VHS Retro Art Round-up: Black Roses, The Punisher, Killer Cat, and more

Last Updated on August 2, 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.

BLACK ROSES

It is a shame that some of the worst movies ever made have some of the best VHS art. BLACK ROSES is a forgotten 80s horror movie about a heavy metal band literally in league with Satan. SOPRANOS actor Vincent Pastore appears in an early role. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

THE UNINVITED

When THE UNINVITED was released in 1988, the movie about a mutated killer cat was not exactly a box office hit. Still, when your film gets released in Europe under the more direct title KILLER CAT, you know you made some errors in judgement during the production process. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

THE PUNISHER

No one will ever mistake THE PUNISHER for a good movie, but the title font and image of Dolph Lundgren looking badass in black certainly make for an entertaining cover.  Even Louis Gossett Jr cannot figure out why he is in this movie.  I am still puzzled why Frank Castle doesn't have a skull on his shirt. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

The original VHS cover for Wes Craven's slasher masterpiece is one of the best pieces of movie art in any format, but this international version is something special to look at as well.  Looking a bit more like a ghost story than a slasher flick, the first image is cool but still not as great as the black and red text in front of that creepy painted poster. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

FAREWELL FRIEND

French superstar Alain Deloin partnering with Charles Bronson sounds like one of those movies everyone should be required to watch on flights from Paris to New York and yet this is the first I have heard of FAREWELL FRIEND.  It is a little odd that Bronson has his shirt off on both VHS covers, but I am intrigued nonetheless. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

RAW DEAL

Sometimes, a VHS cover doesn't need anything done to it.  RAW DEAL has one of the covers that epitomizes the 1980s with Arnold Schwarzenegger's slicked hair and the fading font, but these international covers take very different approaches.  The first looks like the cheapest cover ever made while the second has a title that may be even better than RAW DEAL.  I give you RATT PARTI. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

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]