The VHS Strikes Back

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 ...

Bloody New Year (1987) was chosen by co-host Dave as the final movie pick in the Year of the Stitch-Up, and what a note to end on. The film was directed by Norman J. Warren, a cult British filmmaker best known for low-budget horror and exploitation fare like Satan’s Slave and Inseminoid. By the late 1980s, Warren was working with extremely limited resources, and Bloody New Year was produced on a modest budget aimed squarely at the ...

Look Who’s Talking Now! (1993) was chosen by Chris, rounding out the unlikely trilogy that began as a surprise hit in 1989. By the early ’90s, the Look Who’s Talking franchise had already proven its commercial appeal, and TriStar Pictures was keen to keep the momentum going. This third entry shifted focus behind the scenes, with original director Amy Heckerling stepping away and Tom Ropelewski taking over directorial duties. John T...

Freddy Got Fingered (2001) was chosen by Supporter and friend of the show Blake, and it stands as one of the most infamous, chaotic, and downright bewildering productions ever funded by a major Hollywood studio. Directed by and starring Tom Green at the height of his MTV shock-comedy fame, the film was conceived as a vehicle to capture — and escalate — his unpredictable, confrontational brand of humor. Fox initially expected a quir...

Malibu Express (1985) was chosen by Patreon supporter Herb, who has mastered the art of selecting premium-grade, sun-bleached 80s glamour for the show. Written and directed by Andy Sidaris, the film was part of his long-running “Bullets, Bombs and Babes” cycle — a collection of action-comedies known for fast cars, glamorous models, and plots that take a distant back seat to the spectacle. Produced on a modest budget, the movie was ...