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.
BOARDING HOUSE
With Halloween fast approaching, many will be looking for horror flicks to check out. But, back in the day when you could browse a video store to find the best movie for your spooky night, you would be treated to a caliber of art gone today. Check out this generic slasher flick that ups the ante by showing a sexy woman in lingerie being attacked from inside her bed. Yeah, that will get you to third base with your girl, easy. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com.
MAUSOLEUM
Rules for naming your horror movie: make the word easy to pronounce. Any marginally educated person will know what a mausoleum is, but I can imagine some others would be left scratching their heads. Because words like crypt, graveyard, tomb, and cemetery are staples of horror tiles, I am sure the producers of this one just blindly picked a synonym out of a thesaurus.. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
PSYCHOMANIA
I doubt you have seen many British zombie biker movies, but if you can only see one, make it PSYCHOMANIA. This is actually a decent horror flick with art that looks like a Halloween album by The Who. And, as much as I like the first cover, the second is so goofy I just have to own it. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
REVENGE OF THE DEAD
George Romero's trilogy of zombie flicks inspired an entire sub-genre of movies but also a slew of imitators. Very few are worth a look, but if you are judging by the box art alione, this may be one of the best. A cross between DAWN OF THE DEAD and CHUD, this looks like a winner. It is too bad the tagline is so awful. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
SQUIRM
Maybe the only horror movie about worms that I am aware of, SQUIRM has some of the best box art I have ever seen. Both boxes could pass for album art or a painting hanging on the wall of someone's home where no children dare to venture. Plus, this is a cult classic that is actually way better than it sounds. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
STREET TRASH
Never heard of or seen this movie before, but they had me at toilet monster. Like everyone, I am cautious of where I drop my pants, but the ridiculous nature of this art makes me laugh and want to see it. The second cover looks like a spin-off of THE TOXIC AVENGER which gives me all the more reason to check it out. 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
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