Videotapes from Hell

This illustrated history of VHS cover art celebrates the gory glory of the greatest VHS cover art that inspired, scared, and delighted generations of moviegoers. For anyone who frequented video stores in the ‘80s or ‘90s, the styles are instantly recognizable: surprisingly beautiful paintings of fanged and winged monsters; ridiculously lurid depictions of young men and women in peril; incompetently drawn illustrations; and absurdly overstuffed photomontages.

This book, drawing on Stephen Jones’s extensive collection, collects nearly 500 pieces of period artwork, including front-cover images, full-sleeve spreads, promotional posters, and original artwork incorporated into box designs. Joe Dante’s foreword and commentary from horror luminaries like Ramsey Campbell, Mick Garris, and Stephen King celebrate this lost genre ripe for rediscovery.