The VHS Strikes Back

Chosen by Chris, Heat arrived in 1995 as Michael Mann’s grand, granite-jawed crime epic: a nearly three-hour Los Angeles thriller with the emotional temperature of a fridge full of loaded handguns. Produced by Mann and Art Linson, the film brought together Al Pacino and Robert De Niro on-screen for the first time, backed by a frankly ridiculous ensemble including Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman, Wes...

This week, Patreon supporter Matt Bates, the Black Country Vlogger, brings us Innocent Blood (1992) for our Pain and Pleasure theme -- a film that revels in the push and pull between the two. Innocent Blood (1992) came about in a roundabout way, which is fitting for a film that defies easy categorisation. John Landis had originally been developing a vampire project called Red Sleep -- a wild premise about Las Vegas being run by vam...

This week’s pick comes from Patreon supporter Graeme—clearly a man who woke up and chose absolute emotional devastation. Directed by Shane Meadows, Dead Man’s Shoes (2004) is a raw, low-budget British drama that has steadily grown into a cult favourite. Shot primarily in and around Matlock, the film was made on a modest budget estimated at around £723,000. Meadows co-wrote the screenplay with Paddy Considine, who also stars in the ...

This week’s pick comes from Patreon supporter Tony, who’s taken us straight into the neon-soaked world of Purple Rain—a film that’s as much a cultural moment as it is a movie. Directed by Albert Magnoli and starring music legend Prince in his film debut, Purple Rain was created as a semi-autobiographical vehicle to launch Prince into global superstardom. Produced on a modest budget of around $7.2 million, the film was shot primaril...

Released in 1964, Mary Poppins was a landmark production for Walt Disney Studios, blending live-action with groundbreaking animation in a way that felt genuinely magical at the time—and still holds up remarkably well today. Directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Julie Andrews in her film debut alongside Dick Van Dyke, the film was based on P.L. Travers’ beloved book series. Despite Travers’ well-documented scepticism toward Disn...

Released in 1985, Teen Wolf was a low-budget teen comedy (around $1–1.2 million) directed by Rod Daniel and starring Michael J. Fox. Filmed primarily in California, the production leaned into practical effects, with extensive prosthetic makeup used to create the film’s now-iconic werewolf look. At the time of filming in 1984, Fox was already gaining popularity from Family Ties, but had not yet reached full movie-star status.

The fil...

The Night Porter (1974) was chosen by Patreon supporter Spider-Dan, host of Spider-Dan and the Secret Bores, and it remains one of the most controversial and debated films of 1970s European cinema. Directed by Liliana Cavani, the film was produced during a period when European filmmakers were increasingly pushing boundaries around historical trauma, psychology, and taboo subject matter. Cavani approached the project with an intent ...

A Bronx Tale (1993) is Matty V's pick, and brings a very personal story to the screen and marked Robert De Niro’s directorial debut, adapting the one-man stage play written and performed by Chazz Palminteri. Palminteri had famously turned down large offers for the film rights unless he could play the central mob figure himself, a condition De Niro respected when he brought the project to the screen. The production aimed for aut...

Empire Records (1995) was chosen by Patreon supporter Nick, and it represents a perfect snapshot of mid-90s youth culture wrapped inside a modest studio comedy. Directed by Allan Moyle and produced by Regency Enterprises for Warner Bros., the film was developed during a period when studios were eager to tap into the alternative music scene and Generation X attitudes. Rather than focusing on blockbuster spectacle, the production cen...

Top Secret! (1984) was chosen by Dave, and it arrived during a golden era for absurdist American comedy. Directed by the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker team — Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker — the film followed the massive success of Airplane! (1980) as the trio continued refining their signature style of rapid-fire sight gags, visual jokes, and deadpan delivery. Rather than parodying a single film, the production blended elem...

A View to a Kill (1985) was chosen by Chris, and it marked a significant transitional moment for the long-running James Bond franchise. Produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and directed by John Glen, the film was developed during a period when the series was balancing its established formula with the shifting tone of mid-1980s blockbuster cinema. With a reported budget of around $30 million, the production aimed to ...

The Protector (1985) was chosen by Greig, and it stands as one of the more unusual entries in Jackie Chan’s filmography — an attempt to firmly break him into the American action market during the mid-1980s. Directed by James Glickenhaus and produced by Golden Harvest in collaboration with U.S. partners, the film was conceived as a tougher, more hard-edged vehicle than Chan’s Hong Kong output. The production reflected a clear effort...

This week on The VHS Strikes Back, we dive into Erotic Ghost Story (1990), chosen by friend of the show John Hammond — a man clearly unafraid of wandering into the “back shelf” section of the video rental store. Directed by Lam Ngai Kai during the golden age of Hong Kong Category III cinema, this supernatural fantasy blends martial arts, folklore, horror and soft-focus seduction into one uniquely 90s experience.

Released at a time w...

Sworn to Justice (1996) was chosen by friend of the show and Patreon supporter Leigh, and is a prime example of mid-90s direct-to-video action thrillers built around martial arts credentials and late-night cable appeal. Produced by PM Entertainment — a studio known for churning out low-budget, high-concept action films — the movie was designed specifically for the booming VHS rental market rather than theatrical release. Director P...

Red Sonja (1985) was chosen by Dave, and it represents one of the most high-profile attempts to expand the sword-and-sorcery boom that followed the success of the early 1980s fantasy epics. Produced by Dino De Laurentiis and directed by Richard Fleischer, the film was developed as a companion piece to the popularity of Conan-style fantasy cinema, drawing inspiration from the Marvel Comics version of the character rather than direct...

George Butler and Robert Fiore, the film was conceived at a time when bodybuilding was still a niche subculture, largely unknown to mainstream audiences. The production followed key figures in the bodybuilding world in the lead-up to the 1975 Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe competitions, with the filmmakers aiming to humanise the athletes and demystify the sport. Shot on a relatively small budget, the documentary combined cinéma vérit...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) was chosen by Patreon supporter Gareth, and it represents a very deliberate shift in tone and approach from the original 1990 film. Following the massive commercial success of the first movie, New Line Cinema moved quickly to produce a sequel that would appeal more directly to younger audiences. This resulted in a noticeably lighter, more comedic production, with strict...

The Breakfast Club (1985) was chosen by Patreon supporter Lucky LouLou Green, and it stands as one of the defining films of 1980s American cinema. Written, produced, and directed by John Hughes, the movie was made during an incredibly prolific period for the filmmaker, as he reshaped teen movies with a more honest, character-driven approach. Shot on a modest budget of around $1 million, the film was produced quickly, with Hughes de...

Better Off Dead (1985) was chosen by supporter Susan, and it’s one of the most distinctive teen comedies to come out of the mid-1980s. Written and directed by Savage Steve Holland, the film was conceived as a deliberately off-kilter alternative to the more conventional John Hughes–style comedies dominating the era. Holland drew heavily on surreal humor, cartoon logic, and exaggerated visual gags, aiming to make a live-action movie ...