| Video Nasty | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy horror |
| Screenplay by | Hugh Travers |
| Directed by | Christopher Smith Megan K Fox |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers | Ailish McElmeel Julie Baines |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Three |
| Release | 8 January 2025 – present |
| Network | Virgin Media Television |
| Release | 20 January 2025 – present |
Video Nasty is a 2025 Irish comedy horror television series set in the 1980s.
Set in the 1980s, three Irish teenagers attempt to complete their collection of so-called "video nasty" VHS tapes. [1]
The six-part series is written by Hugh Travers and directed by Christopher Smith and Megan K Fox. It is produced for Deadpan Pictures and Boat Rocker by Ailish McElmeel and Julie Baines. The executive producers are Travers, McElmeel, David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, Nick Nantell, Erik Pack, Eddie Doyle, Raphaëlle Oloan, Frank Tönsmann, Nada Cirjanic, Paul Donovan and Marc Lorber. It is made with support from Coimisiún na Meán, Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen. [2] [3]
The cast includes Justin Daniels Anene, Cal O’Driscoll, Leia Murphy, Oliver Finnegan, Valerie O’Connor, Declan Rodgers, Simone Kirby and Emmanuel Ighodaro. [4] [5]
Filming took place in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in April 2024. [6] Filmimg locations included County Tyrone, County Monaghan, and County Cavan. [7]
It aired in early 2025 on BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom from 8 January 2025. [8] It airs on Virgin Media Television in the Republic of Ireland from 20 January 2025. [2]
Keith Watson in The Daily Telegraph said there was "no faulting the period detail" and that it was a "bumpily chaotic but endearing joyride that plays like a period drama for anyone under 40". He noted that it "nods to every horror movie under the howling moon" and that even though it was "clearly filmed on a shoestring" the creators "obviously know their Hammer from their Halloween and, making a virtue of a tight budget, give the action a believably vintage home movie feel". [9]
Maria Latilla for Film Stories said that "the central trio, Justin Daniels Anene, Cal O’Driscoll and Leia Murphy, are all charming and have plenty of chemistry and screen presence" and that "Video Nasty is crafted with so much love for everything it references." [10]
Ed Power in The Irish Times praised the "whizzing chemistry" of the three main leads and described the series as having been "made by people who know how to put a working drama together. It won’t blow your mind – but it is great fun". [11]