VHS Retro Art Round-up: Dreamaniac, Kidnapped, The Cellar and more

Last Updated on August 5, 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.

THE CELLAR

From the creators if WITCHBOARD may not instill confidence in the average movie fan, but it should make those who love VHS cinema very happy. If you read the synopsis on the back, you can get the idea that this film is about an old Indian legend that comes to life to terrorize a family. Sounds fairly generic, but this looks like just the kind of 80s cheese that we love in this column. Not available to purchase on Amazon.com

ABDUCTED

The photos on the box for this film look so low rent that it is hard to imagine this film is any good. But, it says based on a true story, so it has to be the real deal, right? I especially like the first box with the back cover looking like an old newspaper clipping. The second box wins just because I am a sucker for painted art. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

FIREBACK

Between these two boxes, it looks like three different films. The first has a great catchphrase, the second looks like a porn on the back and a violent exercise video on the front. All three have massive guns that defy logic or reality. In the end, it runs only 90 minutes and stars Richard Harrison, so it has to be good. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

THE DEADLY SPAWN

Inspired by a National Geographic article and later marketed to cash in on Ridley Scott's ALIEN, THE DEADLY SPAWN looks neither scientific nor all that scary. It actually ends up looking more like a cross between TREMORS and CRITTERS. Come to think of it, I like both of those movies so maybe this is worth checking out. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

DREAMANIAC

Remember when TAKEN 3 was being marketed as TAK3N? Yeah, I get the same groaning sensation from this title combining two words into a nonsensical amalgamation. But, I have to admit that the first cover is disturbingly cool. Who wouldn't be scared of a giant bald chick with a knife hovering over their bed? Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

DOMINO

No, this isn't the Tony Scott film with Kiera Knightley but rather a 1988 Italian erotic thriller. Starring Brigitte Nielsen, DOMINO looks all sorts of softcore and very 80s but that was back when Nielsen was incredibly sexy, so this may be worth seeking out. Not available 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]