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 AMITYVILLE HORROR
There are horror movies and then there are horror movies. When it comes to the iconic names that instantly make you feel that dread and terror that only the best scary movies can, odds are you are going to include THE AMITYVILLE HORROR on that list. Of these two covers, one is boring and generic but still brings back video store memories. The other is kind of cheap in an early 90s way but still covers all the horror bases. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
FORCED VENGEANCE
All you need when selling renters a Chuck Norris movie is a big old dose of Chuck himself. The first box is an awesome painted masterpiece. Just look at that mustache! The second is pretty good, too, but every box that features painted art is better in my opinion. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
CUJO
Stephen King has said he doesn't remember writing CUJO as it was during his heavy drug and alcohol addiction phase. That is pretty damn impressive since the book was cohesive. The film is a nice little genre exercise and both of these boxes drive home the unexpected thanks to subtle hints and a very memorable title font. Available to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
FLESH FEAST
Veronica Lake was a Hollywood icon, but in her final role she made a movie that should have been left unfilmed. Still, this is a bizarre movie about maggots that is exactly what teens scouring video store shelves would have loved to have found. Both boxes look like something forbidden and taboo. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
DOG DAY AFTERNOON
I love this film. Sidney Lumet's searing drama is a perfect example of the films of the 70s that rarely get made anymore. Dramatic, timely, political, and powerful, DOG DAY AFTERNOON was able to sell audiences using the image of Al Pacino's face or just his eyes to get butts in seats. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS
Many consider the third Freddy Krueger film to be the franchise best, but these boxes may not drive that message home. The first oddly uses an image of Freddy from what looks like WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE while the second uses the film's awesome poster with some goofy font. Either way, this is a must see. 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