Video stores were (and are) some of the coolest places on the planet, where many of us first fell in love with horror movies.
I’m here to help bolster that notion with these five top shelf horror home video promos that were served up expressly for excitement at your local video rental destination.
THE INFLATABLE GHOULIES TOILET
It’s undeniable that the Ghoulies franchise ruled rental shelves in the 1980s. It also spawned the royal flush of promo pieces with an INFLATABLE TOILET featuring the creatures from the cover art.
I’ve seen a recreation of these, so pay close attention when you spot one, if you can at all!
BONUS: GHOULIES II TOILET PAPER
What’s an inflatable toilet without some matching TP? Vestron Video were genius level when creating video promo, and this twofer drop for Ghoulies 2 is exemplary in that notion.
THE HOUSE VHS CLAMSHELL CASE
This was the ultimate counter topper showstopper.
A custom-shaped embedded clamshell design held a screener copy of the film and all the electronic guts that helped illuminate the window and other parts of the display. These have since become a highly coveted collectors piece, and a jaw-dropper for anyone who hasn’t seen this House.
THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART II CERAMIC BUST
A stunning recreation of the arresting and unforgettable box art, this Return of the Living Dead Part II ceramic bust measures about 8×8 inches, as you can see from the by-the-box comparison.
This has been one of the most coveted pieces out there for many years, captivating collectors with its unique and spectacular presentation.
THE STREET TRASH CERAMIC MUG
Don’t drink any Viper from this trash can! Vestron does it again with some clever crossover marketing.
This is a fairly common customizable mug (with a lid) but slapping a Street Trash logo on this in the late ’80s meant you weren’t gonna miss this title once it hit the shelves.
THE PHANTASM II SILVER SPHERE HAT
This is the current holiest of grails, and one of the most creatively tailored promo hats ever to grace the heads of horror fans. There appears to be a bloody and bloodless version, but I’ve only encountered three in my tape-driven travels.
Imagine your video store clerk rocking this hat when you lay down your rentals. How do you not ask about the movie and when it’s available to rent?
This is intricate, pure genius promo and that’s why it sits at the top of this list.
What’s your favorite video store promo?
Shout it out in the comments below. We’ve got more where these came from…
Josh is an eternal champion of the VHS format. He has steadily spread the rewind-inclined word with Lunchmeat Magazine and LunchmeatVHS.com, along with the book and supplement series STUCK ON VHS. He is also one of the founders of Drive-In VHS Fest, which is the largest VHS film festival in the world. His passion for the VHS format has allowed his voice to be featured in The New York Times, L.A. Times, and Washington Post, while a number of his written works are preserved in the Yale Library. When he’s not watching tapes, he enjoys playing basketball and eating nachos, but not at the same time. Though he’s willing to try.
