Awesome VHS art that used to freak you out! (large images)

[Markgway]

When I was a kid (circa late 80s) I loved nothing more than to go into video stores and check out the box art
for '18' cert horrors I had no chance of renting (my parents would have had kittens). There was something
so exciting about having your imagination run riot based on these effectively designed sleeves (an artform
that all-but died with DVD and photoshop). I remember in school my friends that had seen the films would
relate the storylines (in detail describing the 'best' (ie. goriest) parts) and I would try to picture them using
the visuals from those sleeves. Did anyone else do this? And if so what horror film art captured your
imagination...?

Here's some of my faves:

[Markgway]

Some more........

[Markgway]

[HungFist]

This is a really good topic, but I can't think of any

I didn't watch many horror films when I was a kid, except the Alien films... hmmm... Predator 2 I wanted to see, but couldn't. But I can't find the artwork.

[Markgway]

I'm a sucker for VHS nostalgia... lol

I seem to remember a 'Carrie' VHS cover from the late 80s that grabbed me, maybe a retail release, but I cant find any trace of it, and it's such a long time ago that my memory might be playing tricks. It's an art image of a blood-soaked Sissy Spacek, but NOT an actual photo image like on the DVDs. Hmm...

[Shingster]

Me too, I used to visit the local video van every day and just go through the entire collection staring at the covers & horror releases were almost always the most memorable! Regarding Carrie, the cover I remember was pretty much the one on this page.

Anyway, here are some more covers:

[bradavon]

The Toxic Avenger is so rubbish. I've never been especially into horror. Most of the time it does little for me.

[Markgway]

Yes, that's the Carrie artwork I was talking about. I found it really creepy when I was about 8 or 9. Shame they stopped using it and went with stills. Thanks.

Vengeance: The Demon was the UK title for Pumpkinhead (in case anyone didn't know).

[grim_tales]

Mark Kermode mentioned Rabid Grannies in his book, lol
That's a strange "18" cert for Toxic Avenger. The colour scheme is the same as a "15"

[bradavon]

That's a strange "18" cert for Toxic Avenger. The colour scheme is the same as a "15"

Well spotted geek .

Like Hung I cannot think of any VHS covers I did love. Oh, here's one:

[bradavon]

Where's the Jaws Blu-ray? Come on Universal. It's still only Spielberg's best.

[saltysam]

good topic.in these days were film companies can't even be arsed to use the original film posters on their disc releases it's nice to reminded of how cool vhs artwork was back in the day. The american magazine Horrorhound runs a regular feature where it selects an 80's video company and showcases the artwork of all their releaes of the day.it's a cool,nostalgic read.

[bradavon]

Which is weird, it costs to create new artwork when the poster was always better anyway.

[gasteropod]

I love Criterion's artwork though and they aren't original posters.

[HungFist]

Some companies do great new artworks... Criterion, Arrow, HK Video... and a few, like Toei, use original posters. But almost everyone else screws up every time

[Markgway]

I HATE Criterion's art with a vengeance. Abstract bullshit.

[bradavon]

I hate BIG HEAD covers. Criterion covers are good.

[gasteropod]

I HATE Criterion's art with a vengeance. Abstract bullshit.

Well there's no accounting for taste. Philistine.

[Markgway]

Compare Criterion's WTF output with some of great art on this page.

It's the Emperor's New Clothes.

'Oh, it's Criterion it must be great and important and really clever and shit'.

[bradavon]

"'Oh, it's Criterion it must be great and important and really clever and shit"

No one thinks that when it comes to their cover art. It's just good. It's comparable to the covers on this page, they're different and no longer used. A better comparison would be Criterion with modern mainstream studio covers. Still think it sucks?

[Markgway]

Still think it sucks?

Mostly, yes. I cry when I see what they've done to Dazed and Confused.

They even made Blow Out look boring!

Anyways, let's stop mentioning Criterion here. They didn't exist back in the 80s and that's what this thread is for - 80s video art that freaked you out.

[bradavon]

Criterion were releasing laserdiscs in the 80s.

[gasteropod]

Derp!

[Markgway]

OK, fine. They released Laserdiscs. Can we now just put an end to the discussion please???

I don't know why I bother sometimes...

[bradavon]

Neither do we .

(couldn't resist ).