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.
ALLAN QUATERMAIN AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD
Clearly, this movie is a cheap clone of INDIANA JONES, but when your film comes courtesy of Cannon Films, you really shouldn't expect high art. I remember watching this movie and enjoying the heck out of it as a kid even though it doesn't age well. Check out that classy box art! Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
DEEPSTAR SIX
This is a movie that often gets overlooked as a clone of THE ABYSS or LEVIATHAN because they all hit in 1989. This is the weakest of the three but has the poster/box art that sticks with me the most. It is too bad about that awful tagline though. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
WATCHERS
Another movie with a really cool cover/poster that hides the really cheesy special effects within. The second box below is what will get you to watch the movie but it is the first that shows what you are really going to get. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
MAC AND ME
There are not very many movies as bad as MAC AND ME but that is what makes it so lasting. A feature length McDonald's commercial, this movie has becoming a running gag between Paul Rudd and Conan O'Brien and for good reason. Look how much that first cover apes the E.T. poster. Blatant and completely unwarranted. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
FACES OF DEATH
The original FACES OF DEATH was a right of passage for my friends and I looking for the most brutal horror we can find. A mix of fake and real footage, FACES OF DEATH operates perfectly on the hype and mystery the black cover teases. The second box looks like any generic horror movie, but the first cover makes it really seem like this is something you shouldn't be watching. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
SCANNERS
Both boxes are very similar but that is because SCANNERS is known for a single iconic scene rather than the great movie it is. David Cronenberg has become known for his disturbing imagery and for good reason. I am still waiting on a cover that only shows that great head explosion scene. 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 [email protected]
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