A new book aims to recreate the 80s video store rental experience, with an immersive trip through some of the cult films of the era. Adventures in VHS is a study of 60 horror, sci-fi, violent action and sex comedy movies - as seen through the eyes of a child way too young to be watching them.
Featuring contributions from the likes of Lloyd Kaufman (Class of Nuke 'Em High), Jim Wynorski (Chopping Mall), David DeCoteau (Creepozoids) and Harry Bromley Davenport (Xtro), the book transports author Noel Mellor back to a simpler time, to explore some of the films that shaped his love of genre cinema.
Adventures in VHS opens with a personal and public history of VHS, considering its impact on both the author and the industry as a whole, before picking up 30 or so years later as Noel attempts to source original ex-rental copies of the flicks that adorned the shelves of his local independent store. Among the finds are films like Dark Night of the Scarecrow, Ghoulies, Kindred, From Beyond, Black Roses and many more, all watched on a newly sourced VCR and 21-inch tube television.
"I wanted to make Adventures in VHS as authentic an experience as possible," Noel explains, "not just for me, for the reader as well. The intention was always to make it feel like they people were almost renting these films with me, while I share what makes some of them so special to me."
As well as a written exploration of the films themselves, the book features full colour images of the tapes sourced for the project, allowing the reader to see the glorious artwork that adorned these relics of yesteryear. Follow the link above for more info.
