Article by Anthony Cleveland

I grew up next to a video store and the public library. Each one had a massive horror VHS section. Even though I couldn’t check out these videos (most of the clerks knew me as a regular and knew my parents wouldn’t approve), I could still wonder up and down the aisles to get a thrill fix. Back then, these VHS boxes held nothing back. Gore, monsters, and partial nudity were splashed all over the box art. Because I couldn’t rent these or get up the nerve to read the back exerpts, I’d make up the story to the movie. These VHS boxes were probably the earliest catalyst to spur my horror imagination...and a lot of my earliest nightmares!

Here’s a look at some box art from those ol’ video stores.