The DPP 39 (UK Video Nasties)

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These are the 39 controversial films banned from sale in the UK by the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under the Video Recordings Act of 1984. The films were banned in response to a right-wing media fury spearheaded by the campaigner Mary Whitehouse (1910-2001) who popularised Sunday Times journalist Peter Chippendale's phrase "Video Nasty" despite never having watched any of the films themselves.

In the years that followed, several of these movies were released either cut or uncut, whilst the others have either not been granted a certificate; or no distributor has since requested one.

Not included here are:
- films originally banned at the same time as the Video Nasties, but never prosecuted, such as The Evil Dead.
- films often believed to have been part of the DPP 39, including A Clockwork Orange, The Exorcist, Straw Dogs, Ilsa She-Wolf of the SS and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - all of which were unavailable in the UK for other reasons.

The DPP 39 list is a matter of quintessential bad taste. In most cases, don't expect great movies, but check out what the fuss was all about!

See also the documentary Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010).