasty!
As the proliferation of home video grew, independent video distributors filled the gap left by a Hollywood system too afraid to release films on video with a mind-boggling selection of movies – in fact almost anything they could lay their hands on! From obscure horror films, to sex films, kung-fu, cult classics, obscurities and outright trash, all these and more could be found in local video rental stores located on almost every high street in the country. That was until 1984 when the tabloid newspaper moral panic whipped up by clean-up campaigner leader Mary Whitehouse and fanned by newspapers like the Daily Mail and their infamous “Ban the Sadist Videos” headline finally brought about the Video Recordings Act…...
The UK in the early 1980’s. The birth of the video age and the birth of one of the most notorious periods in British movie history – the era of the Video Nasty!
As the proliferation of home video grew, independent video distributors filled the gap left by a Hollywood system too afraid to release films on video with a mind-boggling selection of movies – in fact almost anything they could lay their hands on! From obscure horror films, to sex films, kung-fu, cult classics, obscurities and outright trash, all these and more could be found in local video rental stores located on almost every high street in the country. That was until 1984 when the tabloid newspaper moral panic whipped up by clean-up campaigner leader Mary Whitehouse and fanned by newspapers like the Daily Mail and their infamous “Ban the Sadist Videos” headline finally brought about the Video Recordings Act…...
- 10/15/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
It was an era that remains notorious to this day and gave Sam Raimi some widespread publicity when he was just a young kid making goofy horror films in the backwoods of Michigan.
Now the Video Nasty era is subject of a new collection and documentary Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide directed by Jake West and Marc Morris, which is released by Nucleus Films on 1st November.
The film-makers cut together the original trailers for the 72 horror films that were successfully prosecuted in the courts for corrupting the nation. FilmShaft has seen it and we can firmly say it’s a brilliant and intelligent montage of not particularly brilliant and intelligent cinema. But there in lies the mystery and repulsion.
If you want the version longue there’s a four hour cut featuring intros from leading horror critics like the ace Kim Newman and Alan Jones. Also on the extra...
Now the Video Nasty era is subject of a new collection and documentary Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide directed by Jake West and Marc Morris, which is released by Nucleus Films on 1st November.
The film-makers cut together the original trailers for the 72 horror films that were successfully prosecuted in the courts for corrupting the nation. FilmShaft has seen it and we can firmly say it’s a brilliant and intelligent montage of not particularly brilliant and intelligent cinema. But there in lies the mystery and repulsion.
If you want the version longue there’s a four hour cut featuring intros from leading horror critics like the ace Kim Newman and Alan Jones. Also on the extra...
- 10/11/2010
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Lund is back yet again. Running from September 3rd to October 2nd in Lund Sweden and covers genre film from all over the world. We'll be covering the fest, so you may ask, what am I looking forward to?
Post apocalyptic zombies in Rammbock.
Simon Rumley's Red White & Blue.
More post apocalyptic zombies in Greek sequel To Kako II: Evil in the Time of Heroes.
Consciousness Transfer.
What would I recommend that I've already seen?
Ivan Engler's Swedish scifi flick Cargo.
Cyberpunk animation Technotise.
Irish after-beating study Savage.
Neil Marshall's Centurion.
And there's plenty more. You can check out the full list after the break and buy tickets at the official website.
International Competition
Scott Pilgrim vs The World: An utterly brilliant and incredibly entertaining comic book adaptation from Edgar Wright(Shaun of The Dead)
The Loved Ones: It's the prom night from hell in this...
Post apocalyptic zombies in Rammbock.
Simon Rumley's Red White & Blue.
More post apocalyptic zombies in Greek sequel To Kako II: Evil in the Time of Heroes.
Consciousness Transfer.
What would I recommend that I've already seen?
Ivan Engler's Swedish scifi flick Cargo.
Cyberpunk animation Technotise.
Irish after-beating study Savage.
Neil Marshall's Centurion.
And there's plenty more. You can check out the full list after the break and buy tickets at the official website.
International Competition
Scott Pilgrim vs The World: An utterly brilliant and incredibly entertaining comic book adaptation from Edgar Wright(Shaun of The Dead)
The Loved Ones: It's the prom night from hell in this...
- 9/7/2010
- QuietEarth.us
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.