VHS: Very Historic Subject or the Golden Days Gone for a Horror Enthusiest

[Madloomis78]

So, remember this one contraption, which completely changed the face of cinema, by giving it a face lift and eventual competition, or even to some filmmakers, a way to gain a cult following and garnish themselves true masters of their trade? These things were called Videocassette Recorders: simply place a plastic cassette, complete with film and, depending on what you're watching, grandiose images of your worst nightmare, and push the button with the arrow pointing east. From there you can sit comfortably in your own home, without the discomfort of ever... having... to leave... again...



So, I'm sure there are those of you who are wondering why the history lesson when a majority of the folks on here already know what this is. There are things I truly miss about the days of VHS, things such as the first time ever buying a double-tape VHS. Mine was the 20th anniversary special edition of Halloween.

There is something so primitive about have to rewind the masterpieces and pieces of shit we just watched that I almost forgot the convenience of not having to. I miss having to buy a commentary on its own separate VHS tape. I miss the bulkiness of the VHS tape, the need for more space at my local video store. And to prepare for another topic of interest, I miss video stores!!

Oh and by the way, for those unaware, this is what a VCR looks like...

It's strange, right when all the special edition, double VHS movies were being released, and commentaries aslo, DVDs began to pop up. It took me a long time to really want to catch on to the movement of the DVD, and though I'm very glad and anticipate all of the special features that accompany films, I really miss the simplicity of watching a movie, rewinding, and then moving on...

[Boisv]

I own that VHS edition of Halloween. It got it as a Christmas present in the late 90s. # 29477/40000. The case is sadly a little worn because it spent some time lost in a basement, but now it sits on a shelf displayed in my living room. If I were to sell it on Amazon, which I'm not, I would describe it as "Used - Very Good". I still have everything that came in it, right down the the tiny dab of rubber cement keeping the keychain stuck to the inner spine. Before the age of DVD, this special edition was pretty terrific.

[buried13]

Nice little feature in retrospect of a dearly missed medium. I, as well, miss the local video stores stocked with rows upon rows of titles and cover art that we just don't see anymore (mainly speaking of the horror genre of course). It was also pretty scarce to find a title with an "uncut" version, which nowadays comes standard on almost every DVD release.

I'm still rockin' out the VCR on the top shelf of my entertainment center, although the picture quality on a plasma doesn't grab the grittiness like it did with the bulky tube tv's. We may not be able to slow down the advancements of technology, but that doesn't mean we can't still hold on to the essence of the good old days!

[krsdacritter]

I parted with the majority of my VHS collection 2-3years ago it broke my heart £1000s spent collecting all those hard to find horror movies but I couldn't part with the most important part the sleeves where my true love of VHS was in the misleading art. I miss poking around strange backstreet video shops hunting for illusive films and then the actual happiness of finding a gem I haven't felt that since I got a DVD player to me the experience of films has been watered down with DVDs and completly washed out since I got the internet. I miss the old ways as a kid I dreamed of working in a video shop, sad I know but to me VHS had character and wasn't just a movie on a disc. By the way I couldn't part with my entire collection and still have some favourites and a few very early unrated VHS

[Boisv]

Ti West's House of the Devil saw an amazing VHS release just a few years ago, complete with big plastic case, worn artwork, and a even the little "NEW RELEASE" logo on the cover. The back had no artwork, just a description and a warning. And you know what THAT always meant. ;)

I also own one of these. It was a great release.

http://serialkillercalendar.com/VHSWASTELAND/HIGH-RES-VHS-COVERS/THE-HOUSE-OF-THE-DEVIL.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/blog.moviefone.com/media/2010/01/hotd12.jpg

[Madloomis78]

I miss my copy of the special edition. I gave it away in my attempt to be a non-materialist. It would be nice to have now just to watch the added scenes.

[UberJason78]

Oh man! it was a great time when we bought a VCR and hired several horror movies..I remember that I've seen Poltergeist 2 and 3, but had never seen the first one, because our videostore didn't have that one in there store..so eventually I became member of another videostore that did have Poltergeist and also Friday the 13th part 7 and Halloween 4.
I used to love the cover art of the videoboxes..I drew the covers in a big drawingbook. I remember drawing the covers of Poltergeist, Parasite, Halloween 4 and 5 and Jaws 3D.
I still have a ( working) VCR and also all the videocassettes I collected way back when..even movies recorded off the television ( Jaws The Revenge with alternate ending, Halloween II, The Dentist, Jason Takes manhattan ( the cut version)
Child's Play 2 and 3, wich we could copy with another VCR next to it. It was great to see the kind of grindhouse feeling when watching a video. That same feeling , to me, was what made Friday the 13th such a great movie..as with DVD's, it's sad that that feeling can not be remade or recaptured. But hey, that's what made the 80's and 90's very special for me.
I'm very happy that DVD's have bonus features and commentary tracks.
And one more thing...the video cover art still is much prettier than what DVD re-issues made of them. Friday the 13th cover art was much cooler and luring than the DVD version have...alot of that stuff is not carefully put together..I think alot of people here can agree with me on that one.

Once again this is a nice topic, wich makes us think back at our roots as horrorfans and falling in love with it, all over again.
I Love Horror!!!