VHS Retro Art Round-up: Hellgate, Nightwish, The Mutilator and more

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

Every child of the 80s will remember going to the video store and trying to find a movie to rent. Back before the days of Blu-ray and On Demand, selecting a movie usually meant finding the flick with the coolest box art. Like modern posters, classic VHS art has been lost but thanks to the Internet there are countless reminders of these cool creations. This column will be dedicated to bringing you reminders of a bygone era and a look at how cool some of these movies looked on store shelves.

HELLGATE

One could say it seems a bit on the nose that this movie comes from the special effects masters behind HELL films RAISER and BOUND, but HELLGATE nonetheless looks like it at least has the gory visuals to make it worth checking out. The first cover is gross and awesome for horror buffs while the second is much more subtle and plays up the sexuality of the movie. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com.

THE VINDICATOR

Before superhero movies were any good (thanks, Marvel), we had crap like this. The covers look like clones of either Japanese man in suit flicks or THE TERMINATOR. Both boxes are cool in regards to marketing, but glimpsing the smaller images on the back of the second shows the lackluster actual appearance of the titular monster. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

THE MUTILATOR

The interesting thing about this movie is that both boxes are almost identical with layout. The biggest difference is the Japanese cover is more overtly violent while the second is a bit more subtle. It is interesting to note that the American cover gives a less stereotypical figure to the female victim. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

SLOANE

I love that SLOANE features a shirtless guy holding an unconscious woman while shooting a gun with a helicopter in the background. Plus, there is lightning! The synopsis is great, too, with random phrases and names capitalized for no reason. You gotta love these movies. I just wish I could find a copy. Not available to purchase on Amazon.com

NIGHTWISH

One cover evokes the classic horror film DEAD & BURIED while the other has a really nice ass. I have seen this movie cover many times but have never actually watched it and now that I am bringing it up for this column, I definitely want to check it out. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

OPEN HOUSE

What makes less sense: a baton covered in razor blades that is wielded by someone with awful aim or a split skull with a dollhouse sitting in it? Either way, these covers are badass and I must see this movie. A real estate themed slasher? I am sold! Click here to purchase on Amazon.com.

Feel free to pop us your favorite VHS box art and come back for each future column. You can send your finds or photos of your own VHS tapes to [email protected]