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.
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
If THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is remembered for anything outside of what it showed on screen it would be it's presence on video store shelves. With a title like that, you don't have to do much else to sell potential viewers, but a creepy image of Leather face cannot hurt. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
ATOMIC CYBORG/FISTS OF STEEL
I don't know much about this 1986 Italian action movie (it isn't even on DVD), but just look at that box art! Arm wrestling! Robotic implants! Guns! What else could you ask for from an 80s action flick?
GODZILLA VS MEGALON
Any GODZILLA movie comes with a dozen or so VHS boxes since every company with distribution put out their own version of the Japanese monster B-movies. These two stand out as one could almost be mistaken for an animated film while the other makes use of the World Trade Center which does not appear to actually be a setting in the movie itself. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
BLASTFIGHTER
This Lamberto Bava flick is a cross between RAMBO, THE DEER HUNTER, and I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE. It is tough to say whether it is any good, but the title alone along with these covers make me want to watch it right away. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
9 1/2 WEEKS
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY is lighting up the box office but is far from the first (or last) in a long history of Hollywood erotica. One of the most memorable and lasting films is 9 1/2 WEEKS starring Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger. Here are three versions of the box art, all of which focus on Kim Basinger's very sexy figure. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
PUPPET MASTER
In the realm of B-movies, Full Moon Entertainment holds a special place in VHS lovers' hearts. The company was at their peak success in the early 1990s with series like PUPPET MASTER. The cheap movies would debut at your local store every few months and offer teens in search of boobs and blood something beyond compare. 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 alexmaidy@joblo.com