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.
SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN
It is difficult to summarize this horror/spy film but know that outside of the crazy cool cover art seen below, this movie features Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing. Yeah, that should alone be a selling factor for any genre fan, but you cannot beat the grisly cool image they selected to adorn both covers. Each is slightly different and yet evokes the same yuck factor. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com.
976-EVIL 2
While the first 976-EVIL was directed by Robert Englund and co-written by L.A. CONFIDENTIAL's Brian Helgeland, the direct to video sequel had no name recognition. Still, the long defunct 976 exchange for adult chat lines still rings true for children of the 1980s. This movie is not good, but the artwork is. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is a right of passage for teens and movie fans of all ages. Part musical, part horror, part sex fever dream, this movie is an experience best seen in a theater. But, if you must watch it at home, there is no chance that you won't be enamored by the cover art. Every box tends to highlight those trademark lips but there are variations like the first one below that are equally as good. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES
This movie is insane. Imagine FRANKENSTEIN but instead of a murderer's brain, you have the heart of a gorilla…and a female wrestler. One of the best B-movies of all time (or should I say worst?), this is one movie that would be impossible to have art that lives up to the title, but both of the very different covers below try to do a good job of it. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
PANIC
Essentially a low rent version of THE FLY, I just love the creepy box art on the second image below. The first doesn't do much for me and looks more like a soft core porn flick. Still, it amazes me how even the shittiest movie can get some damn fine artwork to help sell it to schmucks like me. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
DEMON QUEEN
Sex and horror go together like peanut butter and sex or chocolate and sex or sex and sex. Both covers for DEMON QUEEN play up the female lead. One uses a still from the film while the other paints a creepy picture. Both get the job done in different ways. 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 alexmaidy@joblo.com