diff --git a/DOCS/man/vf.rst b/DOCS/man/vf.rst
index 28c2db07d6..5c576e6bad 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/vf.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/vf.rst
@@ -443,31 +443,6 @@ Available mpv-only filters are:
     ``display_fps``
         Refresh rate of the current display. Note that this value can be 0.
 
-``vapoursynth-lazy``
-    The same as ``vapoursynth``, but doesn't load Python scripts. Instead, a
-    custom backend using Lua and the raw VapourSynth API is used. The syntax
-    is completely different, and absolutely no convenience features are
-    provided. There's no type checking either, and you can trigger crashes.
-
-    .. admonition:: Example:
-
-        ::
-
-            video_out = invoke("morpho", "Open", {clip = video_in})
-
-    The special variable ``video_in`` is the mpv video source, while the
-    special variable ``video_out`` is used to read video from. The 1st argument
-    is the plugin (queried with ``getPluginByNs``), the 2nd is the filter name,
-    and the 3rd argument is a table with the arguments. Positional arguments
-    are not supported. The types must match exactly. Since Lua is terrible and
-    can't distinguish integers and floats, integer arguments must be prefixed
-    with ``i_``, in which case the prefix is removed and the argument is cast
-    to an integer. Should the argument's name start with ``i_``, you're out of
-    luck.
-
-    Clips (VSNodeRef) are passed as light userdata, so trying to pass any
-    other userdata type will result in hard crashes.
-
 ``vavpp``
     VA-API video post processing. Requires the system to support VA-API,
     i.e. Linux/BSD only. Works with ``--vo=vaapi`` and ``--vo=gpu`` only.
diff --git a/filters/user_filters.c b/filters/user_filters.c
index 89d7743d53..e1b7a8bce1 100644
--- a/filters/user_filters.c
+++ b/filters/user_filters.c
@@ -64,12 +64,9 @@ const struct mp_user_filter_entry *vf_list[] = {
     &vf_lavfi,
     &vf_lavfi_bridge,
     &vf_sub,
-#if HAVE_VAPOURSYNTH_CORE && HAVE_VAPOURSYNTH
+#if HAVE_VAPOURSYNTH
     &vf_vapoursynth,
 #endif
-#if HAVE_VAPOURSYNTH_CORE && HAVE_VAPOURSYNTH_LAZY
-    &vf_vapoursynth_lazy,
-#endif
 #if HAVE_VDPAU
     &vf_vdpaupp,
 #endif
diff --git a/filters/user_filters.h b/filters/user_filters.h
index a2cca7cba0..88cb859a71 100644
--- a/filters/user_filters.h
+++ b/filters/user_filters.h
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ extern const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_lavfi;
 extern const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_lavfi_bridge;
 extern const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_sub;
 extern const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_vapoursynth;
-extern const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_vapoursynth_lazy;
 extern const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_format;
 extern const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_vdpaupp;
 extern const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_vavpp;
diff --git a/video/filter/vf_vapoursynth.c b/video/filter/vf_vapoursynth.c
index 4227ee6fa6..986399c748 100644
--- a/video/filter/vf_vapoursynth.c
+++ b/video/filter/vf_vapoursynth.c
@@ -812,8 +812,6 @@ static const m_option_t vf_opts_fields[] = {
     {0}
 };
 
-#if HAVE_VAPOURSYNTH
-
 #include <VSScript.h>
 
 static int drv_vss_init(struct priv *p)
@@ -872,7 +870,7 @@ static const struct script_driver drv_vss = {
 
 const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_vapoursynth = {
     .desc = {
-        .description = "VapourSynth bridge (Python)",
+        .description = "VapourSynth bridge",
         .name = "vapoursynth",
         .priv_size = sizeof(OPT_BASE_STRUCT),
         .priv_defaults = &(const OPT_BASE_STRUCT){
@@ -882,241 +880,3 @@ const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_vapoursynth = {
     },
     .create = vf_vapoursynth_create,
 };
-
-#endif
-
-#if HAVE_VAPOURSYNTH_LAZY
-
-#include <lua.h>
-#include <lualib.h>
-#include <lauxlib.h>
-
-#if LUA_VERSION_NUM <= 501
-#define mp_cpcall lua_cpcall
-#define FUCKYOUOHGODWHY(L) lua_pushvalue(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX)
-#else
-// Curse whoever had this stupid idea. Curse whoever thought it would be a good
-// idea not to include an emulated lua_cpcall() even more.
-static int mp_cpcall (lua_State *L, lua_CFunction func, void *ud)
-{
-    lua_pushcfunction(L, func); // doesn't allocate in 5.2 (but does in 5.1)
-    lua_pushlightuserdata(L, ud);
-    return lua_pcall(L, 1, 0, 0);
-}
-// Hey, let's replace old mechanisms with something slightly different!
-#define FUCKYOUOHGODWHY lua_pushglobaltable
-#endif
-
-static int drv_lazy_init(struct priv *p)
-{
-    p->ls = luaL_newstate();
-    if (!p->ls)
-        return -1;
-    luaL_openlibs(p->ls);
-    p->vsapi = getVapourSynthAPI(VAPOURSYNTH_API_VERSION);
-    p->vscore = p->vsapi ? p->vsapi->createCore(0) : NULL;
-    if (!p->vscore) {
-        MP_FATAL(p, "Could not load VapourSynth.\n");
-        lua_close(p->ls);
-        return -1;
-    }
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static void drv_lazy_uninit(struct priv *p)
-{
-    lua_close(p->ls);
-    p->vsapi->freeCore(p->vscore);
-}
-
-static int drv_lazy_load_core(struct priv *p)
-{
-    // not needed
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static struct priv *get_priv(lua_State *L)
-{
-    lua_getfield(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, "p"); // p
-    struct priv *p = lua_touserdata(L, -1); // p
-    lua_pop(L, 1); // -
-    return p;
-}
-
-static void vsmap_to_table(lua_State *L, int index, VSMap *map)
-{
-    struct priv *p = get_priv(L);
-    const VSAPI *vsapi = p->vsapi;
-    for (int n = 0; n < vsapi->propNumKeys(map); n++) {
-        const char *key = vsapi->propGetKey(map, n);
-        VSPropTypes t = vsapi->propGetType(map, key);
-        switch (t) {
-        case ptInt:
-            lua_pushnumber(L, vsapi->propGetInt(map, key, 0, NULL));
-            break;
-        case ptFloat:
-            lua_pushnumber(L, vsapi->propGetFloat(map, key, 0, NULL));
-            break;
-        case ptNode: {
-            VSNodeRef *r = vsapi->propGetNode(map, key, 0, NULL);
-            MP_TARRAY_APPEND(p, p->gc_noderef, p->num_gc_noderef, r);
-            lua_pushlightuserdata(L, r);
-            break;
-        }
-        default:
-            luaL_error(L, "unknown map type");
-        }
-        lua_setfield(L, index, key);
-    }
-}
-
-static VSMap *table_to_vsmap(lua_State *L, int index)
-{
-    struct priv *p = get_priv(L);
-    const VSAPI *vsapi = p->vsapi;
-    assert(index > 0);
-    VSMap *map = vsapi->createMap();
-    MP_TARRAY_APPEND(p, p->gc_map, p->num_gc_map, map);
-    if (!map)
-        luaL_error(L, "out of memory");
-    lua_pushnil(L); // nil
-    while (lua_next(L, index) != 0) { // key value
-        if (lua_type(L, -2) != LUA_TSTRING) {
-            luaL_error(L, "key must be a string, but got %s",
-                       lua_typename(L, -2));
-        }
-        const char *key = lua_tostring(L, -2);
-        switch (lua_type(L, -1)) {
-        case LUA_TNUMBER: {
-            // gross hack because we hate everything
-            if (strncmp(key, "i_", 2) == 0) {
-                vsapi->propSetInt(map, key + 2, lua_tointeger(L, -1), 0);
-            } else {
-                vsapi->propSetFloat(map, key, lua_tonumber(L, -1), 0);
-            }
-            break;
-        }
-        case LUA_TSTRING: {
-            const char *s = lua_tostring(L, -1);
-            vsapi->propSetData(map, key, s, strlen(s), 0);
-            break;
-        }
-        case LUA_TLIGHTUSERDATA: { // assume it's VSNodeRef*
-            VSNodeRef *node = lua_touserdata(L, -1);
-            vsapi->propSetNode(map, key, node, 0);
-            break;
-        }
-        default:
-            luaL_error(L, "unknown type");
-            break;
-        }
-        lua_pop(L, 1); // key
-    }
-    return map;
-}
-
-static int l_invoke(lua_State *L)
-{
-    struct priv *p = get_priv(L);
-    const VSAPI *vsapi = p->vsapi;
-
-    VSPlugin *plugin = vsapi->getPluginByNs(luaL_checkstring(L, 1), p->vscore);
-    if (!plugin)
-        luaL_error(L, "plugin not found");
-    VSMap *map = table_to_vsmap(L, 3);
-    VSMap *r = vsapi->invoke(plugin, luaL_checkstring(L, 2), map);
-    MP_TARRAY_APPEND(p, p->gc_map, p->num_gc_map, r);
-    if (!r)
-        luaL_error(L, "?");
-    const char *err = vsapi->getError(r);
-    if (err)
-        luaL_error(L, "error calling invoke(): %s", err);
-    int err2 = 0;
-    VSNodeRef *node = vsapi->propGetNode(r, "clip", 0, &err2);
-    MP_TARRAY_APPEND(p, p->gc_noderef, p->num_gc_noderef, node);
-    if (node)
-        lua_pushlightuserdata(L, node);
-    return 1;
-}
-
-struct load_ctx {
-    struct priv *p;
-    VSMap *vars;
-    int status;
-};
-
-static int load_stuff(lua_State *L)
-{
-    struct load_ctx *ctx = lua_touserdata(L, -1);
-    lua_pop(L, 1); // -
-    struct priv *p = ctx->p;
-
-    // setup stuff; should be idempotent
-    lua_pushlightuserdata(L, p);
-    lua_setfield(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, "p"); // -
-    lua_pushcfunction(L, l_invoke);
-    lua_setglobal(L, "invoke");
-
-    FUCKYOUOHGODWHY(L);
-    vsmap_to_table(L, lua_gettop(L), ctx->vars);
-    if (luaL_dofile(L, p->opts->file))
-        lua_error(L);
-    lua_pop(L, 1);
-
-    lua_getglobal(L, "video_out"); // video_out
-    if (!lua_islightuserdata(L, -1))
-        luaL_error(L, "video_out not set or has wrong type");
-    p->out_node = p->vsapi->cloneNodeRef(lua_touserdata(L, -1));
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int drv_lazy_load(struct priv *p, VSMap *vars)
-{
-    struct load_ctx ctx = {p, vars, 0};
-    if (mp_cpcall(p->ls, load_stuff, &ctx)) {
-        MP_FATAL(p, "filter creation failed: %s\n", lua_tostring(p->ls, -1));
-        lua_pop(p->ls, 1);
-        ctx.status = -1;
-    }
-    assert(lua_gettop(p->ls) == 0);
-    return ctx.status;
-}
-
-static void drv_lazy_unload(struct priv *p)
-{
-    for (int n = 0; n < p->num_gc_noderef; n++) {
-        VSNodeRef *ref = p->gc_noderef[n];
-        if (ref)
-            p->vsapi->freeNode(ref);
-    }
-    p->num_gc_noderef = 0;
-    for (int n = 0; n < p->num_gc_map; n++) {
-        VSMap *map = p->gc_map[n];
-        if (map)
-            p->vsapi->freeMap(map);
-    }
-    p->num_gc_map = 0;
-}
-
-static const struct script_driver drv_lazy = {
-    .init = drv_lazy_init,
-    .uninit = drv_lazy_uninit,
-    .load_core = drv_lazy_load_core,
-    .load = drv_lazy_load,
-    .unload = drv_lazy_unload,
-};
-
-const struct mp_user_filter_entry vf_vapoursynth_lazy = {
-    .desc = {
-        .description = "VapourSynth bridge (Lua)",
-        .name = "vapoursynth-lazy",
-        .priv_size = sizeof(OPT_BASE_STRUCT),
-        .priv_defaults = &(const OPT_BASE_STRUCT){
-            .drv = &drv_lazy,
-        },
-        .options = vf_opts_fields,
-    },
-    .create = vf_vapoursynth_create,
-};
-
-#endif
diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index f19ba6565a..75e90aceab 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -392,19 +392,9 @@ iconv support use --disable-iconv.",
         'func': check_pkg_config('lcms2', '>= 2.6'),
     }, {
         'name': '--vapoursynth',
-        'desc': 'VapourSynth filter bridge (Python)',
+        'desc': 'VapourSynth filter bridge',
         'func': check_pkg_config('vapoursynth',        '>= 24',
                                  'vapoursynth-script', '>= 23'),
-    }, {
-        'name': '--vapoursynth-lazy',
-        'desc': 'VapourSynth filter bridge (Lazy Lua)',
-        'deps': 'lua',
-        'func': check_pkg_config('vapoursynth',        '>= 24'),
-    }, {
-        'name': 'vapoursynth-core',
-        'desc': 'VapourSynth filter bridge (core)',
-        'deps': 'vapoursynth || vapoursynth-lazy',
-        'func': check_true,
     }, {
         'name': '--libarchive',
         'desc': 'libarchive wrapper for reading zip files and more',
diff --git a/wscript_build.py b/wscript_build.py
index 8f2f804a39..56668f1a09 100644
--- a/wscript_build.py
+++ b/wscript_build.py
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ def build(ctx):
         ( "video/filter/vf_d3d11vpp.c",          "d3d-hwaccel" ),
         ( "video/filter/vf_format.c" ),
         ( "video/filter/vf_sub.c" ),
-        ( "video/filter/vf_vapoursynth.c",       "vapoursynth-core" ),
+        ( "video/filter/vf_vapoursynth.c",       "vapoursynth" ),
         ( "video/filter/vf_vavpp.c",             "vaapi" ),
         ( "video/filter/vf_vdpaupp.c",           "vdpau" ),
         ( "video/fmt-conversion.c" ),