Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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Before the Video Recordings Act changed the UK home video industry forever, certain films slipped onto VHS shelves completely uncut. One of the most infamous examples is this early UK rental tape of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, released by Iver Film Services.
This particular tape was issued during the early days of the VHS boom and featured the full uncut version of Tobe Hooper’s controversial horror classic. However, when the UK government introduced the Video Recordings Act 1984, all video releases were required to be submitted to the British Board of Film Classification for approval.
When The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was finally submitted, it was refused a certificate, effectively banning the film from UK home video and turning it into one of the most notorious titles of the Video Nasties era.
Because of this refusal, early rental tapes like this one became extremely scarce, especially in such excellent condition. The film would remain unavailable on UK home media for many years, not receiving another official release until the late 1990s, when the BBFC finally approved the film for home viewing.
For collectors of horror history and vintage VHS, releases like this represent a fascinating moment in time — when the UK video market was still the Wild West.
Do you remember when The Texas Chain Saw Massacre disappeared from UK shelves during the Video Nasties era? Or did you ever see one of these early rental tapes in a video shop?
Let us know your memories in the comments!
Find Retro Reels on the following!
Facebook : facebook.com/retroreels
Instagram : instagram.com/retroreels
#TexasChainsawMassacre #VideoNasties #VHSCollectors #RetroReels #HorrorHistory #PhysicalMedia #VHS
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & BECOME A RETRO REELS MEMBER! - youtube.com/channel/UChVlG2MpXACWx4yXcRAsTag/join
Before the Video Recordings Act changed the UK home video industry forever, certain films slipped onto VHS shelves completely uncut. One of the most infamous examples is this early UK rental tape of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, released by Iver Film Services.
This particular tape was issued during the early days of the VHS boom and featured the full uncut version of Tobe Hooper’s controversial horror classic. However, when the UK government introduced the Video Recordings Act 1984, all video releases were required to be submitted to the British Board of Film Classification for approval.
When The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was finally submitted, it was refused a certificate, effectively banning the film from UK home video and turning it into one of the most notorious titles of the Video Nasties era.
Because of this refusal, early rental tapes like this one became extremely scarce, especially in such excellent condition. The film would remain unavailable on UK home media for many years, not receiving another official release until the late 1990s, when the BBFC finally approved the film for home viewing.
For collectors of horror history and vintage VHS, releases like this represent a fascinating moment in time — when the UK video market was still the Wild West.
Do you remember when The Texas Chain Saw Massacre disappeared from UK shelves during the Video Nasties era? Or did you ever see one of these early rental tapes in a video shop?
Let us know your memories in the comments!
Find Retro Reels on the following!
Facebook : facebook.com/retroreels
Instagram : instagram.com/retroreels
#TexasChainsawMassacre #VideoNasties #VHSCollectors #RetroReels #HorrorHistory #PhysicalMedia #VHS
