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.
ZOMBIE HIGH
Less a zombie movie and more of a spin on THE STEPFORD WIVES, this film was a moderate success when it hit theaters in 1987. Virginia Madsen plays the title role in a movie that also features a young Paul Feig. The art on these boxes doesn't really showcase much in the way of zombies, but I love the logo. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com.
BLOODY BIRTHDAY
Holiday themed movies are always better when they are horror films. These two covers are very similar and showcase a cake with fingers as candles. Grotesque and very, very 1980s, these covers don't tell you more than you need to know, and trust me that you want to see this movie based on the covers alone. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
RETRIBUTION
I used to always think this movie was a spin-off of THE EXORCIST thanks to the Jason Miller look-a-like on the box art. I have yet to see this movie, but the simple, one word title and creepy eyes intrigue me. The second box art isn't quite as haunting but I still want to see this. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
DREAM LOVER
That first cover looks creepy as f*ck. I would not want to see that lady coming at me with a tiny knife. The title and image are jarringly dissimilar which makes this a unique VHS cover. The second is a classier poster that reminds me of old school Hitchcok and De Palma movies. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
NIGHT BEAST
The weird DRIVE font and shadow of a alien-esque monster looks like something out of THE EXORCIST while the second box removes any mystery and shows us the shitty weird monster in all of it's glory. What happened to keeping the horror in the shadows? Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
KILLER PARTY
Ah, a slasher film with a killer wielding a ridiculously over the top weapon. I love this shit. Not sure about the overlapping Ls in the title on the first, but the second cover manages to look like a rejected album cover. I approve. 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