Video Nasty: All About the Mystery-Horror Series  

Three kids- Billy, Zoe, and Con, just want one thing. They want to complete their cult VHS collection full of banned 80s horror movies, called “Video Nasties.” However, their quest isn’t easy as along the way, they find themselves under the police’s radar.

Full of 80s nostalgia mixed in with dark humor, this short coming-of-age series explores the innate obsession people have towards everything they are told not to pursue. A trailer has been released that also hints at other themes like censorship, cult films, and identity being explored as well. 

Want to know more about this show? In this article, we will discuss the plot, trailer, as well as where you can watch it, among other details. Stay tuned, as we will also keep updating this article with new information as when it becomes available. 

Release date and Where to Watch 

Video Nasty will be released on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer. It will have six episodes, each 30 minutes long. 

What is the plot of Video Nasty?

Set in 1985 when home videos were all the rage, Video Nasty, follows three weird teenagers who go on an adventure to complete their cult VHS collection. However, their quest to gather controversial and banned horror films won’t be easy as one lift from a stranger changes their lives and they end up deep in the woods only to discover that they might not be alone. 

To make matters worse, they will have to answer to the police and angry locals after becoming chief suspects in a murder investigation. The series will explore a murder mystery while also addressing issues of censorship, moral panic, identity, and family. In the end, the kids will discover that their cult collection of VHS tapes might be linked to something gruesome. 

In an interview with BBC, actress Leia Murphy, who plays Zoe, explained how the show explores moral panic in a way that’s relevant to today’s world. She said, “The notion of moral panic in the show speaks to the kind of world we live in now – especially with how quickly we are subjected to people’s opinions and propaganda with such volume on social media.”

She further said, “It’s also about how easy it is for young people to be convinced and be given a perception before they even have had a chance to make their own opinions about things. So we’re reflecting a lot of the issues we’re actually facing today.”

Video Nasty Trailer

The trailer begins with Billy saying to Con, “No screaming, no looking away” as they begin watching a tape. The trio plans to go to England to get the last tape that will complete their VHS collection. However, they end up in the woods and find that someone in a beak mask is following them. One woman at the end says to Zoe, “You’re here to give yourselves, for our souls.” Check out the trailer below: 

The cast of Video Nasty

• Justin Daniels Anene (Sanctuary, The Tourist) as Billy
• Cal O’Driscoll (September Says, Sanctuary) as Con
• Leia Murphy (Fair City, Small Town, Big Story)as Zoe
• Valerie O’Connor (Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale) as Maureen
• Emmanuel Ighodaro (Shameless) as Abe
• Oliver Finnegan (Outlander, We are Lady Parts) as Topher
• Simone Kirby (His Dark Materials) as Ethel Greaves
• Declan Rodgers as Frank
• Milo Callaghan as Joe
• Kevin McGahern as TJ
• Barry John Kinsella as Reverend Downing
• Rory Mullen as Christy
• Isolt McCaffrey as Maura
• Kiera Crawford as Rachel
• Billy Lyons as Senior Garda
• Ryan Burke as Luke
• Will Guppy as MTV Presenter

Episode Guide

• Season 1 Episode 1 – Tape 72 (Wednesday, Jan. 08, 2025)
• Season 1 Episode 2 – Kill Scene (Wednesday, Jan. 08, 2025)
• Season 1 Episode 3 – Fangoria Fangirl (Wednesday, Jan. 08, 2025)
• Season 1 Episode 4 – Whatever It Takes (Wednesday, Jan. 08, 2025)
• Season 1 Episode 5 – Pray for Our Souls (Wednesday, Jan. 08, 2025)
• Season 1 Episode 6 – Nightmare Maker (Wednesday, Jan. 08, 2025)

Filming Details

Video Nasty was shot in the counties of Monaghan, Cavan, and Tyrone in Ulster of Ireland. 

Behind the Scenes

Video Nasty is produced by Julie Baines (Something in the Water, Triangle) with Deadpan Pictures and Boat Rocker. Ailish McElmeel (Northern Lights, Can’t Cope Won’t Cope) serves as the Series Producer. 

Hugh Travers, David Fortier, Nick Nantell, Ivan Schneeberg, and Erik Pack have executive produced the series for Boat Rocker. Eddie Doyle and Raphaëlle O’Loan are representing BBC while Marc Lorber is here for Deadpan Pictures.